2023-06564. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; 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 (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 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 on the collection(s) of information must be received by the OMB desk officer by May 1, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, please access the CMS PRA website by copying and pasting the following web address into your web browser: https://www.cms.gov/​Regulations-and-Guidance/​Legislation/​PaperworkReductionActof1995/​PRA-Listing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William Parham at (410) 786–4669.

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 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: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: The Home Health Care CAHPS® Survey (HHCAHPS); Use: The national implementation of the Home Health Care CAHPS Survey is designed to collect ongoing data from samples of home health care patients who receive skilled services from Medicare-certified home health agencies. The survey is necessary because it fulfills the goal of transparency with the public about home health patient experiences.

The survey is used by Medicare-certified home health agencies to improve their internal quality assurance in the care that they provide in home health. The HHCAHPS survey is also used in a Medicare payment program. Medicare-certified home health agencies (HHAs) must contract with CMS-approved survey vendors that conduct the HHCAHPS on behalf of the HHAs to meet their requirements in the Home Health Quality Reporting Program Form Number: CMS–10275 (OMB control number: 0938–1066); Frequency: Quarterly; Affected Public: Individuals and Households; Number of Respondents: 1,052,966; Total Annual Responses: 1,149,975; Total Annual Hours: 420,576. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Lori Luria at 410–786–6684).

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Collection of Diagnostic Data in the Abbreviated RAPS Format from Medicare Advantage Organizations for Risk Adjusted Payments; Use: Under section 1894(d) of the Act, CMS must make prospective monthly capitated payments to PACE organizations in the same manner and from the same sources as payments to organizations under section 1853. Section 1894(e)(3)(A)(i) requires in part that PACE organizations collect data and make available to the Secretary reports necessary to monitor the cost, operation, and effectiveness of the PACE program.

CMS makes advance monthly per-enrollee payments to organizations, and is required to risk-adjust the payments based on predicted relative health care costs for each enrollee, as determined by enrollee-specific diagnoses and other factors, such as age. CMS has collected diagnosis data from organizations in two formats: (1) comprehensive data equivalent to Medicare fee-for-service claims data (often referred to as encounter data) and (2) data in an abbreviated format known as RAPS data, named for the Risk Adjustment Processing System (RAPS). The subject of this PRA package is collection of RAPS data. Encounter data collection is addressed in a separate PRA package (OMB 0938–1152).

Risk adjustment allows CMS to pay plans for the health risk of the beneficiaries they enroll, instead of paying an identical an average amount for each enrollee Medicare beneficiaries. By risk adjusting plan payments, CMS is able to make appropriate and accurate payments for enrollees with differences in expected costs. Risk adjustment is used to adjust bidding and payment based on the health status and demographic characteristics of an enrollee. Risk scores measure individual beneficiaries' relative risk and the risk scores are used to adjust payments for each beneficiary's expected expenditures. By risk adjusting plan bids, CMS is able to also use standardized bids as base payments to plans. Form Number: CMS–10062 (OMB control number: 0938–0878); Frequency: Quarterly; Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 284; Total Annual Responses: 80,235,720; Total Annual Hours: 2,674,524. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Amanda Johnson at 410–786–4161.

Dated: March 24, 2023.

William N. Parham, III,

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