2010-25943. 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 of Information Collection: Information Collection Requirements and Supporting Information for Chronic Kidney Disease Surveys under the 9th Scope of Work; Form Number: CMS-10304 (OMB #: 0938-New); Use: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are requesting OMB clearance for the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Partner Survey and the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Provider Survey. The Prevention CKD Theme is a component of the Prevention Theme of the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program's 9th Scope of Work (SOW). The statutory authority for this scope of work is found in Part B of Title XI of the Social Security Act (the Act) as amended by the Peer Review Improvement Act of 1982. The Act established the Utilization and Quality Control Peer Review Organization Program, now known as the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program.

The goal of the Prevention CKD Theme is to detect the incidence, decrease the progression of CKD, and improve care among Medicare beneficiaries through provider adoption of timely and effective quality of care interventions; participation in quality incentive initiatives; beneficiary education; and key linkages and collaborations for system change at the state and local level. In addition to improving the quality of care for the elderly and frail-elderly, this Theme aims to reduce the rate of Medicare entitlement by disability through the delay and prevention of end-stage renal disease (ESRD); thus resulting in higher quality care and significant savings to the Medicare Trust Fund.

The CKD Partner Survey constitutes a new information collection to be used by CMS to obtain information on how QIO collaboration with partners facilitates systems change within the QIO's respective state. The CKD Partner Survey will be a census administered to 350 collaborative partners in the 9th SOW. The CKD Partner Survey will be administered via telephone. Responses will be entered into a pre-programmed Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) interface. The results of the survey shall be used for inpatient quality indicators (IQI) by the QIO. CMS will also use the results to assess how partner organizations and their perspective of the QIO's role are implementing system change.

Similarly, the CKD Provider Survey constitutes a new information collection to be used by CMS to obtain information on how QIO collaboration with physician practices facilitates systems change within the QIO's respective state. The CKD Provider Survey will be administered via telephone and the Web. Responses collected by phone will be entered into a pre-programmed Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) interface. Responses collected by Web will be housed on a secure server and database. The results of the survey shall be used for inpatient quality indicators (IQI) by the QIO. CMS will also use the results to assess how physicians' practices and their perspective of the QIO's role are implementing system change. Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector—Business or other for-profits and Not-for profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 1,350; Total Annual Responses: 1,350; Total Annual Hours: 337.5. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Robert Kambic at 410-786-1515. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Patient Safety Survey Under the 9th Scope of Work: Nursing Home in Need (NHIN) Use: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting OMB clearance for the Nursing Homes in Need (NHIN) Survey. The NHIN is a component of the Patient Safety Theme of the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program's 9th Scope of Work (SOW). The statutory authority for this scope of work is found in Part B of Title XI of the Social Security Act (the Act) as amended by the Peer Review Improvement Act of 1982. The Act established the Utilization and Quality Control Peer Review Organization Program, now known as the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program.

The QIO in each State will provide special technical assistance to a small number of nursing homes in need of assistance with quality improvement efforts. This special technical assistance will be for the QIO to conduct a root cause analysis (RCA) with one nursing home in its state per year (three over three years). Under this component, it is expected that within the first quarter of the contract period, CMS will assign one nursing home to each QIO. The determination of which nursing homes are eligible under this component will be made by CMS. Some of these facilities may meet criteria for Special Focus Facilities (SFF). The intent of this component is that each State QIO will work with three nursing homes over the three-year contract period; these assignments are expected to be spaced out so that each State QIO will get one nursing home assigned approximately every 12 months.

The NHIN Survey is a new information collection to be used by CMS to obtain information on nursing home satisfaction with technical assistance strategies delivered as a component of the NHIN. The NHIN Survey will be a census of 53 nursing homes working with their respective QIOs. The survey will be conducted one time for each of the nursing homes assisted in the first two years under the 9th SOW and it will be conducted twice with nursing homes assisted in the third year. The information collected through this survey will allow CMS to help focus the NHIN task to maximize the benefit to participating nursing homes. The NHIN Survey will be administered via telephone by trained and experienced interviewers. Responses will be entered into a pre-programmed Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) interface.

The NHIN Survey will include questions to determine if the QIO has conducted a root cause analysis and developed an action plan. These will be followed by questions about their satisfaction with the QIO and their perceived value of the QIO's assistance. The NHIN Survey will address the following:

• Background information;
• Current work—information and assessment;
• Satisfaction with QIOs;
• Value of QIO assistance;
• Sources of information; and
• Respondent comments.

All survey protocol and correspondence will be translated into Spanish and bi-lingual telephone interviewers will be used as needed. Form Number: CMS-10315 (OMB #: 0938-New); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Businesses and other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 53; Total Annual Responses: 106; Total Annual Hours: 17.5 hours (years 1 and 2), 35 hours (year 3). (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Bob Kambic 410-786-1515. 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 e-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone].

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 November 15, 2010.

OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk Officer, Fax Number: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail].

Dated: October 8, 2010.

Martique Jones,

Director, Regulations Development Division—B, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.