2016-18664. 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 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 on the collection(s) of information must be received by the OMB desk officer by September 6, 2016.

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' 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:

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: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Testing Experience and Functional Tools: Functional Assessment Standardized Items (FASI) Based on the CARE Tool; Use: In 2012, CMS funded a project entitled, Technical Assistance to States for Testing Experience and Functional Tools (TEFT) Grants. One component of this demonstration is to amend and test the reliability of a setting-agnostic, interoperable set of data elements, called “items,” that can support standardized assessment of individuals across the continuum of care. Items that were created for use in post-acute care settings using the Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation (CARE) tool have been adopted, modified, or supplemented for use in community-based long-term services and supports (CB-LTSS) programs. This project will test the reliability and validity of the function-related assessment items, now referred to as Functional Assessment Standardized Items (FASI), when applied in community settings, and in various populations: Elders (65 years and older); younger adults (18-64) with physical disabilities; and adults of any age with intellectual or developmental disabilities, with severe mental illness, or with traumatic brain injury.

Individual-level data will be collected two times using the TEFT FASI Item Set. The first data collection effort will collect data that can be analyzed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the FASI items when used with the five waiver populations. Assessors will conduct functional assessments in client homes using the TEFT FASI Item Set. Changes may be recommended to individual TEFT FASI items, to be made prior to releasing the TEFT FASI items for use by the states. The FASI Field Test Report will be released to the public.

The second data collection will be conducted by the states to demonstrate their use of the FASI data elements. The assessment data could be used by the states for multiple purposes. They may use the standardized items to determine individual eligibility for state programs, or to help determine levels of care within which people can receive services, or other purposes. In the second round of data collection, states will demonstrate their proposed uses, manage their FASI data collection and conduct their own analysis, to the extent they propose to do such tasks. The states have been funded under the demonstration grant to conduct the round 2 data collection and analysis. These states will submit reports to CMS describing their experience in the Round 2 data collection, including the items they collected, how they planned to use the data, and the types of challenges and successes they encountered in doing so. The reports may be used by CMS in their evaluation of the TEFT grants.

Subsequent to the publication of our 60-day Federal Register notice (May 2, 2016; 81 FR 26235), we have made several minor modifications to the form. The changes are intended to further protect participant identification and improve the response efficiency by removing several checkboxes that we were using for item screening purposes. The instructions were revised accordingly. The revisions have no impact on our 60-day burden estimates. Form Number: CMS-10243 (OMB control number: 0938-1037); Frequency: On occasion; Affected Public: Individuals and Households; Number of Respondents: 5,650; Total Annual Responses: 5,650; Total Annual Hours: 2,825. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Allison Weaver at 410-786-4924.)

Dated: August 2, 2016.

William N. Parham, III,

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