2022-02992. 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 April 12, 2022.

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 https://www.cms.gov/​Regulations-and-Guidance/​Legislation/​PaperworkReductionActof1995/​PRA-Listing.

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-10338 Affordable Care Act Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Procedures for Non-grandfathered Group Health Plans and Issuers and Individual Market Issuers

CMS-10409 LTCH CARE Data Set for the Collection of Data Pertaining to the Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program

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: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Affordable Care Act Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Procedures for Non-grandfathered Group Health Plans and Issuers and Individual Market Issuers; Use: The information collection requirements ensure that claimants receive adequate information regarding the plan's claims procedures and the plan's handling of specific benefit claims. Claimants need to understand plan procedures and plan decisions in order to appropriately request benefits and/or appeal benefit denials. The information collected in connection with the HHS-administered federal external review process is collected by HHS, and is used to provide claimants with an independent external review. Form Number: CMS-10338 (OMB control number: 0938-1099); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector (Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions); Number of Respondents: 497,262; Total Annual Responses: 517,014,153; Total Annual Hours: 1,198,692. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Laura Byabazaire at 301-492-4128.)

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: LTCH CARE Data Set for the Collection of Data Pertaining to the Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program; Use: We are requesting an extension to the Long-Term Care Hospital Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation Data Set (LTCH CARE Data Set or LCDS) Version 5.0 that will be effective on October 1, 2022.

On November 2, 2021 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule (86 FR 62240) which finalized proposed modifications to the effective date for the reporting of measures and certain standardized patient assessment data in the Long-term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program (LTCH QRP). Per the final rule CMS will require LTCHs to start collecting assessment data using LCDS Version 5.0 beginning October 1, 2022. The information collection request for LCDS Version 5.0 was re-approved on December 7, 2021 with an October 1, 2022 implementation date. CMS is asking for an extension of the approved LCDS Version 5.0, which currently expires on December 31, 2022.

The LTCH CARE Data Set is used to collect, submit, and report quality data to CMS for compliance with the Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program (LTCH QRP). Form Number: CMS-10409 (OMB control number: 0938-1163); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 415; Total Annual Responses: 204,936; Total Annual Hours: 145,831. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Christy Hughes at 410-786-5662.)

Dated: February 8, 2022.

William N. Parham, III,

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