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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 12 (Thursday, January 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3899-3900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00860]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10437]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS) is publishing the following summary of proposed 
collections for public comment. 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.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Generic Social Marketing & Consumer Testing 
Research; Use: The purpose of this submission is to request an 
Information Collection Request (ICR) generic clearance for a program of 
consumer research aimed at a broad audience of those affected by CMS 
programs including Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance 
Program (CHIP), and health insurance exchanges. This program extends 
strategic efforts to reach and tailor communications to beneficiaries, 
caregivers, providers, stakeholders, and any other audiences that would 
support the Agency in improving the functioning of the health care 
system, improve patient care and outcomes, and reduce costs without 
sacrificing quality of care. With the clearance, CMS will create a fast 
track, streamlined, proactive process for collection of data and 
utilizing the feedback on service delivery for continuous improvement 
of communication activities aimed at diverse CMS audiences.
    The generic clearance will allow rapid response to inform CMS 
initiatives using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative consumer 
research strategies (including formative research studies and 
methodological tests) to improve communication with key CMS audiences. 
As new information resources and persuasive technologies are developed, 
they can be tested and evaluated for beneficiary response to the 
materials and delivery channels. Results will inform communication 
development and information architecture as well as allow for 
continuous quality improvement. The overall goal is to maximize the 
extent to which consumers have access to useful sources of CMS program 
information in

[[Page 3900]]

a form that can help them make the most of their benefits and options
    The activities under this clearance involve social marketing and 
consumer research using samples of self-selected customers, as well as 
convenience samples, and quota samples, with respondents selected 
either to cover a broad range of customers or to include specific 
characteristics related to certain products or services. All collection 
of information under this clearance will utilize a subset of items 
drawn from a core collection of customizable items referred to as the 
Social Marketing and Consumer Testing Item Bank. This item bank is 
designed to establish a set of pre-approved generic question that can 
be drawn upon to allow for the rapid turn-around consumer testing 
required for CMS to communicate more effectively with its audiences. 
The questions in the item bank are divided into two major categories. 
One set focuses on characteristics of individuals and is intended 
primarily for participant screening and for use in structured 
quantitative on-line or telephone surveys. The other set is less 
structured and is designed for use in qualitative one-on-one and small 
group discussions or collecting information related to subjective 
impressions of test materials. A Study Initiation Request Form 
detailing each specific study (description, methodology, estimated 
burden) conducted under this clearance will be submitted before any 
testing is initialed. Results will be compiled and disseminated so that 
future communication can be informed by the testing results. We will 
use the findings to create the greatest possible public benefit. Form 
Number: CMS-10437 (OCN: 0938-New); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: 
Individuals. Number of Respondents: 41,592. Number of Responses: 
28,800. Total Annual Hours: 21,488. (For policy questions regarding 
this collection contact Chris Koepke at 410-786-5877. For all other 
issues call 410-786-1326.)
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' 
Web Site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995, 
or Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB 
number, and CMS document identifier, to Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov, or call 
the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
    In commenting on the proposed information collections please 
reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured 
consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of 
the following ways by March 18, 2013:
    1. Electronically. You may submit 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) 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.

    Dated: January 11, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-00860 Filed 1-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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