2020-11389. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 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 June 29, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting on the proposed information collections, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions: OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk Officer, Fax Number: [phone] OR Email: [e-mail].

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

1. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to [e-mail].

2. Call the Reports Clearance Office at [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William Parham at [phone].

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: Revision with change of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: National Implementation of Hospice Experience of Care Survey (CAHPS Hospice Survey); Use: CMS launched the development of the CAHPS® Hospice Survey in 2012. Public reporting of the results on Hospice Compare started in 2018. The goal of the survey is to measure the experiences of patients and their caregivers with hospice care. The survey was developed to:

• Provide a source of information from which selected measures could be publicly reported to beneficiaries and their family members as a decision aid for selection of a hospice program;
• Aid hospices with their internal quality improvement efforts and external benchmarking with other facilities; and
• Provide CMS with information for monitoring the care provided.

CAHPS is a standardized family of surveys developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for patients to assess and report the quality of care they receive from their health care providers and health care delivery systems.

CMS announced its intention to implement the CAHPS® Hospice Survey in the FY 2014 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update; Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements; and Updates on Payment Reform. National implementation of the survey launched on January 1, 2015 with hospices administering the survey for a “dry run” for at least one month in the first quarter of 2015. Starting April 1, 2015 (second quarter), hospices were required to participate on a monthly basis in order to receive the full Annual Payment Update (APU). Implementation is ongoing and there have been no changes to the questionnaire.

Publicly reporting comparative survey results related to patients' perspectives of the care they receive from providers and plans collected through the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Surveys support CMS's efforts to put patients first and improve the beneficiary experience. Form Number: CMS-10537 (OMB control number: 0938-1257); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 1,032,004; Total Annual Responses: 1,032,004; Total Annual Hours: 180,004.

(For policy questions regarding this collection contact Debra Dean-Whittaker at 410-786-0848.)

Dated: May 21, 2020.

William N. Parham, III,

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