[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44094-44095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15677]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-P-0015A]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is
requesting that a new information collection request (ICR) related to
the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) (OMB clearance 0938-
0568) be processed under the emergency clearance process. Due to CMS'
determination that this collection of information is needed prior to
the expiration of time periods established under its regulations, an
emergency clearance is requested. Once the emergency information
collection request is approved, CMS plans to seek public comments
during the required 60-day and 30-day notice and comment periods
associated with obtaining a standard (non-emergency) OMB approval for
extending the information collection request as part of the MCBS
(collected under 0938-0568). The approval of this information
collection package is necessary because of the urgent need to obtain
timely data to assess the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the
Medicare population. Adding a COVID-19 Supplement to the MCBS data
collection in October 2020 will provide critical information to CMS and
the public.
DATES: Comments must be received by July 27, 2020.
ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier or
OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and
recommendations must be submitted within 10 days 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' website address at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Parham at (410) 786-4669.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA, Federal agencies are required
to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed ICR.
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden
estimates or any other aspect of this ICR including the necessity and
utility of the proposed ICR for the proper performance of the agency's
functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected and
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology to minimize the information collection burden.
Contents
This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated
with the following ICR. More detailed information can be found in the
collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see
ADDRESSES).
[[Page 44095]]
CMS-P-0015A Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) COVID-19 Rapid
Response Supplement
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. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this
notice that summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of
information for public comment:
Information Collection
1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection:
Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) COVID-19 Rapid Response
Supplement; Use: CMS is the largest single payer of health care in the
United States. The agency plays a direct or indirect role in
administering health insurance coverage for more than 120 million
people across the Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Exchange populations. A
critical aim for CMS is to be an effective steward, major force, and
trustworthy partner in supporting innovative approaches to improving
quality, accessibility, and affordability in healthcare. CMS also aims
to put patients first in the delivery of their health care needs.
The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) is the most
comprehensive and complete survey available on the Medicare population
and is essential in capturing data not otherwise collected through our
operations. The MCBS is a nationally-representative, longitudinal
survey of Medicare beneficiaries that we sponsor and is directed by the
Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics (OEDA). The survey captures
beneficiary information whether aged or disabled, living in the
community or facility, or serviced by managed care or fee-for-service.
Data produced as part of the MCBS are enhanced with our administrative
data (e.g. fee-for-service claims, prescription drug event data,
enrollment, etc.) to provide users with more accurate and complete
estimates of total health care costs and utilization. The MCBS has been
continuously fielded for more than 28 years, encompassing over 1
million interviews and more than 100,000 survey participants.
Respondents participate in up to 11 interviews over a four year period.
This gives a comprehensive picture of health care costs and utilization
over a period of time.
With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., CMS is
uniquely positioned to quickly collect vital information on how the
pandemic is impacting the Medicare population by utilizing the MCBS.
MCBS beneficiaries, by definition, are most at risk for underlying
conditions that may lead to more severe COVID-19 complications. This
new clearance requests approval to add the Fall COVID-19 Supplement to
the MCBS Fall 2020 Round 88 data collection conducted under 0938-0568.
Due to the emergence of this public health crisis, a Supplement to the
MCBS is especially well-suited to provide CMS critical data on measures
of Medicare beneficiary knowledge about telehealth, social distancing
and other important preventive health behaviors, along with updated
information about COVID-19 testing and the results of those tests.
Since the MCBS has a sample size sufficient for estimation, it provides
a ready source to obtain high quality data.
The MCBS COVID-19 Supplement will be administered to respondents
living in the community and to facility staff who answer questions on
behalf of the sampled beneficiary. Respondents will participate by
telephone to answer the Supplement questions. In accordance with the
implementing regulations of the PRA at 5 CFR 1320.13, CMS is requesting
emergency processing for this ICR because it cannot reasonably comply
with normal clearance procedures. Upon OMB approval of this emergency
clearance request, CMS will follow the normal clearance procedures for
the MCBS ICR under 0938-0568.
Form Number: CMS-P-0015A (OMB control number: 0938-NEW); Frequency:
One-time collection; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and
Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 11,536; Total
Annual Responses: 11,536; Total Annual Hours: 3,229. (For policy
questions regarding this collection contact William Long at 410-786-
7927.)
Dated: July 15, 2020.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-15677 Filed 7-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P