2020-22892. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice.

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 the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

DATES:

Comments must be received by December 15, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. 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' website address at website address at https://www.cms.gov/​Regulations-and-Guidance/​Legislation/​PaperworkReductionActof1995/​PRA-Listing.html.

2. Call the Reports Clearance Office at [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William N. Parham at [phone].

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).

CMS-10749 National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Supplemental Data Collection

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 Collection

1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Supplemental Data Collection; Use: The adoption by the Secretary of HHS of the standard unique health identifier for health care providers is a requirement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The unique identifier is to be used on standard transactions and may be used for other lawful purposes in the health care system. The CMS Final Rule published on January 23, 2004 adopts the National Provider Identifier (NPI) as the standard unique health identifier for health care providers. Health care providers that are covered entities under HIPAA must apply for and use NPIs in standard transactions. The law requires that data collection standards for these measures be used, to the extent that it is practical, in all national population health surveys. It applies to self-reported optional information only. The law also requires any data standards published by HHS to comply with standards created by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The web based optional data fields can be seen in Appendix A1: Data Collected for the Office of Minority and Appendix A2: Data collected for the 21st Century Cures Act, interoperability. The standards apply to population health surveys sponsored by HHS, where respondents either self-report information or a knowledgeable person responds for all members of a household. HHS is implementing these data standards in all new surveys. Form Number: CMS-10749 (OMB control number: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profits, Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 999,291; Total Annual Responses: 999,291; Total Annual Hours: 169,880. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact DaVona Boyd at 410-786-7483.)

Dated: October 9, 2020.

William N. Parham, III,

Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.