2010-11774. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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) 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.

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Coordination of Benefits between Part D Plans and Other Prescription Coverage Providers; Use: Section 1860D-23 and 1860D-24 of the Social Security Act requires the Secretary to establish requirements for prescription drug plans to ensure the effective coordination between Part D plans, State pharmaceutical Assistance programs and other payers. The requirements must relate to the following elements: (1) Enrollment file sharing; (2) claims processing and payment; (3) claims reconciliation reports; (4) application of the protections against high out-of-pocket expenditures by tracking True out-of-pocket (TrOOP) expenditures; and (5) other processes that the Secretary determines. CMS, via the TrOOP facilitation contractor, automated the transfer of beneficiary coverage information when a beneficiary changes Part D plans. This information is necessary to assist with coordination of prescription drug benefits provided to the Medicare beneficiary. Refer to the crosswalk document for a list of the current changes. Form Number: CMS-10171 (OMB#: 0938-0978); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 57,227; Total Annual Responses: 248,018; Total Annual Hours: 754,788 (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Christine Hinds at 410-786-4578. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Participating Physician or Supplier Agreement; Form No.: CMS-460 (OMB# 0938-0373); Use: The CMS-460 is the agreement a physician, supplier or their authorized official signs to participate in Medicare Part B. By signing the agreement to participate in Medicare, the physician, supplier or their authorized official agrees to accept the Medicare-determined payment for Medicare covered services as payment in full and to charge the Medicare Part B beneficiary no more than the applicable deductible or coinsurance for the covered services. For purposes of this explanation, the term a supplier means any person or entity that may bill Medicare for Part B services (e.g. DME supplier, nurse practitioner, supplier of diagnostic tests) except a Medicare provider of services (e.g. hospital), which must participate to be paid by Medicare for covered care.

There are additional benefits associated with payment for services paid under the Medicare fee schedule. Payments made under the Medicare fee schedule for physician services to participating physicians and suppliers are based on 100 percent of the Medicare fee schedule amount, while the Medicare fee schedule payment for physician services by nonparticipating physicians and suppliers is based on 95 percent of the fee schedule amount. Physicians and suppliers who do not participate in Medicare are subject to limits on their actual charges for unassigned claims for physician services. These limits, known as limiting charges, cannot exceed 115 percent of the non-participant fee schedule, which is set at 95 percent of the full fee schedule amount. In addition, if a physician or supplier does not accept assignment on a claim for Medicare payment, the physician or supplier must collect payment from the beneficiary. If the physician or supplier accepts assignment on the claim, Medicare pays its share of the payment directly to the physician or supplier, resulting in faster and more certain payment. Frequency: Reporting, Other—when starting a new business; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 8,000; Total Annual Responses: 8,000; Total Annual Hours: 2,000. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact April Billingsley at 410-786-0410. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Survey to Inform the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) National Outreach & Education Campaign; Form No.: CMS-10318 (OMB# 0938-New); Use: The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA or Pub. L. 111-3) reauthorized the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through FY 2013. It will preserve coverage for the millions of children who rely on CHIP today and provide the resources for States to reach millions of additional uninsured children. This legislation will help ensure the health and well-being of our nation's children. To support this legislation and to help people who would benefit from CHIP make more informed decisions, CMS will be conducting outreach. The outreach will employ numerous communications channels to educate people who would benefit from CHIP concerning the program benefits, eligibility and enrollment requirements, utilization, and retention. As part of the outreach, CMS will seek to increase awareness, enrollment and retention in CHIP for the eligible audiences. The primary target audience for the outreach includes parents and guardians of potentially eligible children as well as pregnant women. Secondary audiences are information intermediaries including State, local, and tribal governments, educators (including non-parental caregivers), health care providers/social workers, national and local partners. The challenge is reaching the population segments that have access barriers to information including language, literacy, location, and culture to understand health insurance. To support the outreach and education, CMS needs to conduct survey research to be able to effectively reach the target audiences. Frequency: Reporting—Once; Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Number of Respondents: 1,850; Total Annual Responses: 1,850; Total Annual Hours: 2,000. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Barbara Allen at 410-786-6716. 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 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].

In commenting on the proposed information collections please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of the following ways by July 19, 2010:

1. Electronically. You may submit 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) 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.

Michelle Shortt,

Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.