[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24255-24256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10197]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10336]


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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 1, 2015.

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: Extension of the 
currently approved collection; Reinstatement with change of a 
previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: 
Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Electronic Health Record Incentive 
Program; Use: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
(Recovery Act) (Pub. L. 111-5) was enacted on February 17, 2009. The 
Recovery Act includes many measures to modernize our nation's 
infrastructure, and improve affordable health care. Expanded use of 
health information technology (HIT) and certified electronic health 
record (EHR) technology will improve the quality and value of America's 
health care. Title IV of Division B of the Recovery Act amends Titles 
XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (the Act) by establishing 
incentive payments to eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals 
and critical access hospitals (CAHs), and Medicare Advantage (MA) 
organizations participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that 
adopt and successfully demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR 
technology. These Recovery Act provisions, together with Title XIII of 
Division A of the Recovery Act, may be cited as the ``Health 
Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act'' or the 
``HITECH Act.''
    The HITECH Act creates incentive programs for EPs and eligible 
hospitals, including CAHs, in the Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS), MA, 
and Medicaid programs that successfully demonstrate meaningful use of 
certified EHR technology. In their first payment year, Medicaid EPs and 
eligible hospitals may adopt, implement or upgrade to certified EHR 
technology. It also, provides for payment adjustments in the Medicare 
FFS and MA programs starting in FY 2015 for EPs and eligible hospitals 
participating in Medicare that are not meaningful users of certified 
EHR technology. These payment adjustments do not pertain to Medicaid 
providers.
    The first final rule for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive 
Program, which was published in the Federal Register on July 28, 2010 
(CMS-0033-F), specified the initial criteria EPs, eligible hospitals 
and CAHs, and MA organizations must meet in order to qualify for 
incentive payments; calculation of incentive payment amounts; payment 
adjustments under Medicare for covered professional services and 
inpatient hospital services provided by EPs, eligible hospitals and 
CAHs failing to demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology 
beginning in 2015; and other program participation requirements. On the 
same date, the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information 
Technology (ONC) issued a closely related final rule (45 CFR part 170, 
RIN 0991-AB58) that specified the initial set of standards, 
implementation specifications, and certification criteria for certified 
EHR technology. ONC has also issued a separate final rule on the

[[Page 24256]]

establishment of certification programs for health information 
technology (HIT) (45 CFR part 170, RIN 0991-AB59). The functionality of 
certified EHR technology should facilitate the implementation of 
meaningful use. Subsequently, final rules have been issued by CMS (77 
FR 53968) and ONC (77 FR 72985) to create a Stage 2 of meaningful use 
criteria and other changes to the CMS EHR Incentive Programs and the 
2014 Edition Certification Criteria for EHR technology.
    The information collection requirements contained in this 
information collection request are needed to implement the HITECH Act. 
In order to avoid duplicate payments, all EPs are enumerated through 
their National Provider Identifier (NPI), while all eligible hospitals 
and CAHs are enumerated through their CMS Certification Number (CCN). 
State Medicaid agencies and CMS use the provider's tax identification 
number and NPI or CCN combination in order to make payment, validate 
payment eligibility and detect and prevent duplicate payments for EPs, 
eligible hospitals and CAHs. Form Number: CMS-10336 (OMB control 
number: 0938-1158); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private 
sector; Number of Respondents: 214,694; Total Annual Responses: 
214,694; Total Annual Hours: 2,034,740. (For policy questions regarding 
this collection contact Elisabeth Myers at 410-786-4751.)

    Dated: April 28, 2015.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-10197 Filed 4-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P