[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17676-17677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06632]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10450, CMS-10078]


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 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: 
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey 
for Physician Quality Reporting; Use: The Physician Quality Reporting 
System (PQRS) was established in 2006 as a voluntary ``pay-for-
reporting'' program that allows physicians and other eligible 
healthcare professionals to report information to Medicare about the 
quality of care provided to beneficiaries who have certain medical 
conditions. The PQRS provides incentive payments to physicians who 
report quality data. Since the program's inception, these results have 
not been publicly available for use by consumers.
    The Physician Compare Web site was launched December 30, 2010, to 
meet requirements set forth by Section 10331 of the Affordable Care Act 
(ACA). The ACA requires CMS to establish a Physician Compare Web site 
by January 1, 2011, containing information on physicians enrolled in 
the Medicare program and other eligible professionals who participate 
in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. By no later than January 
1, 2013 (and for reporting periods beginning no earlier than January 1, 
2012), CMS is required to implement a plan to make information on 
physician performance publicly available through Physician Compare. A 
key component of the reporting requirements under the ACA is public 
reporting on physician performance that includes patient experience 
measures. The collection and reporting of a Consumer Assessment of 
Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey for Physician Quality 
Reporting will fulfill this requirement.
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has 
developed the National Quality Strategy that was called for under the 
ACA to create national aims and priorities to guide local, state, and 
national efforts to

[[Page 17677]]

improve the quality of health care. This strategy has established six 
priorities that support the three-part aim. The three-part aim focuses 
on better care, better health, and lower costs through improvement. The 
six priorities include: Making care safer by reducing harm caused by 
the delivery of care; ensuring that each person and family are engaged 
as partners in their care; promoting effective communication and 
coordination of care; promoting the most effective prevention and 
treatment practices for the leading causes of mortality, starting with 
cardiovascular disease; working with communities to promote wide use of 
best practices to enable healthy living; and making quality care more 
affordable for individuals, families, employers, and governments by 
developing and spreading new health care delivery models. The CAHPS 
Survey for Physician Quality Reporting focuses on patient experience. 
Implementation of the survey supports the six national priorities for 
improving care, particularly engaging patients and families in care and 
promoting effective communication and coordination.
    This survey supports the administration of the Quality Improvement 
Organizations Program (QIO). The Social Security Act, as set forth in 
Part B of Title XI--Section 1862(g), established the Utilization and 
Quality Control Peer Review Organization Program, now known as the QIO 
Program. The statutory mission of the QIO Program is to improve the 
effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and quality of services delivered 
to Medicare beneficiaries. This survey will provide patient experience 
of care data that is an essential component of assessing the quality of 
services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. It also would permit 
beneficiaries to have this information to help them choose health care 
providers that provide services that meet their needs and preferences, 
thus encouraging providers to improve quality of care that Medicare 
beneficiaries receive. Form Number: CMS-10450 (OCN: 0938-New); 
Frequency: Annual; Affected Public: Individuals and Households; Number 
of Respondents: 234,600 Total Annual Responses: 117,300; Total Annual 
Hours: 39,530. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Regina Chell at 410-786-6551. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement of a 
previously approved collection; Title: Program for Matching Grants to 
States for the Operation of High Risk Pools; Use: The Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is requiring the information in 
this information collection request as a condition of eligibility for 
grants that were authorized in the Trade Act of 2002, the Deficit 
Reduction Act of 2005 and the State High Risk Pool Funding Extension 
Act of 2006. The information is necessary to determine if a State 
applicant meets the necessary eligibility criteria for a grant as 
required by law. The respondents will be States that have a high risk 
pool as defined in sections 2741, 2744, or 2745 of the Public Health 
Service Act. The grants will provide funds to States that incur losses 
in the operation of high risk pools. High risk pools are set up by 
States to provide health insurance to individuals that cannot obtain 
health insurance in the private market because of a history of illness; 
Form Number: CMS-10078 (OCN: 0938-0887); Frequency: Occasionally; 
Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Governments; Number of 
Respondents: 31; Total Annual Responses: 31; Total Annual Hours: 1,240. 
(For policy questions regarding this collection contact Paul Scholz at 
(410) 786-6178. 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 April 22, 2013.

OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, Email: OIRA[email protected].

    Dated: March 19, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-06632 Filed 3-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P