2013-21258. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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 (the 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 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates 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.

DATES:

Comments must be received by October 29, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number (OCN). To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in any one of the following ways:

1. Electronically. You may send 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) that are 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.

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' Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/​PaperworkReductionActof1995.

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

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Reports Clearance Office at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Contents

This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated with the following information collections. More detailed information can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see ADDRESSES).

CMS-10497 Evaluation of the Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration Evaluation: Focus Group and Interview Protocols

Under the 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 requires federal agencies to publish a 60-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.

Information Collections

1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Evaluation of the Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration Evaluation: Focus Group and Interview Protocols; Use: The Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration was developed to address concerns about the U.S. health care system, which typically fragments care while also encouraging both omissions in and duplication of care. To rectify this situation, Congress has directed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to test major changes to the delivery and payment systems to improve the quality of care while also increasing efficiency across the health care system. This would be achieved through several types of interventions: adoption and use of information technology and decision support tools by physicians and their patients, such as evidence-based medicine guidelines, best practice guidelines, and shared decision-making programs; reform of payment methodologies; improved coordination of care among payers and providers serving defined communities; measurement of outcomes; and enhanced cultural competence in the delivery of care.

Section 1866C of the Social Security Act, as amended by Section 646 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173), section 1866C(b)), requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a 5-year demonstration program under which the Secretary may approve demonstration projects that examine health delivery factors that encourage improved quality in patient care. This section also authorizes the Secretary to waive compliance with such requirements of Titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out the demonstration project.

The MHCQ Demonstration programs are designed to examine the extent to which major, multifaceted changes to traditional Medicare's health delivery and financing systems lead to improvements in the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries without increasing total program expenditures. Each demonstration site uses a different approach for changing health delivery and financing systems, but all share the goal of improving the quality and efficiency of medical care provided to Medicare beneficiaries. Focus groups and individual interviews will be conducted at 2 demonstration sites that are active in the demonstration: Gundersen Health System (GHS) and Meridian Health System (MHS).

This MHCQ Demonstration evaluation will include analysis of both quantitative and qualitative sources of information. This multifaceted approach will enable this evaluation to consider a broad variety of evidence for evaluating the nature and impact of each site's interventions. Form Number: CMS-10497 (OCN: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals or households and Private sector (Not-for-profit organizations); Number of Respondents: 36; Total Annual Responses: 36; Total Annual Hours: 108. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Normandy Brangan at 410-786-6640.).

Dated: August 27, 2013.

Martique Jones,

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