[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17763-17764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07322]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers: CMS-10549]


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

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 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 on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by May 4, 2015:

ADDRESSES: When commenting on the proposed information collections, 
please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be 
assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by 
the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions: OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-5806 OR, Email: OIRA_ 
[email protected].
    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: 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

[[Page 17764]]

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: New collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Generic 
Clearance for Questionnaire Testing and Methodological Research for the 
Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS); Use: The purpose of this 
OMB clearance package is to clear a Generic Clearance to support an 
effort to evaluate the operations and content of the Medicare Current 
Beneficiary Survey (MCBS). The MCBS is a continuous, multipurpose 
survey of a nationally representative sample of aged, disabled, and 
institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries. The MCBS, which is sponsored 
by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is the only 
comprehensive source of information on the health status, health care 
use and expenditures, health insurance coverage, and socioeconomic and 
demographic characteristics of the entire spectrum of Medicare 
beneficiaries.
    The core of the MCBS is a series of interviews with a stratified 
random sample of the Medicare population, including aged and disabled 
enrollees, residing in the community or in institutions. Questions are 
asked about enrollees' patterns of health care use, charges, insurance 
coverage, and payments over time. Respondents are asked about their 
sources of health care coverage and payment, their demographic 
characteristics, their health and work history, and their family living 
circumstances. In addition to collecting information through the core 
questionnaire, the MCBS collects information on special topics through 
supplements. For example, questions are asked about enrollees' income 
and assets, access to health care, health and functional status and 
satisfaction with care. Special supplements also focus on emerging 
trends in health care. Form Number: CMS-10549 (OMB control number 0938-
New); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals or 
Households; Number of Respondents: 1,500; Total Annual Responses: 
1,500; Total Annual Hours: 1,117. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact William Long at 410-786-7927.)

    Dated: March 26, 2015.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-07322 Filed 4-1-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE CODE 4120-01-P