[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39568-39570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14088]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10633 and CMS-10744]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human 
Services (HHS).

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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 August 31, 2020.

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 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-10633 QIC Demonstration Evaluation Contractor (QDEC): Analyze 
Medicare Appeals To Conduct Formal Discussions and Reopening's with DME 
Suppliers and Part A Providers

CMS-10744 Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, 
and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program--Contracting Forms

    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: QIC 
Demonstration Evaluation Contractor (QDEC): Analyze Medicare Appeals to 
Conduct Formal Discussions and Reopening's with DME Suppliers and Part 
A Providers; Use: The Formal Telephone Discussion Demonstration and 
Reopening's Process is authorized under Section 402(a)(1)(F), U.S.C. 
1395-1(a)(1)(F), of the Social Security Amendments of 1967. Primary and 
secondary data are needed to understand the effectiveness of the 
Demonstration in improving DME suppliers' and Part A providers' 
understanding of claims denial during Level 2 of the appeals process 
and facilitating more accurate claim submission over time. Primary data 
are necessary to determine, from the perspective of participating DME 
suppliers and Part A providers, the quality of the formal telephone 
discussions, satisfaction with the formal telephone discussion process, 
and the effect of the formal telephone discussions on submitting 
accurate claims. These data will inform an evaluation of the 
demonstration's effectiveness in achieving more accurate claims 
submissions, and thus reducing the number of claims CMS must process 
each year.
    All information collected through the evaluation of the Formal 
Telephone Demonstration and Reopening's Process will be used by CMS 
through the QDEC (IMPAQ International and its partner, Palmetto GBA) to 
conduct analyses of satisfaction with the formal telephone discussions, 
and determine whether further engagement with the QIC improves 
understanding of the reasons for claim denials.
    CMS will use the results of the evaluation to make informed policy 
decisions regarding the effectiveness of this demonstration and whether 
or not the demonstration should become a permanent part of the appeals 
process. Ultimately, if the information shows that DME suppliers and 
Part A providers were able to submit more accurate claims on the first 
pass, and a reduced number of claims are put through the appeals 
process, the Federal Government could realize cost savings. Form 
Number: CMS-10633 (OMB control number: 0938-1348); Frequency: Yearly; 
Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profits; Number 
of Respondents: 5,288; Total Annual Responses: 5,288; Total Annual 
Hours: 949.7. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Lynnsie G. Kelley at 410-786-1155.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: 
Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and 
Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program--Contracting Forms; Use: 
The Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and 
Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program was established by the 
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 
(``Medicare Modernization Act'' or ``MMA''). Section 302 of the MMA 
amended Section 1847 of the Social Security Act (the Act) to establish 
the competitive acquisition program and define program requirements.

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    Under the MMA, the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program was to be 
phased in so that competition under the program would first occur in 10 
areas in 2007. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 
completed the rulemaking process for the competitive acquisition of 
DMEPOS items and services in 42 CFR parts 411 and 414 published in the 
Federal Register Volume 72 on April 10, 2007. CMS conducted the Round 1 
competition in 10 areas and for 10 DMEPOS product categories, and 
implemented the program on July 1, 2008. The Medicare Improvements for 
Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), enacted on July 15, 2008, 
made limited changes to the Competitive Bidding Program, including 
termination of existing contracts that were in effect and a requirement 
to re-bid Round 1.
    As required by MIPPA, CMS conducted the competition for the Round 1 
Rebid in 2009. The Round 1 Rebid contracts and prices became effective 
on January 1, 2011. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted on March 23, 
2010, expanded the Round 2 competition by adding an additional 21 
metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), bringing the total MSAs for 
Round 2 to 91. The competition for Round 2 began in December 2011. CMS 
also began a competition for National Mail Order (NMO) of diabetes 
testing supplies at the same time as Round 2. The Round 2 and NMO 
contracts and prices were implemented on July 1, 2013.
    The MMA requires the Secretary to recompete contracts not less 
often than once every three years. The Round 1 Rebid contract period 
for all product categories except mail-order diabetes testing supplies 
expired on December 31, 2013. (Round 1 Rebid contracts for mail-order 
diabetes testing supplies ended on December 31, 2012.) The competition 
for the Round 1 Recompete began in August of 2012 and contracts and 
prices became effective on January 1, 2014. The Round 1 Recompete 
contract period expires on December 31, 2016. Round 1 2017 contracts 
will become effective on January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018. 
Round 2 and NMO contracts and prices expired on June 30, 2016. Round 2 
Recompete and the NMO Recompete contracts became effective on July 1, 
2016, and expired on December 31, 2018. CMS will be implementing a 
consolidated round of competition to include all Round 1 2017 and Round 
2 Recompete competitive bidding areas, referred to as Round 2021. Round 
2021 will not include NMO, which will be competed again in future 
rounds of the program.
    The forms included in this ICR were previously included in the ICR 
currently approved under 0938-1016. Due to the temporary gap in the 
DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program, which started on January 1, 2019, 
we do not currently have any active PRA package for this specific 
collection of information (Form C, Subcontracting, Change of 
Ownerships, and Grandfathering). We are now seeking approval of a PRA 
package based on estimates from previous rounds of the program 
(specifically Round 2 Recompete and Round 1 2017) and without reference 
to changes in burden Form Number: CMS-10744 (OMB control number: 0938-
New); Frequency: Occasionally (varies by form); Affected Public: 
Private Sector, Business or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 
2,984; Total Annual Responses: 271,597; Total Annual Hours: 31,121. 
(For policy questions regarding this collection contact Julia Howard at 
410-786-8645.)

    Dated: June 25, 2020.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-14088 Filed 6-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P