2012-22726. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 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) 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 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.

1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title: Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Payment Demonstration; Use: In response to the provision of the Affordable Care Act, beginning in 2012, quality bonus payments (QBPs) are given to all plans earning four or five stars in Medicare's Star Rating program. As an extension of this legislation, CMS launched the Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Payment Demonstration, which accelerates the phase-in of QBPs by extending bonus payments to three-star plans and eliminating the cap on blended county benchmarks that would otherwise limit QBPs. Through this demonstration, CMS seeks to understand how incentive payments impact plan quality across a broader spectrum of plans.

The data collection effort will be conducted in the form of a survey of Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) and up to 10 case studies with MAOs in order to supplement what can be learned from the analyses of administrative and financial data for MAOs, and from an environmental and literature scan. The data collected is needed to evaluate the QBP demonstration to better understand what impact the demonstration has had on MAO operations and their efforts to improve quality. The data collection instrument is a survey questionnaire designed to capture information on how MAOs perceive the demonstration and are planning for or implementing changes in quality initiatives and to identify factors that help or hinder the capacity to achieve quality improvement and that influence the decision calculus to make changes. Specifically, the information is expected to provide a detailed picture to CMS of the kinds of quality initiatives utilized by MAOs and some preliminary information on how they assess the effectiveness of these programs. The survey is designed to provide an overall picture of the QBP that can be used for national comparisons across plans as part of the larger evaluation of the QBP demonstration.

The case studies will be conducted as a series of open-ended discussions with MAO staff that will be guided by a discussion protocol. The case studies will supplement the information gathered from the survey and data analysis, providing valuable context and details about successful quality improvement activities. The case studies are particularly well suited to exploring the detailed characteristics of the plans' quality improvement activities, emphasizing the decision-making and thought processes underlying the structure and direction of their efforts and capturing the contextual factors that impact the nature, structure, and scope of the programs. Form Number: CMS-10445 (OCN: 0938-New); Frequency: Annual; Affected Public: Private Sector—Business or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 730; Total Annual Responses: 1,280; Total Annual Hours: 683. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Gerald Riley at 410-786-6699. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement with a change of a previously approved collection; Title: Medicare Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Registration and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Enrollment Form; Use: The purpose of this collection to obtain information that will be subsequently used during transaction exchange for identification of Medicare providers/suppliers and authorization of requested Electronic Data Interface (EDI) functions. The EDI Enrollment and the Medicare Registration Forms are completed by Medicare providers/suppliers and submitted to Medicare contractors. Authorization is needed for providers and suppliers to send and receive HIPAA standard transactions directly (or through a designated 3rd party) to and from Medicare contractors. Medicare contractors would use the information for initial set-up and maintenance of the access privileges. The use of the standard form provides an efficient uniform means by which Medicare captures information necessary to drive Medicare EDI security and EDI access privileges. All EDI providers will complete and sign the EDI Enrollment Form along with the Medicare EDI Registration Form. They will also reconfirm their access privileges annually.

The information collected will be uploaded into Medicare contractor computer systems. Medicare contractors will store this information in a database accessed at the time of provider connection to the Medicare Data Contractor Network (MDCN). When authentication is successful and connectivity is established, transactions may be exchanged. The information will be stored in a computer data base and used to authenticate the user on day-to-day electronic commerce, support the submitter and password administration function, and validate access relationships between providers/suppliers and their designated EDI submitter/receiver on a per transaction basis. Form Number: CMS-10164 (OCN: 0938-0983); Frequency: Once; Affected Public: Private Sector—Business or other for-profits, Not for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 240,000; Total Annual Responses: 240,000; Total Annual Hours: 80,000. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Claudette Sikora at 410-786-5618. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection. Title of Information Collection: Monthly State File of Medicaid/Medicare Dual Eligible Enrollees. Use: The monthly data file is provided to CMS by states on dually eligible Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, listing the individuals on the Medicaid eligibility file, their Medicare status and other information needed to establish subsidy level, such as income and institutional status. The file will be used to count the exact number of individuals who should be included in the phased-down state contribution calculation that month. CMS will be able to merge the data with other data files and establish Part D enrollment for those individuals on the file. The file may be used by CMS partners to obtain accurate counts of duals on a current basis. Form Number: CMS-10143 (OCN 0938-0958). Frequency: Monthly. Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments. Number of Respondents: 51. Total Annual Responses: 612. Total Annual Hours: 6,120. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Goldy Austen at 410-786-6450. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

4. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection. Title of Information Collection: Medicare Credit Balance Reporting Requirements and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 405.371, 405.378 and 413.20; Use: Section 1815(a) of the Act authorizes the Secretary to request information from providers which is necessary to properly administer the Medicare program. Quarterly credit balance reporting is needed to monitor and control the identification and timely collection of improper payments. The information obtained from Medicare credit balance reports will be used by the contractors to identify and recover outstanding Medicare credit balances and by federal enforcement agencies to protect federal funds. The information will also be used to identify the causes of credit balances and to take corrective action. Form Number: CMS-838 (OCN: 0938-0600); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private sector—Business or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 45,838; Total Annual Responses: 183,352; Total Annual Hours: 550,056. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Milton Jacobson at 410-786-7553. 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 Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone].

In commenting on the proposed information collections please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of the following ways by November 16, 2012:

1. Electronically. You may submit 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) 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.

Dated: September 11, 2012.

Martique Jones,

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