[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64898-64899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25559]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-10224]


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 December 26, 2019.

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' website address at website address at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html.
    1. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB 
number, and CMS document identifier, to [email protected].
    2. 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. 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: Healthcare Common 
Procedure Coding System (HCPCS)--Level II Code Modification Request 
Process; Use: In October 2003, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) delegated authority under the Health Insurance 
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) legislation to Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to maintain and distribute HCPCS 
Level II Codes. As stated in 42 CFR Sec. 414.40 (a) CMS establishes 
uniform national definitions of services, codes to represent services, 
and payment modifiers to the codes. The HCPCS code set has been 
maintained and distributed via modifications of codes, modifiers and 
descriptions, as a direct result of data received from applicants. 
Thus, information collected in the application is significant to 
codeset maintenance. The HCPCS code set maintenance is an ongoing 
process, as changes are implemented and updated annually; therefore, 
the process requires continual collection of information from 
applicants on an annual basis. As new technology evolves and new 
devices, drugs and supplies are introduced to the market, applicants 
submit applications

[[Page 64899]]

to CMS requesting modifications to the HCPCS Level II codeset. 
Applications have been received prior to HIPAA implementation and must 
continue to be collected to ensure quality decision-making. The HIPAA 
of 1996 required CMS to adopt standards for coding systems that are 
used for reporting health care transactions. The regulation that CMS 
published on August 17, 2000 (45 CFR 162.10002) to implement the HIPAA 
requirement for standardized coding systems established the HCPCS Level 
II codes as the standardized coding system for describing and 
identifying health care equipment and supplies in health care 
transactions. HCPCS Level II was selected as the standardized coding 
system because of its wide acceptance among both public and private 
insurers. Public and private insurers were required to be in compliance 
with the August 2000 regulation by October 1, 2002. Modifications to 
the HCPCS are initiated via application form submitted by any 
interested stakeholder. These applications have been received on an on-
going basis with an annual deadline for each cycle. The purpose of the 
data provided is to educate the decision-making body about products and 
services for which a modification is requested so that an informed 
decision can be reached in response to the recommended coding.
    Subsequent to the publication of the 60-day notice (84 FR 48145), 
we made minor clarifying edits to the information collection request. 
The edits are highlighted in a crosswalk document that is available for 
review along with the rest of the information collection request on the 
CMS PRA website. Form Number: CMS-10224 (OMB control number: 0938-
1042); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private Sector (Business 
or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions); Number of 
Respondents: 100; Total Annual Responses: 100; Total Annual Hours: 
1,100. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Kimberlee Combs Miller at 410-786-6707.)

    Dated: November 20, 2019.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-25559 Filed 11-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P