Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 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 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 April 29, 2024.

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–10706 Generic Clearance for the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality IT Product and Support Teams

CMS–10526 Cost-sharing Reduction Reconciliation

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: Extension of a currently approved information collection; Title of Information Collection: Generic Clearance for the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality IT Product and Support Teams; Use: The CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ) is responsible for administering appropriate information systems so that the public can submit healthcare-related information. While beneficiaries ultimately benefit, the primary users of CCSQ IT Product and Support Teams (CIPST) systems are healthcare facility employees and contractors. They are responsible for the collection and submission of appropriate beneficiary data to CMS to receive merit-based compensation.

The systems that support CCSQ programs includes but is not limited to: End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Reporting System (EQRS), Enterprise Shared Services (ESS), HCQIS ServiceNow (SNOW), Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR), Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES), Quality Management and Reporting System (QMARS), and Quality Payment Program (QPP).

The generic clearance will allow CMS to gather information to improve information systems that serve CMS audiences. CMS will gather this information using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative consumer research strategies (including formative research studies and methodological tests). CMS implements human-centered methods and activities for the improvement of policies, services, and products. This collection of information is necessary to enable CMS to garner customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with our commitment to improving service delivery.

As information systems and technologies are developed or improved upon, they can be tested and evaluated for end-user feedback regarding utility, usability, and desirability. The overall goal is to apply a human-centered engagement model to maximize the extent to which CIPST can gather ongoing feedback from consumers. Feedback helps engineers and designers arrive at better solutions, therefore minimizing the burden on consumers and meeting their needs and goals.

The activities under this clearance involve voluntary engagement with target CCSQ users to receive design and research feedback. The respondents will be voluntary end-users from self-selected customers, as well as convenience samples. It is our intent that selected respondents will either cover a broad range of customers or include specific characteristics related to certain products or services. All collections of information will allow us to continually refine our processes, systems, and services for the benefit of internal and external stakeholders. Form Number: CMS–10706 (OMB control number: 0938–1397); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals and Private Sector (Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions); Number of Respondents: 54,750; Total Annual Responses: 54,750; Total Annual Hours: 17,850. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Brandy Barnette at 410–786–6455).

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Cost-Sharing Reduction Reconciliation Use: Under established Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations, although cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments are not being advanced to qualified health plan (QHP) issuers at the present time, issuers are still permitted to submit data that compares the CSR-eligible enrollment for each issuer with their actual CSRs provided by the issuer for covered services for each eligible enrollee in a benefit year. HHS will compare this CSR-eligible enrollment with the actual CSRs provided by the issuers that participate in the optional data submission window to verify the issuer's reporting of CSRs provided. This revised collection does not add any data elements and continues to make summary plan level reporting optional.

Based upon CMS' experience in the CSR data collection and evaluation process, CMS is not making any substantive changes to this information collection. The only changes are to update the number of policies issuers will report data for, based on the most recent enrollment numbers in CSR plan variants as of June 15, 2023. There are no programmatic changes. The CSR Issuer Summary Report and Standard Methodology Template Plan and Policy Report remain the same. Form Number: CMS–10526 (OMB control number: 0938–1266); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 150; Number of Responses: 150; Total Annual Hours: 2,362.5. (For policy questions regarding this collection, contact Deborah Noymer at 301–448–3755.)