[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 231 (Monday, December 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69058-69059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26414]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-R-70, CMS-R-72, and CMS-10783]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; 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 (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 a second opportunity 
for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to 
send comments regarding the burden estimate 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 on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by January 5, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    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.html.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(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 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires 
federal agencies to publish a 30-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 that 
summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for 
public comment:
    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

[[Page 69059]]

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 
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: December 1, 2021.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-26414 Filed 12-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P