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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53765-53766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21258]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-10497]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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 (the 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 60 days for public 
comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send 
comments regarding our burden estimates 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 must be received by October 29, 2013.

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier or 
OMB control number (OCN). To be assured consideration, comments and 
recommendations must be submitted 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' 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 Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov.
    3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-
1326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Contents

    This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated 
with the following information collections. More detailed information 
can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated 
materials (see ADDRESSES).

[[Page 53766]]

CMS-10497 Evaluation of the Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) 
Demonstration Evaluation: Focus Group and Interview Protocols

    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. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires federal agencies 
to publish a 60-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.

Information Collections

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: 
Evaluation of the Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration 
Evaluation: Focus Group and Interview Protocols; Use: The Medicare 
Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration was developed to address 
concerns about the U.S. health care system, which typically fragments 
care while also encouraging both omissions in and duplication of care. 
To rectify this situation, Congress has directed the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to test major changes to the 
delivery and payment systems to improve the quality of care while also 
increasing efficiency across the health care system. This would be 
achieved through several types of interventions: adoption and use of 
information technology and decision support tools by physicians and 
their patients, such as evidence-based medicine guidelines, best 
practice guidelines, and shared decision-making programs; reform of 
payment methodologies; improved coordination of care among payers and 
providers serving defined communities; measurement of outcomes; and 
enhanced cultural competence in the delivery of care.
    Section 1866C of the Social Security Act, as amended by Section 646 
of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act 
of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173), section 1866C(b)), requires the Secretary of 
the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a 5-year 
demonstration program under which the Secretary may approve 
demonstration projects that examine health delivery factors that 
encourage improved quality in patient care. This section also 
authorizes the Secretary to waive compliance with such requirements of 
Titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) 
as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out the demonstration 
project.
    The MHCQ Demonstration programs are designed to examine the extent 
to which major, multifaceted changes to traditional Medicare's health 
delivery and financing systems lead to improvements in the quality of 
care provided to Medicare beneficiaries without increasing total 
program expenditures. Each demonstration site uses a different approach 
for changing health delivery and financing systems, but all share the 
goal of improving the quality and efficiency of medical care provided 
to Medicare beneficiaries. Focus groups and individual interviews will 
be conducted at 2 demonstration sites that are active in the 
demonstration: Gundersen Health System (GHS) and Meridian Health System 
(MHS).
    This MHCQ Demonstration evaluation will include analysis of both 
quantitative and qualitative sources of information. This multifaceted 
approach will enable this evaluation to consider a broad variety of 
evidence for evaluating the nature and impact of each site's 
interventions. Form Number: CMS-10497 (OCN: 0938-NEW); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals or households and Private 
sector (Not-for-profit organizations); Number of Respondents: 36; Total 
Annual Responses: 36; Total Annual Hours: 108. (For policy questions 
regarding this collection contact Normandy Brangan at 410-786-6640.).

    Dated: August 27, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-21258 Filed 8-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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