[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28523-28524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11388]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10203, CMS-10499 and CMS-10401]


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

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 a second opportunity 
for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to 
send comments regarding the 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 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 on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by June 16, 2014.

ADDRESSES: When commenting on the proposed information collections, 
please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be 
assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by 
the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions: OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-5806 or Email: [email protected].
    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: Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-
1326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires 
federal agencies to publish a 30-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 that 
summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for 
public comment:
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Health 
Outcomes Survey (HOS); Use: The collection of Medicare HOS is necessary 
to hold Medicare managed care contracts accountable for the quality of 
care they deliver to beneficiaries. This reporting requirement allows 
us to obtain the information necessary for proper oversight of the 
Medicare Advantage program. It is critical to our mission that we 
collect and disseminate valid and reliable information that can be used 
to improve quality of care through identification of quality 
improvement opportunities, assist us in carrying out our oversight 
responsibilities, and help beneficiaries make an informed choice among 
health plans. Form Number: CMS-10203 (OMB control number: 0938-0701); 
Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Individuals and households; Number 
of Respondents: 739,959; Total Annual Responses: 244,187; Total Annual 
Hours: 244,187. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Kimberly DeMichele at 410-786-4286.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Public 
Health Agency/Registry Readiness to Support Meaningful Use; Use: The 
Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs 
provide incentives for the meaningful use of Certified Electronic 
Health Record Technology (CEHRT). We defined meaningful use as a set of 
objectives and measures in either Stage 1 or Stage 2 depending on how 
long an eligible provider has participated in the program. Both Stage 1 
(3 objectives) and Stage 2 (5 objectives) of meaningful use contain 
objectives and measures that require eligible providers to determine 
the readiness of public health agencies and registries to receive 
electronic data from CEHRT. Public comments on the notice of proposed 
rulemaking for Stage 2 of meaningful use (77 FR 13697) asserted that 
the burden for each individual eligible provider to determine the 
readiness of multiple public health agencies and registries could be 
nearly eliminated if we were to maintain a database on the readiness of 
public health agencies and registries.

[[Page 28524]]

In the final rule for Stage 2 of meaningful use (77 FR 53967), we 
agreed that the burden on eligible providers, public health agencies 
and registries would be greatly reduced and established that we would 
create such a database and it would serve as the definitive information 
source for determining public health agency and registry readiness to 
receive electronic data associated with the public health meaningful 
use objectives. The information will be made publicly available on the 
CMS Web site (www.cms.gov/EHRincentiveprograms) in order to provide a 
centralized repository of this information to eligible providers and 
eliminate there multiple individual inquiries to multiple public health 
agencies and registries. Form Number: CMS-10499 (OMB control number: 
0938--New); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private sector--
Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number 
of Respondents: 250; Total Annual Responses: 250; Total Annual Hours: 
83. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Kathleen 
Connors de Laguna at 410-786-2256.)
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Standards Related 
to Reinsurance, Risk Corridors, Risk Adjustment, and Payment Appeals; 
Use: The Affordable Care Act provides for three premium stabilization 
programs--a reinsurance program, a risk corridors program, and a risk 
adjustment program--to mitigate the negative impacts of adverse 
selection and market uncertainty. On March 23, 2012, we published the 
Premium Stabilization Rule (77 FR 17220) to implement and set standards 
for these premium stabilization programs. On March 11, 2013, we 
published the final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2014 
(``2014 Payment Notice'') (78 FR 15410), to implement requirements for 
various programs established by the Affordable Care Act, establish 
standards for the cost-sharing reduction program and the premium tax 
credit program, to provide for the collection of user fees from issuers 
to fund operations of the Federally-facilitated Exchange and the risk 
adjustment program in States where HHS operates risk adjustment, and to 
expand on standards set forth in the Premium Stabilization Rule. We 
published a proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2015 
(``2015 Payment Notice'') on December 02, 2013, to expand upon, modify, 
and clarify the provisions of the Premium Stabilization Rule, the 2014 
Payment Notice, and the first and second final Program Integrity Rules 
(78 FR 54070 and 78 FR 65046).
    The transitional reinsurance program and the temporary risk 
corridors program are designed to provide issuers with greater payment 
stability as insurance market reforms begin. The reinsurance program 
serves to reduce the uncertainty of insurance risk in the individual 
market in each State by making payments for high-cost enrollees. The 
HHS-administered risk corridors program serves to protect against rate-
setting uncertainty with respect to qualified health plans by limiting 
the extent of issuer losses (and gains). The permanent risk adjustment 
program is intended to protect health insurance issuers that attract a 
disproportionate number of higher risk enrollees, that is, those with 
chronic conditions. These programs will support the effective 
functioning of the American Health Benefit Exchanges (``Exchanges''), 
which will become operational by January 1, 2014. The Exchanges are 
individual and small group health insurance marketplaces designed to 
enhance competition in the health insurance market and to expand access 
to affordable health insurance for millions of Americans. Individuals 
who enroll in qualified health plans (QHPs) through individual market 
Exchanges may receive premium tax credits to make health insurance more 
affordable and financial assistance to reduce cost sharing for health 
care services. The information collection requirements contained in 
this information collection request will enable States, HHS or both 
States and HHS to implement these programs, which will mitigate the 
impact of adverse selection in the individual and small group markets 
both inside and outside the Exchange.
    Form Number: CMS-10401 (OMB control number: 0938-1155); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal governments, 
Private sector--Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 2,520; Total Annual Responses: 
15,600,081,744; Total Annual Hours: 17,469,624. (For policy questions 
regarding this collection contact Jaya Ghildyal at 301-492-5149.)

    Dated: May 13, 2014.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-11388 Filed 5-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P