[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53662-53663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20978]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers: CMS-R-70, CMS-R-72 and CMS-10783]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 29, 2021.

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.

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-R-70
    Information Collection Requirements in HSQ-110, Acquisition, 
Protection and Disclosure of Peer review Organization Information and 
Supporting Regulations
CMS-R-72
    Information Collection Requirements in 42 CFR 478.18, 478.34, 
478.36, 478.42, QIO Reconsiderations and Appeals
CMS-10783
    Generic Beneficiary and Family Centered-Care Quality Improvement 
Organization (BFCC-QIO) Data Collection Research

    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: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Information 
Collection Requirements in HSQ-110, Acquisition, Protection and 
Disclosure of Peer review Organization Information and Supporting 
Regulations; Use: The Peer Review Improvement Act of 1982 authorizes 
quality improvement organizations (QIOs), formally known as peer review 
organizations (PROs), to acquire information necessary to fulfill their 
duties and functions and places limits on disclosure of the 
information. The QIOs are required to provide notices to the affected 
parties when disclosing information about them. These requirements 
serve to protect the rights of the affected parties. The information 
provided in these notices is used by the patients, practitioners and 
providers to: Obtain access to the data maintained and collected on 
them by the QIOs; add additional data or make changes to existing QIO 
data; and reflect in the QIO's record the reasons for the QIO's 
disagreeing with an individual's or provider's request for amendment. 
Form Number: CMS-R-70 (OMB control number: 0938-0426); Frequency: 
Reporting--On occasion; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits; 
Number of Respondents: 53,850; Total Annual Responses: 436,984; Total 
Annual Hours: 404,208. (For policy questions regarding this collection 
contact Kimberly Harris at 617-565-1285.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Information 
Collection Requirements in 42 CFR 478.18, 478.34, 478.36, 478.42, QIO 
Reconsiderations and Appeals; Use: In the event that a beneficiary, 
provider, physician, or other practitioner does not agree with the 
initial determination of a Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) or a 
QIO subcontractor, it is within that party's rights to request

[[Page 53663]]

reconsideration. The information collection requirements 42 CFR 478.18, 
478.34, 478.36, and 478.42, contain procedures for QIOs to use in 
reconsideration of initial determinations. The information requirements 
contained in these regulations are on QIOs to provide information to 
parties requesting the reconsideration. These parties will use the 
information as guidelines for appeal rights in instances where issues 
are actively being disputed. Form Number: CMS-R-72 (OMB control number: 
0938-0443); Frequency: Reporting--On occasion; Affected Public: 
Individuals or Households and Business or other for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 20,129; Total Annual Responses: 
60,489; Total Annual Hours: 22,014. (For policy questions regarding 
this collection contact Kimberly Harris at 617-565-1285).
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Generic 
Beneficiary and Family Centered-Care Quality Improvement Organization 
(BFCC-QIO) Data Collection Research; Use: The purpose of this 
submission is to request approval for generic clearance that covers a 
program of data collection activities to obtain feedback from a broad 
audience that may include, but will not be limited to Medicare 
beneficiaries, their family, health care providers and other key 
stakeholders who have used or may use and have been impacted by the 
BFCC-QIO services and its offerings. This data collection effort is 
part of a strategic plan to obtain direct feedback from Medicare 
beneficiaries, their family, health care providers and other key 
stakeholders on QIO process improvement efforts and their satisfaction 
with the services provided by these BFCC-QIOs. Feedback obtained will 
be used to improve the BFCC QIO program. With the approval of this 
clearance, the Division of Beneficiary Reviews and Care Management 
(DBRCM) will be able to maintain a proactive process for rapid data 
collection to inform the work of the BFCC-QIO program around new and 
existing initiatives, as well as providing rapid feedback on service 
delivery and satisfaction for continuous improvement of the BFCC-QIO 
program.
    The BFCC-QIO program is statutorily mandated to improve the quality 
of healthcare services Medicare beneficiaries receive. BFCC-QIOs 
provide the foundational level of quality in the health care system by 
investigating quality of care complaints made by Medicare beneficiaries 
and their families; by providing an avenue for appeals if they feel 
they are being released from a facility too soon; by requesting for 
immediate advocacy services when they have concerns about their care 
that need a quick resolution; and by providing care management services 
to help people with Medicare navigate the healthcare system and 
coordinate their care. The BFCC-QIOs provide these essential services 
for beneficiaries and families of the national Medicare program.
    This generic clearance will cover a program of qualitative (in-
depth interviews and focus group interviews), and quantitative methods 
(surveys) to obtain feedback from a wide range of audience that may 
include, but will not be limited to Medicare beneficiaries, their 
family, healthcare providers and any other key audiences that would 
support CMS in informing and improving QIO services, and any new and 
existing initiatives. Form Number: CMS-10783 (OMB control number: 0938-
NEW); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals and 
Households; Number of Respondents: 16,800; Total Annual Responses: 
191,200; Total Annual Hours: 59,400. For policy questions regarding 
this collection, contact Yewande Oladeinde at 410-786-2157.)

    Dated: September 22, 2021.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-20978 Filed 9-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P