[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 23 (Friday, February 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8361-8362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02439]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-R-246]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human 
Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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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 the necessity and utility of the 
proposed information collection 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.

DATES: Comments on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by March 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    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 website address at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html.

[[Page 8362]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Parham at (410) 786-4669.

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: Medicare 
Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Fee-For-Service Consumer 
Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey; Use: The 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has authority to collect 
various types of quality data under section 1852(e) of the Act and use 
this information to develop and publicly post a 5-star rating system 
for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans based on its authority to disseminate 
comparative information, including about quality, to beneficiaries 
under sections 1851(d) and 1860D-1(c) of the Act. As codified at Sec.  
422.152(b)(3), Medicare health plans are required to report on quality 
performance data which CMS can use to help beneficiaries compare plans. 
Cost plans under section 1876 of the Act are also included in the MA 
Star Rating system, as codified at Sec.  417.472(k), and are required 
by regulation (Sec.  417.472(j)) to make CAHPS survey data available to 
CMS.
    The MMA under Sec. 1860D-4 (Information to Facilitate Enrollment) 
requires CMS to conduct consumer satisfaction surveys of enrollees in 
MA and Part D contracts and report the results to Medicare 
beneficiaries prior to the annual enrollment period. This request for 
approval is for CMS to continue conducting the Medicare CAHPS surveys 
annually to meet the requirement to conduct consumer satisfaction 
surveys regarding the experiences of beneficiaries with their health 
and prescription drug plans.
    The primary purpose of the Medicare CAHPS surveys is to provide 
information to Medicare beneficiaries to help them make more informed 
choices among health and prescription drug plans available to them. 
Survey results are reported by CMS in the Medicare & You handbook 
published each fall and on the Medicare Plan Finder website. 
Beneficiaries can compare CAHPS scores for each health and drug plan as 
well as compare MA and FFS scores when making enrollment decisions. The 
Medicare CAHPS also provides data to help CMS and others monitor the 
quality and performance of Medicare health and prescription drug plans 
and identify areas to improve the quality of care and services provided 
to enrollees of these plans. CAHPS data are included in the Medicare 
Part C & D Star Ratings and used to calculate MA Quality Bonus 
Payments. Form Number: CMS-R-246 (OMB control number: 0938-1088); 
Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private Sector; Business or other 
for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 537; 
Total Annual Responses: 745,350; Total Annual Hours: 179,108. (For 
policy questions regarding this collection contact Sarah Gaillot at 
410-786-4637.)

    Dated: February 2, 2021.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-02439 Filed 2-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P