[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34529-34530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15589]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers CMS-10488]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; 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 (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 the necessity and utility of the 
proposed information collection for the proper performance of the 
agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and 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 August 24, 2017.

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 Web site address at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html.
    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: William Parham at (410) 786-4669.

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. No 
comments were received in response to the 60-day comment period. 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 an existing 
information collection request; Title of Information Collection: 
Consumer Experience Survey Data Collection. Use: Section 1311(c)(4) of 
the Affordable Care Act requires the Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) to develop an enrollee satisfaction survey system that 
assesses consumer experience with qualified health plans (QHPs) offered 
through an Exchange. It also requires public display of enrollee 
satisfaction information by the Exchange to allow individuals to easily 
compare enrollee satisfaction levels between comparable plans. HHS 
established the QHP Enrollee Experience Survey (QHP Enrollee Survey) to 
assess consumer experience with the QHPs offered through the 
Marketplaces. The survey include topics to assess consumer experience 
with the health care system such as communication skills of providers 
and ease of access to health care services. CMS developed the survey 
using the Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems 
(CAHPS[supreg]) principles (https://www.ahrq.gov/cahps/about-cahps/principles/index.html) and established an

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application and approval process for survey vendors who want to 
participate in collecting QHP enrollee experience data.
    The QHP Enrollee Survey, which is based on the CAHPS[supreg] Health 
Plan Survey, will be used to (1) help consumers choose among competing 
health plans, (2) provide actionable information that the QHPs can use 
to improve performance, (3) provide information that regulatory and 
accreditation organizations can use to regulate and accredit plans, and 
(4) provide a longitudinal database for consumer research. CMS 
completed two rounds of developmental testing including 2014 
psychometric testing and 2015 beta testing of the QHP Enrollee Survey. 
The psychometric testing helped determine psychometric properties and 
provided an initial measure of performance for Marketplaces and QHPs to 
use for quality improvement. Based on psychometric test results, CMS 
further refined the questionnaire and sampling design to conduct the 
2015 beta test of the QHP Enrollee Survey. CMS previously obtained 
clearance for the 2016 and 2017 administrations of the QHP Enrollee 
Survey.
    At this time, CMS is requesting to renew approval for the 
information collection related to the QHP Enrollee Experience Survey in 
2018-2020. These activities are necessary to ensure that CMS fulfills 
legislative mandates established by section 1311(c)(4) of the 
Affordable Care Act to develop an ``enrollee satisfaction survey 
system'' and provide such information on Marketplace Web sites. CMS is 
also seeking approval to remove eight survey questions beginning with 
the 2018 survey administration. With the removal of these eight 
questions, the revised total estimated annual burden hours of national 
implementation of the QHP Enrollee Survey is 22,523 hours with 90,015 
responses. The revised total annualized burden over three years for 
this requested information collection is 67,569 hours and the total 
average annualized number of responses is 270,045 responses. Form 
Number: CMS-10488 (OMB control number: 0938-1221); Frequency: Annually; 
Affected Public: Public sector (Individuals and Households), Private 
sector (Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions); 
Number of Respondents: 90,015; Total Annual Responses: 90,015; Total 
Annual Hours: 22,523. (For policy questions regarding this collection 
contact Nidhi Singh Shah at 301-492-5110.)

    Dated: July 20, 2017.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-15589 Filed 7-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P