[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64939-64940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25318]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10157]


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 January 18, 2022.

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-10157--The HIPAA Eligibility Transaction System (HETS)

    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: The HIPAA 
Eligibility Transaction System (HETS); Use: CMS created the HETS 
application to provide Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliant 270/271 health care

[[Page 64940]]

eligibility inquiries (270) and responses (271) on a real-time basis. 
In creating the HETS application, federal law requires that CMS take 
precautions to minimize the security risk to federal information 
systems. Accordingly, CMS is requiring that trading partners who wish 
to connect to the HETS 270/271 application via the CMS Extranet and/or 
internet agree to specific trading partner terms as a condition of 
receiving access to Medicare eligibility information. Applicants will 
complete the entire Trading Partner Agreement form to indicate 
agreement with CMS trading partner terms and provide sufficient 
information to establish connectivity to the service and assure that 
those entities that access the Medicare eligibility information are 
aware of applicable provisions and penalties for the misuse of 
information.
    CMS uses the Trading Partner Agreement Form to capture certain 
information whereby a person certifies that they are fully aware of any 
and all penalties related to the use of PHI and their access to this 
data from the HETS application. The information is an attestation by 
the authorized representative of an entity that wishes to access the 
Medicare eligibility information to conduct real-time eligibility 
transactions. The authorized representative is a person responsible for 
business decisions on behalf of the Organization who is submitting the 
access request. The data captured includes the authorized 
representative's name, title contact number and the name of the 
submitting entity. Other data captured is the submitter's National 
Provider Identifier (NPI), business name, billing address, physical 
address, and telephone number. Form Number: CMS-10157 (OMB control 
number: 0938-0960); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private 
Sector, Businesses or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 1,000; 
Total Annual Responses: 1,000; Total Annual Hours: 250. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact Rupinder Singh at 410-786-
7484.)

    Dated: November 16, 2021.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-25318 Filed 11-18-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P