[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44094-44095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15677]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-P-0015A]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is 
requesting that a new information collection request (ICR) related to 
the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) (OMB clearance 0938-
0568) be processed under the emergency clearance process. Due to CMS' 
determination that this collection of information is needed prior to 
the expiration of time periods established under its regulations, an 
emergency clearance is requested. Once the emergency information 
collection request is approved, CMS plans to seek public comments 
during the required 60-day and 30-day notice and comment periods 
associated with obtaining a standard (non-emergency) OMB approval for 
extending the information collection request as part of the MCBS 
(collected under 0938-0568). The approval of this information 
collection package is necessary because of the urgent need to obtain 
timely data to assess the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the 
Medicare population. Adding a COVID-19 Supplement to the MCBS data 
collection in October 2020 will provide critical information to CMS and 
the public.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 27, 2020.

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier or 
OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and 
recommendations must be submitted within 10 days 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Parham at (410) 786-4669.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA, Federal agencies are required 
to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed ICR. 
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden 
estimates or any other aspect of this ICR including the necessity and 
utility of the proposed ICR 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.

Contents

    This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated 
with the following ICR. More detailed information can be found in the 
collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see 
ADDRESSES).

[[Page 44095]]

CMS-P-0015A Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) COVID-19 Rapid 
Response Supplement

    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. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this 
notice that summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of 
information for public comment:

Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: 
Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) COVID-19 Rapid Response 
Supplement; 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 a 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 28 years, encompassing over 1 
million interviews and more than 100,000 survey participants. 
Respondents participate in up to 11 interviews over a four year period. 
This gives a comprehensive picture of health care costs and utilization 
over a period of time.
    With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., CMS is 
uniquely positioned to quickly collect vital information on how the 
pandemic is impacting the Medicare population by utilizing the MCBS. 
MCBS beneficiaries, by definition, are most at risk for underlying 
conditions that may lead to more severe COVID-19 complications. This 
new clearance requests approval to add the Fall COVID-19 Supplement to 
the MCBS Fall 2020 Round 88 data collection conducted under 0938-0568. 
Due to the emergence of this public health crisis, a Supplement to the 
MCBS is especially well-suited to provide CMS critical data on measures 
of Medicare beneficiary knowledge about telehealth, social distancing 
and other important preventive health behaviors, along with updated 
information about COVID-19 testing and the results of those tests. 
Since the MCBS has a sample size sufficient for estimation, it provides 
a ready source to obtain high quality data.
    The MCBS COVID-19 Supplement will be administered to respondents 
living in the community and to facility staff who answer questions on 
behalf of the sampled beneficiary. Respondents will participate by 
telephone to answer the Supplement questions. In accordance with the 
implementing regulations of the PRA at 5 CFR 1320.13, CMS is requesting 
emergency processing for this ICR because it cannot reasonably comply 
with normal clearance procedures. Upon OMB approval of this emergency 
clearance request, CMS will follow the normal clearance procedures for 
the MCBS ICR under 0938-0568.
    Form Number: CMS-P-0015A (OMB control number: 0938-NEW); Frequency: 
One-time collection; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and 
Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 11,536; Total 
Annual Responses: 11,536; Total Annual Hours: 3,229. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact William Long at 410-786-
7927.)

    Dated: July 15, 2020.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-15677 Filed 7-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P