2012-12811. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & 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 & Medicaid Services (CMS), 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 function; (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: New collection; Title of Information Collection: End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) System Access Request Form; Use: Within CMS, the Office of Clinical Standards and Quality is developing a new suite of systems to support the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) program. Due to the sensitivity of the data being collected and reported, CMS must ensure that only authorized personnel have access to data. Personnel are given access to the ESRD systems through the creation of user IDs and passwords within the QualityNet Identity Management System (QIMS); however, once within the system, the system determines the rights and privileges the personnel has over the data within the system.

The sole purpose the End Stage Renal Disease System (ESRD) System Access Request Form is to identify the individual's data access rights once within the ESRD system. This function and the associated data collection is currently being accomplished under “Part B” of the QualityNet Identity Management System Account Form (CMS-10267; OCN: 0938-1050). Once the ESRD System Access Form is approved, the QualityNet Identity Management System (QIMS) Account Form will be revised to remove Part B from the QIMS data collection. Form Number: CMS-10426 (OCN: 0938-New); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector—Business or other for-profits. Number of Respondents: 25,000. Number of Responses: 25,000. Total Annual Hours: 6,250. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Michelle Tucker at 410-786-0736. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Fee-for-Service Recovery Audit Prepayment Review Demonstration and Prior Authorization Demonstration; Use: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the collections required for two demonstrations of prepayment review and prior authorization. The first demonstration would allow Medicare Recovery Auditors to review claims on a pre-payment basis in certain States. The second demonstration would establish a prior authorization program for Power Mobility Device claims in certain States.

For the Recovery Audit Prepayment Review Demonstration, CMS and its agents will request additional documentation, including medical records, to support submitted claims. As discussed in more detail in Chapter 3 of the Program Integrity Manual, additional documentation includes any medical documentation, beyond what is included on the face of the claim that supports the item or service that is billed. For Medicare to consider coverage and payment for any item or service, the information submitted by the provider or supplier (e.g., claims) must be supported by the documentation in the patient's medical records. When conducting complex medical review, the contractor specifies documentation they require in accordance with Medicare's rules and policies. In addition, providers and suppliers may supply additional documentation not explicitly listed by the contractor. This supporting information may be requested by CMS and its agents on a routine basis in instances where diagnoses on a claim do not clearly indicate medical necessity, or if there is a suspicion of fraud.

For the Prior Authorization of Power Mobility Devices (PMDs) Demonstration, CMS will pilot prior authorization for Power Mobility Devices. Prior authorization will allow the applicable documentation that supports a claim to be submitted before the item is delivered. For prior authorization, relevant documentation for review is submitted before the item is delivered or the service is rendered. CMS will conduct this demonstration in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Texas based on beneficiary address as reported to the Social Security Administration and recorded in the Common Working File (CWF). For the demonstration, a prior authorization request can be completed by the (ordering) physician or treating practitioner and submitted to the appropriate DME MAC for an initial decision. The supplier may also submit the request on behalf of the physician or treating practitioner. The physician, treating practitioner or supplier who submits the request on behalf of the physician or treating practitioner, is referred to as the “submitter.” Under this demonstration, the submitter will submit to the DME MAC a request for prior authorization and all relevant documentation to support Medicare coverage of the PMD item.

CMS has decided to amend the requirement when subsequent prior authorization requests are submitted. Currently, CMS or its agents have up to 30 business days in which to conduct a review and communicate a decision. CMS now proposes to allow up to 20 business days to provide suppliers and the Medicare beneficiaries' quality services within reasonable time period to facilitate the delivery of necessary equipment which enhances mobility related activities of daily living and supports independence.

These demonstrations have been designed to develop and demonstrate improved methods for the investigation and prosecution of fraud in the provision of care or services under the health programs established by the Social Security Act. The information required under this information collection request is requested by Medicare contractors to determine proper payment or if there is a suspicion of fraud. For the RAC demonstration, Medicare contractors may request the information from providers or suppliers submitting claims for payment from the Medicare program when data analysis indicates aberrant billing patterns or other information which may present a vulnerability to the Medicare program. Under the prior authorization demonstration, for certain PMDs, with a history of aberrant billing patterns, this information is requested in advance to determine appropriate payment or if there is a suspicion of fraud. Form Number: CMS-10421 (OCN 0938—New); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 479,750; Total Annual Responses: 479,750; Total Annual Hours: 243,060. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Debbie Skinner at 410-786-7480. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Generic Clearance for the Collection Customer Satisfaction Surveys; Use: This collection of information is necessary to enable the Agency to garner customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with our commitment to improving service delivery. The information collected from our customers and stakeholders will help ensure that users have an effective, efficient, and satisfying experience with the Agency's programs. This feedback will provide insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service, or focus attention on areas where communication, training or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or services. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and actionable communications between the Agency and its customers and stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the improvement of program management.

Collecting voluntary customer feedback is the least burdensome, most effective way for the Agency to determine whether or not its public Web sites are useful to and used by its customers. Generic clearance is needed to ensure that the Agency can continuously improve its Web sites though regular surveys developed from these pre-defined questions. Surveying the Agency Web sites on a regular, ongoing basis will help ensure that users have an effective, efficient, and satisfying experience on any of the Web sites, maximizing the impact of the information and resulting in optimum benefit for the public. The surveys will ensure that this communication channel meets customer and partner priorities, builds the Agency's brands, and contributes to the Agency's health and human services impact goals. Form Number: CMS-10415 (OCN 0938—New); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals and Households, Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions, State, Local or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 1,000,000; Total Annual Responses: 1,000,000; Total Annual Hours: 67,000. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact John Booth at 410-786-6577. 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 address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/​PaperworkReductionActof1995,, or Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone].

To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be received by the OMB desk officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on June 28, 2012. OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk Officer, Fax Number: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

Dated: May 22, 2012.

Martique Jones,

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