2011-13330. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; 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), 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: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Demonstration Ambulatory Care Quality Measure Performance Assessment Tool (“PAT”); Use: This request is to cover a modification of an existing, approved data collection effort with a new secure web based system. This system will also provide a platform for developing tools to collect clinical quality data for future demonstrations and programs. There is no increase in burden. In fact, because all of the practices submitting data will have Electronic Health Records (EHRs), it is likely that the originally estimated burden will decrease over the coming years of the demonstration. CMS is requesting an extension of the currently approved tool for the collection of ambulatory care clinical performance measure data.

The data will be used to continue implementation of two Congressionally mandated demonstration projects (the Physician Group Practice (PGP) Demonstration and the Medicare Care Management Performance (MCMP) Demonstration); also the support data collection under the new EHR Demonstration. Each of these demonstrations, test new payment methods for improving the quality and efficiency of health care services delivered to Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, especially those with chronic conditions that account for a disproportionate share of Medicare expenditures. In addition, the MCMP and EHR demonstration specifically encourage the adoption of electronic health records systems as a vehicle for improving how health care is delivered. Form Number: CMS-10136 (OMB# 0938-0941); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 400; Total Annual Responses: 400; Total Annual Hours: 9600. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Jodie Blatt at 410-786-6921. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of currently approved collection; Title of Information: Medicare Gainsharing Demonstration Evaluation: Physician Focus Groups; Use: The proposed physician focus groups are part of the evaluation of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)'s Medicare Physician Hospital Collaboration Demonstration. The Congress, under Section 646 of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 permitted CMS to conduct demonstrations to test methods for the provision of incentives for improving the quality and safety of care and achieving the efficient allocation of resources. The primary goal of the demonstration is to evaluate gainsharing as means to align physician and hospital incentives to improve quality and efficiency. This demonstration plans to use the physician focus group protocols approved by OMB for the DRA 5007 Gainsharing Demonstration. Form Number: CMS-10303 (OMB#: 0938-1103); Frequency: Once; Affected Public: Private sector, business or other for profits; Number of Respondents: 288; Total Annual Responses: 144; Total Annual Hours: 144 (For policy questions regarding this collection contact William Buczko at 410-786-6593. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

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 30, 2011. OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk Officer, Fax Number: [phone], E-mail: [e-mail].

Dated: May 25. 2011.

Michelle Shortt,

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