[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 37 (Monday, February 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12757-12758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04152]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10445]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing 
the following summary of proposed collections for public comment. 
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden 
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
including any

[[Page 12758]]

of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the 
proposed information collection for the proper performance of the 
Agency's function; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways 
to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology to minimize the information collection 
burden.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title: 
Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Payment Demonstration; Use: In 
response to the provision of the Affordable Care Act, beginning in 
2012, quality bonus payments (QBPs) are given to all plans earning four 
or five stars in Medicare's Star Rating program. As an extension of 
this legislation, CMS launched the Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus 
Payment Demonstration, which accelerates the phase-in of QBPs by 
extending bonus payments to three-star plans and eliminating the cap on 
blended county benchmarks that would otherwise limit QBPs. Through this 
demonstration, CMS seeks to understand how incentive payments impact 
plan quality across a broader spectrum of plans.
    The data collection effort will be conducted in the form of a 
survey of Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) and up to 10 case 
studies with MAOs in order to supplement what can be learned from the 
analyses of administrative and financial data for MAOs, and from an 
environmental and literature scan. The data collected is needed to 
evaluate the QBP demonstration to better understand what impact the 
demonstration has had on MAO operations and their efforts to improve 
quality. The data collection instrument is a survey questionnaire 
designed to capture information on how MAOs perceive the demonstration 
and are planning for or implementing changes in quality initiatives and 
to identify factors that help or hinder the capacity to achieve quality 
improvement and that influence the decision calculus to make changes. 
Specifically, the information is expected to provide a detailed picture 
to CMS of the kinds of quality initiatives utilized by MAOs and some 
preliminary information on how they assess the effectiveness of these 
programs. The survey is designed to provide an overall picture of the 
QBP that can be used for national comparisons across plans as part of 
the larger evaluation of the QBP demonstration.
    The case studies will be conducted as a series of open-ended 
discussions with MAO staff that will be guided by a discussion 
protocol. The case studies will supplement the information gathered 
from the survey and data analysis, providing valuable context and 
details about successful quality improvement activities. The case 
studies are particularly well suited to exploring the detailed 
characteristics of the plans' quality improvement activities, 
emphasizing the decision-making and thought processes underlying the 
structure and direction of their efforts and capturing the contextual 
factors that impact the nature, structure, and scope of the programs. 
The 60-day Federal Register notice published on September 17, 2012, (77 
FR 57090). Subsequently, there were revisions to the MAO survey. Form 
Number: CMS-10445 (OCN: 0938-New); Frequency: Annual; Affected Public: 
Private Sector--Business or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 
730; Total Annual Responses: 1,280; Total Annual Hours: 683. (For 
policy questions regarding this collection contact Gerald Riley at 410-
786-6699. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS Web 
Site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995, or 
Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, 
and CMS document identifier, to [email protected], or call the 
Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
    To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collections must be received by the OMB desk 
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on March 27, 2013.
    OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS 
Desk Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, Email: [email protected].

    Dated: February 19, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-04152 Filed 2-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P