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

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing the following summary of proposed collections for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the Agency's function; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicaid Managed Care Regulations for 42 CFR 438.6, 438.8, 438.10, 438.12, 438.50, 438.56, 438.102, 438.114, 438.202, 438.204, 438.206, 438.207, 438.240, 438.242, 438.402, 438.404, 438.406, 438.408, 438.410, 438.414, 438.416, 438.604, 437.710, 438.722, 438.724, and 438.810; Use: These information collection requirements implement regulations that allow States greater flexibility to implement mandatory managed care program, implement new beneficiary protections, and eliminate certain requirements viewed by State agencies as impediments to the growth of managed care programs. Information collected includes information about managed care programs, grievances and appeals, enrollment broker contracts, and managed care organizational capacity to provide health care services. Form Number: CMS-10108 (OMB#: 0938-0920); Frequency: Reporting: Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government; Number of Respondents: 39,114,558; Total Annual Responses: 4,640,344; Total Annual Hours: 3,930,093.5.

2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS®); Use: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) collects quality performance measures in order to hold the Medicare managed care industry accountable for the care being delivered, to enable quality improvement, and to provide quality information to Medicare beneficiaries in order to promote an informed choice. It is critical to CMS' mission that we collect and disseminate information that will help beneficiaries choose among health plans, contribute to improved quality of care through identification of improvement opportunities, and assist CMS in carrying out its oversight and purchasing responsibilities.

In December 1997, OMB approved the request from CMS for the information collections under HEDIS® and assigned the agency form number CMS-R-200. The collections approved under that request included the HEDIS® collection (following the technical specifications contained in Volume 2, published by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA); the Health of Seniors/Health Outcomes Survey (HOS); and the Medicare CAHPS® survey. Since that approval there has been a change in the statutory authority as a result of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. During the latter part of 2000, CMS instituted several policy changes regarding this collection which reduced burden substantially on the part of the managed care organizations and the process for finalizing and publishing that policy delayed the request for OMB approval. In addition, the renewal of OMB authority for the Medicare CAHPS survey was completed as a separate request. The HOS renewal was also submitted separately. This request is solely for the approval of the HEDIS collection, which is now a stand alone collection. Form Number: CMS-10219 (OMB#: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 705; Total Annual Responses: 705; Total Annual Hours: 33,840.

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS); Form No.: CMS-10097 (OMB#: 0938-0915); Use: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will obtain feedback from Medicare providers via a survey about satisfaction, attitudes and perceptions regarding the services provided by Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Carriers, Fiscal Intermediaries, Durable Medical Equipment Suppliers, and Regional Home Health Intermediaries and Medicare Administrative Contractors. The survey focuses on basic business functions provided by the Medicare Contractors such as inquiries, provider communications, claims processing, appeals, provider enrollment, medical review and provider audit & reimbursement. Providers will receive a notice requesting they use a specially constructed web site to respond to a set of questions customized for their contractor's responsibilities. The survey will be conducted yearly and annual reports of the survey results will be available via an online reporting system for use by CMS, Medicare Contractors, and the general public.

Due to changes in CMS' reporting needs, CMS is requesting a potential increase in the number of completed surveys. This increase will allow CMS to have not only Contractor-specific, but also jurisdiction and state-specific data which, in turn, will enable Contractors to increase and implement performance improvement activities within their organizations. This increase will affect the 2008 and 2009 administrations of the survey. Frequency: Reporting—Annually; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 24,279; Total Annual Responses: 24,279; Total Annual Hours: 8,346.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995,, or E-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov, or call the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed or faxed within 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB desk officer: OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Carolyn Lovett, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974.