[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 89 (Thursday, May 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27226-27227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09782]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-2744 and CMS-10652]


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 June 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES: When commenting on the proposed information collections,

[[Page 27227]]

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:
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    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 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: Reinstatement with 
change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information 
Collection: End Stage Renal Disease Annual Facility Survey Form; Use: 
The ESRD Program Management and Medical Information System (PMMIS) 
Facility Certification/Survey Record contains provider-specific and 
aggregate patient population data on beneficiaries treated by that 
provider obtained from the Annual Facility Survey form (CMS-2744). The 
Facility Certification portion of the record captures certification and 
other information about ESRD facilities approved by Medicare to provide 
kidney dialysis and transplant services. The Facility Survey portion of 
the record captures activities performed during the calendar year as 
well as aggregate year-end population counts for both Medicare 
beneficiaries and non-Medicare patients. The survey includes the 
collection on hemodialysis patients dialyzing more than 4 times per 
week, vocational rehabilitation and staffing. The aggregate patient 
information is collected from each Medicare-approved provider of 
dialysis and kidney transplant services. The information is used to 
assess and evaluate the local, regional and national levels of medical 
and social impact of ESRD care and is used extensively by researchers 
and suppliers of services for trend analysis. Form Number: CMS-2744 
(OMB control number: 0938-0447); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: 
Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 7,828; Total Annual Responses: 7,828; Total Annual Hours: 
31,312. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Gequincia Polk at 410-786-2305.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Virtual Groups 
for Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS); Use: CMS acknowledges 
the unique challenges that small practices and practices in rural areas 
may face with the implementation of the Quality Payment Program. To 
help support these practices and provide them with additional 
flexibility, CMS has created a virtual group reporting option starting 
with the 2018 MIPS performance period. CMS held webinars and small, 
interactive feedback sessions to gain insight from clinicians as we 
developed our policies regarding virtual groups. During these sessions, 
participants expressed a strong interest in virtual groups, and 
indicated that the right policies could minimize clinician burden and 
bolster clinician success.
    This information collection request is related to the statutorily 
required virtual group election process finalized in the CY 2018 
Quality Payment Program final rule. A virtual group is a combination of 
Tax Identification Numbers (TINs), which would include at least two 
separate TINs associated with a solo practitioner TIN and National 
Provider Identifier (TIN/NPI) or group with 10 or fewer MIPS eligible 
clinicians and another solo practitioner (TIN/NPI) or group with 10 or 
fewer MIPS eligible clinicians.
    Section 1848(q)(5)(I) of the Act requires that CMS establish and 
have in place a process to allow an individual MIPS eligible clinician 
or group consisting of not more than 10 MIPS eligible clinicians to 
elect, with respect to a performance period for a year to be in a 
virtual group with at least one other such individual MIPS eligible 
clinician or group. The Act also provides for the use of voluntary 
virtual groups for certain assessment purposes, including the election 
of practices to be a virtual group and the requirements for the 
election process.
    Section 1848(q)(5)(I)(i) of the Act also provides that MIPS 
eligible clinicians electing to be a virtual group must: (1) Have their 
performance assessed for all four performance categories in a manner 
that applies the combined performance of all the MIPS eligible 
clinicians in the virtual group to each MIPS eligible clinician in the 
virtual group for the applicable performance period; and (2) be scored 
for all four performance categories based on such assessment.
    CMS will use the data collected from virtual group representatives 
to determine eligibility to participate in a virtual group, approve the 
formation of that virtual group, based on determination of each TIN 
size, and assign a virtual group identifier to the virtual group. The 
data collected will also be used to assign a performance score to each 
TIN/NPI in the virtual group. Form Number: CMS-10652 (OMB control 
number: 0938-1343); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private 
Sector: Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions 
and Individuals; Number of Respondents: 16; Total Annual Responses: 16; 
Total Annual Hours: 160. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection, contact Michelle Peterman at 410-786-2591.)

    Dated: May 4, 2020.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-09782 Filed 5-6-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P