[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16635-16636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05628]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers 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

[[Page 16636]]

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 May 19, 2023.

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, please access 
the CMS PRA website by copying and pasting the following web address 
into your web browser: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.

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 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). MCBS data collection 
includes both in-person and phone interviewing. 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 30 years, encompassing over 1.2 
million interviews and more than 140,000 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 2024, this proposed revision to the 
clearance will add a few new measures to existing questionnaire 
sections and will remove COVID-19-related content that is no longer 
relevant for administration. Updated respondent materials are also 
included in this request. The revisions will result in a net decrease 
in respondent burden as compared to the current clearance due to the 
removal of COVID-19 items. Form Number: CMS-P-0015A (OMB control 
number: 0938-0568); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public Sector: 
Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number 
of Respondents: 13,568; Total Annual Responses: 35,015; Total Annual 
Hours: 34,380. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Bill Long at 410-786-7927).

    Dated: March 15, 2023.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023-05628 Filed 3-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P