[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15014-15015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06408]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10550 and CMS-10551]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

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 (the 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 May 19, 2015.

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

[[Page 15015]]

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: Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-
1326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Contents

    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-10550 Hospital National Provider Survey

CMS-10551 Nursing Home National Provider Survey

    Under the 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: 
Hospital National Provider Survey; Use: Section 3104 of the Patient and 
Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that the Secretary of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conduct an assessment 
of the quality and efficiency impact of the use of endorsed measures in 
specific Medicare quality reporting and incentive programs. The ACA 
further specifies that the initial assessment must occur no later than 
March 1, 2012, and once every 3 years thereafter. This planned data 
collection activity was developed and tested as part of the 2015 Impact 
Report and data collection will be conducted for reporting in the 2018 
Impact Report.
    There are two modes of data collection with hospital quality 
leaders: (1) A semi-structured qualitative interview and (2) a 
standardized survey. The data from the qualitative interviews and 
standardized surveys will be analyzed to provide us with information on 
the quality and efficiency impact of measures that we use to assess 
care in the hospital inpatient and outpatient settings. The surveys 
seek to understand whether the use of performance measures has led to 
changes in provider behavior, and where undesired effects are occurring 
as a result of implementing quality and efficiency measures. The survey 
will also help identify characteristics associated with high 
performance, which if understood, could be used to leverage 
improvements in care among lower performing hospitals. The focus of the 
survey is to assess the impacts of the measures that we use in the 
context of public reporting (pay-for-reporting) and value-based 
purchasing programs. Form Number: CMS-10550 (OMB control number: 0938-
NEW); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector 
(Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions); Number 
of Respondents: 940; Total Annual Responses: 940; Total Annual Hours: 
639. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Noni 
Bodkin at 410-786-7837.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Nursing 
Home National Provider Survey; Use: Section 3104 of the Patient and 
Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that the Secretary of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conduct an assessment 
of the quality and efficiency impact of the use of endorsed measures in 
specific Medicare quality reporting and incentive programs. The ACA 
further specifies that the initial assessment must occur no later than 
March 1, 2012, and once every 3 years thereafter. This planned data 
collection activity was developed and tested as part of the 2015 Impact 
Report and data collection will be conducted for reporting in the 2018 
Impact Report.
    There are two modes of data collection with nursing home quality 
leaders: (1) A semi-structured qualitative interview and (2) a 
standardized survey. The data from the qualitative interviews and 
standardized surveys will be analyzed to provide us with information on 
the quality and efficiency impact of measures that we use to assess 
care in nursing homes delivering skilled nursing care. The surveys seek 
to understand whether the use of performance measures has led to 
changes in provider behavior (both at the nursing home-level and at the 
frontline of care), and whether undesired effects are occurring as a 
result of implementing quality and efficiency measures. The survey will 
also help identify characteristics associated with high performance, 
which if understood, could be used to leverage improvements in care 
among lower performing nursing homes. The focus of the survey is to 
assess the impacts of the measures that we use in the context of public 
reporting (pay-for-reporting) and quality improvement. Form Number: 
CMS-10551 (OMB control number: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Occasionally; 
Affected Public: Private Sector (Business or other for-profit and Not-
for-profit institutions); Number of Respondents: 940; Total Annual 
Responses: 940; Total Annual Hours: 639. (For policy questions 
regarding this collection contact Noni Bodkin at 410-786-7837.)

    Dated: March 17, 2015.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-06408 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P