[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52010-52011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20769]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

[Document Identifier OS-0990-0330-60D]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Public Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of 
Health and Human Services, announces plans to submit an Information 
Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). The ICR is for extending the use of the approved 
information collection assigned OMB control number 0990-0330, which 
expires on 12/31/14. Prior to submitting that ICR to OMB, OS seeks 
comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any 
other aspect of the ICR.

DATES: Comments on the ICR must be received on or before November 3, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to 
[email protected] or by calling (202) 690-6162.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information Collection Clearance 
staff, [email protected] or (202) 690-6162.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Information Collection Request Title: Annual Appellant Climate 
Survey--Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA).
    OMB No.: 0990--0330.
    Abstract: The annual OMHA Appellant Climate Survey is a survey of 
Medicare beneficiaries, providers, suppliers, or their representatives 
who participated in a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) 
from the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA). Appellants 
dissatisfied with the outcome of their Level 2 Medicare appeal may 
request a hearing before an OMHA ALJ. The Appellant Climate Survey will 
be used to measure appellant satisfaction with their OMHA appeals 
experience, as opposed to their satisfaction with a specific ruling.
    OMHA was established by the Medicare Prescription Drug, 
Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173) and 
became operational on July 1, 2005. The MMA legislation and 
implementing regulations issued on March 8, 2007 instituted a number of 
changes in the appeals process. The MMA legislation also directed the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to consider the 
feasibility of conducting hearings using telephone or video-
teleconference (VTC) technologies. In carrying out this mandate, OMHA 
makes use of VTC to provide appellants with a vast nationwide network 
of access points for hearings close to their homes. The first three-
year administration cycle of the OMHA survey began in FY08 and a second 
three-year cycle began in FY12. The survey will continue to be

[[Page 52011]]

conducted annually over a three-year period, beginning in FY15.
    Likely Respondents: Survey respondents will consist of Medicare 
beneficiaries, providers, suppliers, or their representatives who 
participated in a hearing before an OMHA ALJ. OMHA will draw a 
representative, non-redundant sample of appellants whose cases have 
been closed in the last six months.

                                    Total Estimated Annualized Burden--Hours
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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of        Number        burden per     Total burden
      Type of respondent            Form name       respondents    responses per   response  (in       hours
                                                                    respondent        hours)
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Charged at rate of Healthcare   Form A..........             240               1           11/60              44
 Providers and Suppliers.
Charged at rate of              Form A..........             160               1           11/60              29
 Beneficiaries.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................             400               1           11/60              73
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    OS specifically requests comments on (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.

Darius Taylor,
Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-20769 Filed 8-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-46-P