[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17166-17167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08184]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10261 and CMS-10079]


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 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 must be received by June 24, 2019.

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 C4-26-05, 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' website 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 N. Parham at (410) 786-4669.

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-10261 Part C Medicare Advantage Reporting Requirements and 
Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 422.516(a)
CMS-10079 Hospital Wage Index Occupational Mix 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: Revision with change of 
a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Part 
C Medicare Advantage Reporting Requirements and Supporting Regulations 
in 42 CFR 422.516(a); Use: Section 1852(m) of the Social Security Act 
(the Act) and CMS regulations at 42 CFR 422.135 allow Medicare 
Advantage (MA) plans the ability to provide ``additional telehealth 
benefits'' to enrollees starting in plan year 2020 and treat them as 
basic benefits. MA additional telehealth benefits are limited to 
services for which benefits are available under Medicare Part B but 
which are not payable under section 1834(m) of the Act. In addition, MA 
additional telehealth benefits are services that been identified by the 
MA plan for the applicable year as clinically appropriate to furnish 
through electronic information and telecommunications technology (or 
``electronic exchange'') when the physician (as defined in section 
1861(r) of the Act) or practitioner (as defined in section 
1842(b)(18)(C) of the Act) providing the service is not in the same 
location as the enrollee. Per Sec.  422.135(d), MA plans may only 
furnish MA additional telehealth benefits using contracted providers.
    The changes for the 2020 Reporting Requirements will require plans 
to report Telehealth benefits. The data collected in this measure will 
provide CMS with a better understanding of the number of organizations 
utilizing Telehealth per contract and to also capture those specialties 
used for both in-person and Telehealth. This data will allow CMS to 
improve its policy and process surrounding Telehealth. In addition, the 
specialist and facility data we are collecting aligns with some of the 
provider and facility specialty types that organizations are required 
to include in their networks and to submit on their HSD tables in the 
Network Management Module in Health Plan Management System. Form 
Number: CMS-10261 (OMB control number: 0938-1054); Frequency: Yearly; 
Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of 
Respondents: 594; Total Annual Responses: 4,752; Total Annual Hours: 
187,926. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Mark 
Smith at 410-786-8015.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of

[[Page 17167]]

Information Collection: Hospital Wage Index Occupational Mix Survey; 
Use: Section 304(c) of Public Law 106-554 mandates an occupational mix 
adjustment to the wage index, requiring the collection of data every 3 
years on the occupational mix of employees for each short-term, acute 
care hospital participating in the Medicare program. The proposed data 
collection that is included in this submission complies with this 
statutory requirement. The purpose of the occupational mix adjustment 
is to control for the effect of hospitals' employment choices on the 
wage index. For example, hospitals may choose to employ different 
combinations of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing 
aides, and medical assistants for the purpose of providing nursing care 
to their patients. The varying labor costs associated with these 
choices reflect hospital management decisions rather than geographic 
differences in the costs of labor. Form Number: CMS-10079 (OMB control 
number: 0938-0907); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Business or 
Other for-Profits, Not-for-Profit Institutions; Number of Respondents: 
3,300; Total Annual Responses: 3,300; Total Annual Hours: 1,584,000. 
(For policy questions regarding this collection contact Tehila 
Lipschutz at 410-786-1344.)

    Dated: April 18, 2019.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-08184 Filed 4-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P