[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 225 (Friday, November 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82379-82381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25976]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: Document Identifiers: CMS-40B, CMS-10102, CMS-
10866, and CMS-R-21]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human 
Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 December 26, 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.

[[Page 82380]]


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 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: 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.)
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: CMS 
Health Equity Award--Call for Nominations; Use: CMS Office of Minority 
Health (OMH) is going to announce a call for nominations for the 2024 
CMS Health Equity Award. This award will recognize organizations who 
demonstrate they have advanced health equity by designing, 
implementing, and operationalizing policies and programs that support 
health for all the people served by our programs, reducing avoidable 
differences in health outcomes experienced by people who are 
underserved, and provided the care and support that CMS enrollees need 
to thrive.
    The goals of the award are to encourage organizations to identify 
and address their health disparities, to disseminate best practices, 
and to show that progress is possible by having a results-oriented 
focus. By identifying organizations who are successfully closing gaps 
and reducing disparities, CMS can show our stakeholders how health 
equity work can be initiated, targeted, measured, and successfully 
reduce disparities among communities nationwide.
    CMS Representatives collect Company Name, Point of Contact 
Information (email, phone# & name) along with information from the 
organizations regarding their programs to improve the health quality, 
outcomes, and access to care for the communities that they serve. The 
CMS selection committee uses a scoring rubric to score the applicants 
on demonstrated measurable results in reducing a disparity in one or 
more of the CMS priority populations. Form Number: CMS-10866 (OMB 
control number: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: 
Federal Government, Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 50; Number of Responses: 50; Total 
Annual Hours: 100. (For policy questions regarding this collection, 
contact Ashley Peddicord-Austin at 410-786-0757.)
    4. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Withholding 
Medicare Payments to Recover Medicaid Overpayments and Supporting 
Regulations in 42 CFR 447.31; Use: Certain Medicaid providers that are 
subject to offsets for the collection of Medicaid overpayments may 
terminate or substantially reduce their participation in Medicaid, 
leaving the state Medicaid agency unable to recover the amounts due. 
Recovery procedures allow for determining the amount of overpayments 
and offsetting the overpayments by withholding the provider's Medicare 
payments. To effectuate the withholding, the state agency must provide 
their respective CMS regional office with certain documentation that 
identifies the provider and the Medicaid overpayment amount. The agency 
must also demonstrate that the provider was notified of the overpayment 
and that demand for the overpayment was made. An opportunity to appeal 
the overpayment determination must be afforded to the provider by the 
Medicaid state agency. Lastly, Medicaid state agencies must notify CMS 
when to terminate the withholding; Form

[[Page 82381]]

Number: CMS-R-21 (OMB control number: 0938-0287); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; 
Number of Respondents: 54; Total Annual Responses: 27; Total Annual 
Hours: 81. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Stuart Goldstein at 410-786-0694.)

    Dated: November 20, 2023.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023-25976 Filed 11-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P