[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23916-23917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11056]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-P-0015A]


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

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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 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 June 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: When commenting on the proposed information collections,

[[Page 23917]]

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' website 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 Current 
Beneficiary Survey; Use: CMS is the largest single payer of health care 
in the United States. The agency plays a direct or indirect role in 
administering health insurance coverage for more than 120 million 
people across the Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Exchange populations. A 
critical aim for CMS is to be an effective steward, major force, and 
trustworthy partner in supporting innovative approaches to improving 
quality, accessibility, and affordability in healthcare. CMS also aims 
to put patients first in the delivery of their health care needs.
    The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) is the most 
comprehensive and complete Survey available on the Medicare population 
and is essential in capturing data not otherwise collected through our 
operations. The MCBS is an in-person, nationally-representative, 
longitudinal survey of Medicare beneficiaries that we sponsor and is 
directed by the Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics (OEDA). The 
survey captures beneficiary information whether aged or disabled, 
living in the community or facility, or serviced by managed care or 
fee-for-service. Data produced as part of the MCBS are enhanced with 
our administrative data (e.g., fee-for-service claims, prescription 
drug event data, enrollment, etc.) to provide users with more accurate 
and complete estimates of total health care costs and utilization. The 
MCBS has been continuously fielded for more than 25 years, encompassing 
over 1 million interviews and more than 100,000 survey participants. 
Respondents participate in up to 11 interviews over a three and a half 
year period. This gives a comprehensive picture of health care costs 
and utilization over a period of time.
    The MCBS continues to provide unique insight into the Medicare 
program and helps CMS and our external stakeholders better understand 
and evaluate the impact of existing programs and significant new policy 
initiatives. In the past, MCBS data have been used to assess potential 
changes to the Medicare program. For example, the MCBS was instrumental 
in supporting the development and implementation of the Medicare 
prescription drug benefit by providing a means to evaluate prescription 
drug costs and out-of-pocket burden for these drugs to Medicare 
beneficiaries. Beginning in 2019, this proposed revision to the 
clearance will eliminate or streamline some questionnaire sections, add 
a few new measures, take advantage of administrative data to reduce the 
number of survey questions in some long term care facilities, and 
discontinue the 12th interview as had previously been collected. The 
revisions will result in an overall reduction in respondent burden by 
25%. Form Number: CMS-P-0015A (OMB control number: 0938-0568); 
Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits 
and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 14,146; Total 
Annual Responses: 37,407; Total Annual Hours: 44,817. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact William Long at 410-786-
7927.)

    Dated: May 18, 2018.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-11056 Filed 5-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P