2014-22379. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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 October 20, 2014.

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: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Solicitation for Applications for Medicare Prescription Drug Plan 2015 Contracts; Use: The information will be collected under the solicitation of proposals from PDP, MA-PD, Cost Plan, PACE, and EGWP applicants. We will use the information to ensure that applicants meet our requirements and support the determination of contract awards. Participation in the Part D program is voluntary in nature. Only organizations that are interested in participating in the program will respond to the solicitation. The MA-PDs that voluntarily participate in the Part C program must submit a Part D application and successful bid. Form Number: CMS-10137 (OMB control number: 0938-0936); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private sector—Business or other for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 254; Total Annual Responses: 254; Total Annual Hours: 2,193. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Arianne Spaccarelli at 410-786-5715).

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Part C and Part D Data Validation; Use: Organizations contracted to offer Medicare Part C and Part D benefits are required to report data to us on a variety of measures. For the data to be useful for monitoring and performance measurement, the data must be reliable, valid, complete, and comparable among sponsoring organizations. To meet this goal, we have developed reporting standards and data validation specifications with respect to the Part C and Part D reporting requirements. These standards provide a review process for Medicare Advantage Organizations, Cost Plans, and Part D sponsors to use to conduct data validation checks on their reported Part C and Part D data. The currently approved information collection is being revised to reflect decreases in the number of reporting sections being validated and an increase in the average number of data elements per reporting section for 2015-2017. The package has been revised subsequent to the publication of the 60-day Federal Register notice (June 13, 2014; 79 FR 33927). Form Number: CMS-10305 (OMB control number: 0938-1115); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private sector—Business or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 706; Total Annual Responses: 706; Total Annual Hours: 202,578. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Terry Lied at 410-786-8973).

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Ombudsman Customer Service Feedback Survey; Use: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stresses a continuing need for setting customer service goals that include providing accurate, timely, and relevant information to its customers. With these goals in mind, we periodically survey our customers to ensure that the needs of Medicare beneficiaries are being met. This survey will be used to measure overall satisfaction of the customer service that the Medicare Ombudsman Group (MOG) within CMS provides to Medicare beneficiaries and their representatives. The information provided will be used by management and staff to measure and improve the quality and timeliness of responses to written and verbal correspondence. Form Numbers: CMS-10068 (OMB control number: 0938-0894); Frequency: Annually, occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector; Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 2,380; Total Annual Response s: 2,380; Total Annual Hours: 317. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Nancy Conn at 410-786-8374.)

4. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: State Plan Preprint for Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs); Use: Under section 1902(a)(42)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act, States are required to establish programs to contract with one or more Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) for the purpose of identifying underpayments and recouping overpayments under the State plan and any waiver of the State plan with respect to all services for which payment is made to any entity under such plan or waiver. Further, the statute requires States to establish programs to contract with Medicaid RACs in a manner consistent with State law, and generally in the same manner as the Secretary contracts with Medicare RACs. State programs contracted with Medicaid RACs are not required to be fully operational until after December 31, 2010. States may submit, to CMS, a State Plan Amendment (SPA) attesting that they will establish a Medicaid RAC program. States have broad discretion regarding the Medicaid RAC program design and the number of entities with which they elect to contract. Many States already have experience utilizing contingency-fee-based Third Party Liability recovery contractors. Form Number: CMS-10343 (OMB control number: 0938-1126); Frequency: Once; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 56; Total Annual Responses: 56; Total Annual Hours: 56. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Yolanda Green at 410-786-0798.)

Dated: September 16, 2014.

Martique Jones,

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