[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57461-57462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18151]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-40B and CMS-10102]


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 October 23, 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-40B Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B (Medical 
Insurance)
CMS-10102 National Implementation of the Hospital Consumer Assessment 
of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) 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 a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Application for 
Enrollment in Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance); Use: Medicare Part B 
is a voluntary program, financed from premium payments by enrollees, 
together with contributions from funds appropriated by the Federal 
government. The Social Security Act (the Act) at section 226(a) 
provides that individuals who are age 65 or older and eligible for, or 
entitled to, Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) 
benefits shall be entitled to premium-free Part A upon filing an 
application for such benefits. Section 1836 of the Act permits 
individuals with Medicare premium-free Part A to enroll in Part B.
    The CMS-40B provides the necessary information to determine 
eligibility and to process the beneficiary's request for enrollment for 
Medicare Part B coverage. This form is only used for enrollment by 
beneficiaries who already have Part A, but not Part B. Form CMS-40B is 
completed by the person with Medicare or occasionally by an SSA 
representative using information provided by the Medicare enrollee 
during an in-person interview. The form is owned by CMS, but not 
completed by CMS staff. SSA processes Medicare enrollments on behalf of 
CMS. Form Number: CMS-40B (OMB control number: 0938-1230); Frequency: 
Once; Affected Public: Individuals or households; Number of 
Respondents: 1,132,000; Number of Responses: 1,132,000; Total Annual 
Hours: 192,440. (For policy questions regarding this collection, 
contact Candace Carter at 410-786-8466.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension without change 
of currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: 
National Implementation of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of 
Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey; Use: The HCAHPS 
(Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) 
Survey is the first national, standardized, publicly reported survey of 
patients' perspectives of their hospital care. HCAHPS is a 29-item 
survey instrument and data collection methodology for measuring 
patients' perceptions of their hospital experience. Since 2008, HCAHPS 
has allowed valid comparisons to be made across hospitals locally, 
regionally and nationally.
    Three broad goals have shaped HCAHPS. First, the standardized 
survey and implementation protocol produce data that allow objective 
and meaningful comparisons of hospitals on topics that are important to 
consumers. Second, public reporting of HCAHPS results creates new 
incentives for hospitals to improve quality of care. Third, public 
reporting enhances accountability in health care by increasing 
transparency of the quality of hospital care provided in return for the 
public investment. Form Number: CMS-10102 (OMB control number: 0938-
0981); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector, 
Business or other for-profits, Not-for-profits institutions; Number of 
Respondents:

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2,304,450; Number of Responses: 2,304,450; Total Annual Hours: 282,366. 
(For policy questions regarding this collection, contact William G. 
Lehrman at 410-786-1037.)

    Dated: August 18, 2023.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023-18151 Filed 8-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P