[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57215-57216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20273]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-P-0015A]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human 
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 November 16, 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: CMS-P-0015A, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

[[Page 57216]]

    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. 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-P-0015A Medicare Current Beneficiary 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 of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Current 
Beneficiary Survey; 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 is usually 
conducted in-person but can also be conducted by phone. It 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.
    The MCBS continues to provide unique insight into the Medicare 
program and helps CMS and our external stakeholders better understand 
and evaluate the impact of existing programs and significant new policy 
initiatives. In the past, MCBS data have been used to assess potential 
changes to the Medicare program. For example, the MCBS was instrumental 
in supporting the development and implementation of the Medicare 
prescription drug benefit by providing a means to evaluate prescription 
drug costs and out-of-pocket burden for these drugs to Medicare 
beneficiaries. Beginning in 2021, this proposed revision to the 
clearance will add a few new measures to existing questionnaire 
sections and will add a new COVID-19 Questionnaire section previously 
approved by OMB on August 7, 2020 under Emergency Clearance 0938-1379. 
The revisions will result in an increase in respondent burden due to 
the addition of the new items. Form Number: CMS-P-0015A (OMB control 
number: 0938-0568); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Business 
or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 13,656; Total Annual Responses: 35,998; Total Annual 
Hours: 53,176. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
William Long at 410-786-7927.)

    Dated: September 9, 2020.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-20273 Filed 9-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P