[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35936-35937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14174]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers CMS-10482]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is 
announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention 
to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in 
the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information 
(including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing 
collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on 
the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments 
regarding our burden estimates 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 functions; (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.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 13, 2013:

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier or 
OMB control number (OCN). To be assured consideration, comments and

[[Page 35937]]

recommendations must be submitted in any one of the following ways:
    1. Electronically. You may send your comments electronically to 
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for ``Comment or 
Submission'' or ``More Search Options'' to find the information 
collection document(s) that are accepting comments.
    2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following 
address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 
Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB 
Control Number------, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.
    To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, you may make 
your request using one of following:
    1. Access CMS' Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995.
    2. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB 
number, and CMS document identifier, to [email protected].
    3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Call the Reports Clearance Office at 
(410) 786-1326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated 
with the following information collections. More detailed information 
can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated 
materials (see ADDRESSES).

CMS-10482 Evaluation of the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) 
and Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they 
conduct or sponsor. The term ``collection of information'' is defined 
in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests 
or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep 
records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the PRA requires federal agencies to publish a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, 
including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing 
collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for 
approval. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this 
notice.

Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New Collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: 
Evaluation of the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and 
Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program; Use: The Physician 
Quality Reporting System (PQRS) was first implemented in 2007 as an 
incentive for voluntary reporting of quality measures in accordance 
with a section of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. The PQRS 
was further extended and enhanced by legislation such as the Medicare, 
Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) 
Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA) and the Medicare Improvements for 
Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). A number of changes have 
been made to the PQRS, including group measures, the group reporting 
option, and additional measures. The PQRS was extended further with the 
enactment of MMSEA. The MMSEA provided professionals greater 
flexibility for participating in the PQRS for 2008 and 2009 by 
authorizing us to establish alternative reporting criteria and 
alternative reporting periods for the reporting measures groups and for 
the submission of data on the PQRS quality measures through clinical 
data registries. The MIPPA, enacted in July 2008, made the PQRS program 
permanent, further enhanced the PQRS, and established a new standalone 
incentive program for successful electronic prescribers.
    The eRx Incentive Program, the other program being evaluated in 
this project, was first implemented in 2009. The eRx is another 
incentive reporting program that uses a combination of incentive 
payments and payment adjustments to encourage eRx by eligible 
professionals. The program provides an incentive payment to practices 
with eligible professionals who successfully e-prescribe for covered 
Physician Fee Schedule services furnished to Medicare Part B Fee-For-
Service (FFS) beneficiaries. Eligible professionals do not need to 
participate in PQRS to participate in the eRx Incentive Program.
    In support of an evaluation the PQRS and the eRx Incentive Program, 
we will conduct three surveys. The surveys will include: Medicare 
beneficiaries, eligible professionals, and administrators. This 
evaluation is designed to determine how well the PQRS and the eRx 
Incentive Program are contributing to better and affordable health care 
for Medicare beneficiaries. The PQRS is a voluntary reporting program 
that provides an incentive payment to eligible professionals who 
satisfactorily report data on quality measures. We use quality measures 
to promote improvements in care delivery and payment and to increase 
transparency. The PQRS program rewards eligible professionals based on 
a percentage of the estimated Medicare Physician Fee Schedule of their 
allowed Part B charges if they meet the defined reporting requirements. 
The PQRS was initially referred to as the Physician Quality Reporting 
Initiative (PQRI). Form Number: CMS-10482 (OCN: 0938-NEW); Frequency: 
Yearly; Affected Public: Individuals and households, Business or other 
for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 6,350; 
Total Annual Responses: 6,350; Total Annual Hours: 2,545. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact Lauren Fuentes at 410-786-
2290. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

    Dated: June 11, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-14174 Filed 6-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P