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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 33 (Monday, February 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10587-10588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03527]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Document Identifier: OS-0990-0330]

Agency Information Collection Request; 60-Day Public Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and 
Human Services, is publishing the following summary of a proposed 
collection for public comment.

DATES: Comments on the ICR must be received on or before April 23, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or by calling 
(202) 795-7714.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the document identifier 0990-0330-60D, and 
project title for reference, to Sherrette Funn, the Reports Clearance 
Officer, [email protected], or call 202-795-7714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    Title of the Collection: Appellant Climate Survey.
    Type of Collection: Revision.
    OMB No. 0990-0330.
    Abstract: The annual OMHA Appellant Climate Survey is a survey of 
Medicare beneficiaries, providers, suppliers, or their representatives 
who participated in a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) 
from OMHA. Appellants dissatisfied with the

[[Page 10588]]

outcome of their Level 2 Medicare appeal may request a hearing before 
an OMHA ALJ. The Appellant Climate Survey will be used to measure 
appellant satisfaction with their OMHA appeals experience, as opposed 
to their satisfaction with a specific ruling. OMHA was established by 
the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act 
(MMA) of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173) and became operational on July 1, 2005. 
The MMA legislation and implementing regulations issued on March 8, 
2007, instituted a number of changes in the appeals process. The MMA 
legislation also directed HHS to consider the feasibility of conducting 
hearings using telephone or video-teleconference (VTC) technologies. In 
carrying out this mandate, OMHA makes use of both telephone and VTC to 
provide appellants with a vast nationwide network Field Offices for 
hearings. The first 3-year administration cycle of the OMHA survey 
began in fiscal year (FY) 2008, a second 3-year cycle began in FY 2011, 
a third 3-year cycle began in FY 2014, and a fourth 3-year cycle began 
in FY 2018. The survey will continue to be conducted annually over a 3-
year period with the next data collection cycle beginning in FY 2021. 
Data collection instruments and recruitment materials will be offered 
in English and Spanish. The estimated total number of respondents per 
FY starting FY 2021 is 800 respondents. The estimated total annual 
burden hours starting FY 2021 is 200 hours.
    Type of respondent; frequency (annual, quarterly, monthly, etc.); 
and the affected public (individuals, public or private businesses, 
state or local governments, etc.) The survey will be conducted 
annually, and survey respondents will consist of Medicare beneficiaries 
and non-beneficiaries (i.e., providers, suppliers) who participated in 
a hearing before an OMHA ALJ. OMHA will draw a representative, 
nonredundant sample of appellants whose cases have been closed in the 
last 6 months.

                                     Estimated Annualized Burden Hour Table
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                                                                      Number      Average burden
               Type of respondent                    Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)         hours
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Beneficiaries...................................             400               1           15/60             100
Non-Beneficiaries...............................             400               1           15/60             100
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    Total.......................................             800               1           15/60             200
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Sherrette A. Funn,
Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-03527 Filed 2-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-46-P
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