[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53107-53109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13891]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers: CMS-1694 and CMS-R-246]


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

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

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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 25, 2024.

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 a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Appointment of 
Representative and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 405.910; Use: The 
requirements for appointing representatives for claims and appeals 
processed under 42 CFR part 405 subpart I were codified into regulation 
at 42 CFR 405.910. In summary, section 405.910 states an individual or 
entity may appoint a representative to act on their behalf in 
exercising their rights relative to an initial claim determination or 
an appeal. The appointment of representation must be in writing and 
must include all the required elements specified in 405.910(c). The 
burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort of the 
individual or entity to prepare an appointment of representation 
containing all the required information of this section. To reduce some 
of the burden associated with this requirement, we developed a 
standardized form that the individual/entity may opt (but is not 
required) to use.
    This form would be completed by Medicare beneficiaries, providers 
and suppliers (typically their billing clerk, or billing company), and 
any party who wish to appoint a representative to assist them with 
their initial Medicare claims determinations and filing appeals on 
Medicare claims. The information supplied on the form is reviewed by 
Medicare claims and appeals adjudicators. The adjudicators make 
determinations whether the form was completed accurately, and if the 
form is correct and accepted, the form is appended to the claim or 
appeal that it was filed with. Form Number: CMS-1696 (OMB control 
number: 0938-0950); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: 
Individuals and Households and Private Sector; Number of Respondents: 
213,208; Total Annual Responses: 213,208; Total Annual Hours: 53,302. 
(For policy questions regarding this collection contact Liz Hosna at 
410-786-4993.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare 
Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Fee-For-Service Consumer 
Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey; Use: CMS 
is required to collect and report information on the quality of health 
care services and prescription drug coverage available to persons 
enrolled in a Medicare health or prescription drug plan under 
provisions in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). Specifically, the MMA under Sec. 
1860D-4 (Information to Facilitate Enrollment) requires CMS to conduct 
consumer satisfaction surveys regarding Medicare prescription drug 
plans and Medicare Advantage plans and report this information to 
Medicare beneficiaries prior to the Medicare annual enrollment period. 
The Medicare CAHPS survey meets the requirement of collecting and 
publicly reporting consumer satisfaction information. The Balanced 
Budget Act of 1997 also requires the collection of information about 
fee-for-service plans. The CAHPS survey measures are incorporated into 
the Part C and D Star Ratings that are published on www.medicare.gov 
each fall to help consumers choose a Medicare plan. A subset of the 
CAHPS measures is also included in the Medicare & You Handbook. CAHPS 
information from MA contracts also feeds into the calculation of MA 
Quality Bonus Payment Ratings that are required by statute and 
regulation.
    The primary purpose of the Medicare CAHPS surveys is to provide 
information to Medicare beneficiaries to help them make more informed 
choices among health and prescription drug plans available to them. 
Survey results are reported by CMS in the Medicare & You Handbook 
published each fall and on the Medicare Plan Finder website. 
Beneficiaries can compare CAHPS scores for each health and drug plan as 
well as compare MA and FFS scores when making enrollment decisions. The 
Medicare CAHPS also provides data to help CMS and others monitor the 
quality and performance of Medicare health and prescription drug plans 
and identify areas to improve the quality of care and services provided 
to enrollees of these plans. CAHPS data are included in the Medicare 
Part C & D Star Ratings and used to calculate MA Quality Bonus 
Payments. Form Number: CMS-R-246 (OMB control number: 0938-0732); 
Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Individuals and Households Number 
of Respondents: 794,500; Total Annual Responses: 794,500; Total Annual

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Hours: 192,265. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Lauren Fuentes at 410-786-2290 or [email protected]).

William N. Parham, III,
Director, Division of Information Collections and Regulatory Impacts, 
Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2024-13891 Filed 6-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P