[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53765-53766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21258]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier CMS-10497]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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 (the 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 any of the following subjects: (1)
The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for
the proper performance of the agency's functions; (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.
DATES: Comments must be received by October 29, 2013.
ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier or
OMB control number (OCN). 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, you may make
your request using one of following:
1. Access CMS' Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995.
2. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB
number, and CMS document identifier, to [email protected].
3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-
1326.
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).
[[Page 53766]]
CMS-10497 Evaluation of the Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ)
Demonstration Evaluation: Focus Group and Interview Protocols
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 Collections
1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection:
Evaluation of the Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration
Evaluation: Focus Group and Interview Protocols; Use: The Medicare
Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration was developed to address
concerns about the U.S. health care system, which typically fragments
care while also encouraging both omissions in and duplication of care.
To rectify this situation, Congress has directed the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to test major changes to the
delivery and payment systems to improve the quality of care while also
increasing efficiency across the health care system. This would be
achieved through several types of interventions: adoption and use of
information technology and decision support tools by physicians and
their patients, such as evidence-based medicine guidelines, best
practice guidelines, and shared decision-making programs; reform of
payment methodologies; improved coordination of care among payers and
providers serving defined communities; measurement of outcomes; and
enhanced cultural competence in the delivery of care.
Section 1866C of the Social Security Act, as amended by Section 646
of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act
of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173), section 1866C(b)), requires the Secretary of
the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a 5-year
demonstration program under which the Secretary may approve
demonstration projects that examine health delivery factors that
encourage improved quality in patient care. This section also
authorizes the Secretary to waive compliance with such requirements of
Titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.)
as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out the demonstration
project.
The MHCQ Demonstration programs are designed to examine the extent
to which major, multifaceted changes to traditional Medicare's health
delivery and financing systems lead to improvements in the quality of
care provided to Medicare beneficiaries without increasing total
program expenditures. Each demonstration site uses a different approach
for changing health delivery and financing systems, but all share the
goal of improving the quality and efficiency of medical care provided
to Medicare beneficiaries. Focus groups and individual interviews will
be conducted at 2 demonstration sites that are active in the
demonstration: Gundersen Health System (GHS) and Meridian Health System
(MHS).
This MHCQ Demonstration evaluation will include analysis of both
quantitative and qualitative sources of information. This multifaceted
approach will enable this evaluation to consider a broad variety of
evidence for evaluating the nature and impact of each site's
interventions. Form Number: CMS-10497 (OCN: 0938-NEW); Frequency:
Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals or households and Private
sector (Not-for-profit organizations); Number of Respondents: 36; Total
Annual Responses: 36; Total Annual Hours: 108. (For policy questions
regarding this collection contact Normandy Brangan at 410-786-6640.).
Dated: August 27, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-21258 Filed 8-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P