2010-17181. 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: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Electronic Health Records Demonstration System (EHRDS)—practice application and profile update system; Use: In 2008, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services directed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop a new demonstration initiative using Medicare waiver authority to reward the delivery of high-quality care supported by the adoption and use of electronic health records (EHRs). This continues to be a critical priority under the current administration. The goal of this demonstration is to foster the implementation and adoption of EHRs and health information technology (HIT) more broadly as effective vehicles to improve the quality of care provided and transform the way medicine is practiced and delivered. Adoption of HIT has the potential to provide significant savings to the Medicare program and improve the quality of care rendered to Medicare beneficiaries.

The new electronic EHR demonstration system was first developed with the intention of having practices applying to participate in Phase 2 of the demonstration use an on-line application form, rather than the currently approved paper application form that was used for Phase 1. However, with the cancellation of Phase 2, the system will not be used to collect new applications at this time. Instead, existing data on Phase 1 applications that was collected through the paper form and manually keyed into a PC based Access database will be transferred to the new system. Practices participating in Phase 1 of the demonstration will be requested to use the new system to provide periodic updates to their practice information. The EHR Demonstration system will enable practices to update critical demonstration information online in a secure, web-enabled environment, thereby facilitating timely and more accurate updates and processing of information. Thus, the EHR Demonstration system (EHRDS) does not reflect a request for new or additional data beyond what practices are already providing to CMS and its contractors. Rather it represents an effort to streamline and improve what has been a more `ad hoc' process for providing the same information. Form Number: CMS-10165 (OMB#: 0938-0965); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 400; Total Annual Responses: 313; Total Annual Hours: 52.3. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Jody Blatt at 410-786-6921. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Notice of Denial of Medical Coverage (NDMC) and Notice of Denial of Payment (NDP)—42 CFR 422.568; Use: Medicare health plans, including Medicare Advantage plans, cost plans, and Health Care Prepayment Plans (HCPPs), are required to issue the NDMC and NDP when a request for either a medical service or payment is denied in whole or in part. Additionally, the notices inform Medicare enrollees of their right to file an appeal. All Medicare health plans are required to use these standardized notices. Medicare health plans provide an NDMC to enrollees upon denial, in whole or in part, of an enrollee's coverage request. This denial may be subject to a series of administrative review levels, involving defined steps and timeframes. The NDMC was developed to ensure Medicare enrollees have access to information needed to navigate the Medicare beneficiary appeals process. The NDMC meets requirements for both Medicare's standard and expedited appeals processes.

Medicare health plans provide an NDP to enrollees upon denial, in whole or in part, of payment for a service or item that the enrollee received. This denial may be subject to a series of administrative review levels, involving defined steps and timeframes. The NDP was developed to ensure Medicare enrollees have access to information needed to navigate the Medicare beneficiary appeals process. The NDP meets requirements for Medicare's standard appeals process. Form Number: CMS-10003 (OMB#: 0938-0829); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 740; Total Annual Responses: 1,168,368; Total Annual Hours: 194,728. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Stephanie Simons at 206-615-2420. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Federal Qualification Application (42 CFR 417.140) and Medicare Health Care Prepayment Plan Application (42 CFR 417.800); Use: The application is the collection form used to obtain information to determine if an applicant meets the regulatory requirements to enter into a contract with CMS as a Federal Qualified health maintenance organization (HMO) or to provide health benefits to Medicare beneficiaries as a Medicare Health Care Prepayment Plan contractor. Form Number: CMS-901A & 901D (OMB#: 0938-0470); Frequency: Once; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 20; Total Annual Responses: 20; Total Annual Hours: 800. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Heidi Arndt at 410-786-1607. 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 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].

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 August 16, 2010.

OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk Officer, Fax Number: [phone], E-mail: OIRA_submission @omb.eop.gov.

Dated: July 9, 2010.

Michelle Shortt,

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