[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17676-17677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06632]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10450, CMS-10078]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.
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: New collection; Title:
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey
for Physician Quality Reporting; Use: The Physician Quality Reporting
System (PQRS) was established in 2006 as a voluntary ``pay-for-
reporting'' program that allows physicians and other eligible
healthcare professionals to report information to Medicare about the
quality of care provided to beneficiaries who have certain medical
conditions. The PQRS provides incentive payments to physicians who
report quality data. Since the program's inception, these results have
not been publicly available for use by consumers.
The Physician Compare Web site was launched December 30, 2010, to
meet requirements set forth by Section 10331 of the Affordable Care Act
(ACA). The ACA requires CMS to establish a Physician Compare Web site
by January 1, 2011, containing information on physicians enrolled in
the Medicare program and other eligible professionals who participate
in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. By no later than January
1, 2013 (and for reporting periods beginning no earlier than January 1,
2012), CMS is required to implement a plan to make information on
physician performance publicly available through Physician Compare. A
key component of the reporting requirements under the ACA is public
reporting on physician performance that includes patient experience
measures. The collection and reporting of a Consumer Assessment of
Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey for Physician Quality
Reporting will fulfill this requirement.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has
developed the National Quality Strategy that was called for under the
ACA to create national aims and priorities to guide local, state, and
national efforts to
[[Page 17677]]
improve the quality of health care. This strategy has established six
priorities that support the three-part aim. The three-part aim focuses
on better care, better health, and lower costs through improvement. The
six priorities include: Making care safer by reducing harm caused by
the delivery of care; ensuring that each person and family are engaged
as partners in their care; promoting effective communication and
coordination of care; promoting the most effective prevention and
treatment practices for the leading causes of mortality, starting with
cardiovascular disease; working with communities to promote wide use of
best practices to enable healthy living; and making quality care more
affordable for individuals, families, employers, and governments by
developing and spreading new health care delivery models. The CAHPS
Survey for Physician Quality Reporting focuses on patient experience.
Implementation of the survey supports the six national priorities for
improving care, particularly engaging patients and families in care and
promoting effective communication and coordination.
This survey supports the administration of the Quality Improvement
Organizations Program (QIO). The Social Security Act, as set forth in
Part B of Title XI--Section 1862(g), established the Utilization and
Quality Control Peer Review Organization Program, now known as the QIO
Program. The statutory mission of the QIO Program is to improve the
effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and quality of services delivered
to Medicare beneficiaries. This survey will provide patient experience
of care data that is an essential component of assessing the quality of
services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. It also would permit
beneficiaries to have this information to help them choose health care
providers that provide services that meet their needs and preferences,
thus encouraging providers to improve quality of care that Medicare
beneficiaries receive. Form Number: CMS-10450 (OCN: 0938-New);
Frequency: Annual; Affected Public: Individuals and Households; Number
of Respondents: 234,600 Total Annual Responses: 117,300; Total Annual
Hours: 39,530. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact
Regina Chell at 410-786-6551. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
2. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement of a
previously approved collection; Title: Program for Matching Grants to
States for the Operation of High Risk Pools; Use: The Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is requiring the information in
this information collection request as a condition of eligibility for
grants that were authorized in the Trade Act of 2002, the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005 and the State High Risk Pool Funding Extension
Act of 2006. The information is necessary to determine if a State
applicant meets the necessary eligibility criteria for a grant as
required by law. The respondents will be States that have a high risk
pool as defined in sections 2741, 2744, or 2745 of the Public Health
Service Act. The grants will provide funds to States that incur losses
in the operation of high risk pools. High risk pools are set up by
States to provide health insurance to individuals that cannot obtain
health insurance in the private market because of a history of illness;
Form Number: CMS-10078 (OCN: 0938-0887); Frequency: Occasionally;
Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Governments; Number of
Respondents: 31; Total Annual Responses: 31; Total Annual Hours: 1,240.
(For policy questions regarding this collection contact Paul Scholz at
(410) 786-6178. For all other issues call (410) 786-1326.)
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
Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number,
and CMS document identifier, to [email protected], or call the
Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the
proposed information collections must be received by the OMB desk
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on April 22, 2013.
OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, Email: OIRA[email protected].
Dated: March 19, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-06632 Filed 3-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P