[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 119 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40827-40828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13199]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-P-0015A]


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 July 24, 2023.

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, 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 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: 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

[[Page 40828]]

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: June 15, 2023.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023-13199 Filed 6-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P