02-10192. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare and 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 and Medicaid Services (CMS) (formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), 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 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.

Type of Information Collection Request: New Collection; Title of Information Collection: Survey of Newly Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries; Form No.: CMS-10050 (OMB# 0938-NEW); Use: It is not enough to merely mail information about the Medicare program to each beneficiary. We need to know not only that the beneficiaries got the information, but that they understood the information and are able to use it in making choices about their Medicare participation. To this end, CMS must have measure(s) over time of what beneficiaries know and understand about the Medicare program now to be able to quantify and attribute any changes to their understanding or behavior to information/education initiatives. Measuring beneficiary information needs and knowledge over time will help us evaluate the impact of information/education and other initiatives as well as to understand how the population is changing apart from such initiatives; Frequency: Monthly; Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Number of Respondents: 3,600; Total Annual Responses: 3,600; Total Annual Hours: 1,080.

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.hcfa.gov/​regs/​prdact95.htm,, 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]. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be mailed within 30 days of this notice directly to the OMB desk officer: OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Allison Eydt, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: April 16, 2002.

John P. Burke III,

CMS Reports Clearance Officer, CMS, Office of Information Services, Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise Standards.