[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).
[[Page 53108]]
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