Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 39440-39442 [2017-17495]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Notices
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Implementing Industry Standards.3 This
toolkit is dedicated to developing and
implementing WMPs and can inform
conversations with building owners and
managers on how to reduce the risk of
Legionella growth and transmission in
their building water systems.
Information Needs
While a consensus standard and
guidance exist regarding development
and implementation of WMPs, there are
gaps regarding the most effective
methods to encourage WMP
implementation. A variety of
stakeholders (e.g., public health
partners, industry leaders, accreditation
or licensing bodies) routinely work with
building owners and managers on
WMPs or on related policies. However,
successful communication and
implementation of WMPs can be
challenging, and more information is
needed on how implementation of
WMPs can be improved. CDC seeks
public comments in response to the
following questions to guide best
practices, especially regarding the
dissemination and implementation of
WMPs. The information gathered will
be used to guide best practices regarding
effective strategies to prevent
Legionnaires disease in the United
States. Information gathered can also
inform efforts to prevent disease due to
other waterborne pathogens.
Please feel free to respond to any or
all of the questions. Possible domains to
consider in answering these questions
include (but are not limited to):
• Local knowledge about Legionnaires
disease, Legionella growth, and
prevention strategies
• Stakeholder engagement (key
supporters and opponents)
• Feasibility of WMP implementation
• Costs and benefits of WMP
implementation
• Availability of effective
communication strategies
• Possible impact of proposed solutions
including unintended consequences
such as degradation of plumbing
infrastructure or pathogen
substitution (e.g., remediation
directed at one pathogen, such as
Legionella, leading to increases in a
second pathogen, such as
nontuberculous mycobacteria)
• Historical context in which a WMP
was or was not adopted
• Influence of local regulations
Questions
(1) What existing standards or
guidance does your organization use for
3 https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/downloads/
toolkit.pdf.
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the prevention of Legionella growth and
transmission?
(2) Are there other standards or
guidance for the prevention of
Legionella growth and transmission that
you would find useful but do not exist
or are not currently available to you? If
so, what information should those
standards or guidance contain?
(3) What is your organization’s role,
and your role within the organization,
in achieving implementation of WMPs
by owners and managers of buildings at
increased risk for Legionella growth and
transmission?
(4) In your organization’s experience,
what are the principal barriers to
implementation of WMPs by building
owners and managers?
(5) Where there are barriers, what has
your organization done to overcome
these barriers?
(6) Where implementation of WMPs
has gone smoothly, what factors (e.g.,
resources, guidance, activities)
contributed to this success?
(7) Has your organization had
experience with approaches to WMP
implementation that are specific to
certain settings (e.g., hotels, hospitals)
or devices (e.g., cooling towers, potable
water)? If so, have you learned anything
from these different approaches that
could be used to improve WMP
implementation? Have you looked for or
experienced any unintended
consequences related to a WMP?
(8) A limited number of jurisdictions
have implemented regulations to reduce
the risk of Legionella growth and
transmission (e.g., New York, New York
City). In your state or local jurisdiction,
should building codes or other types of
public health regulation or legislation be
used to help prevent Legionnaires’
disease? Why or why not?
(9) Are there other approaches to
reducing the risk of Legionnaires’
disease that your organization has found
to be useful besides implementation of
WMPs?
(10) What additional considerations
are relevant to developing guidance for
preventing Legionnaires disease?
(11) Has your organization
implemented specific approaches to
reducing the risk of disease due to other
opportunistic waterborne pathogens
besides Legionella? If so, please explain.
Do these approaches conflict in any way
with your approaches to reducing the
risk of Legionnaires disease?
Dated: August 15, 2017.
Sandra Cashman,
Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017–17491 Filed 8–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163–18–P
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[Document Identifier: CMS–10437 and CMS–
10652]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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.
SUMMARY:
Comments on the collection(s) of
information must be received by the
OMB desk officer by September 18,
2017.
DATES:
When commenting on the
proposed information collections,
please reference the document identifier
or OMB control number. To be assured
consideration, comments and
recommendations must be received by
the OMB desk officer via one of the
following transmissions: OMB, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Attention: CMS Desk Officer, Fax
Number: (202) 395–5806 OR, Email:
OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.
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
https://www.cms.hhs.gov/
PaperworkReductionActof1995.
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
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mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Notices
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:
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: Extension of a currently
approved collection; Title of
Information Collection: Generic Social
Marketing & Consumer Testing
Research; Use: The purpose of this
submission is to extend the approval of
the 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. The information collected will
be used to create a streamlined and
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
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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
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 us to communicate more effectively
with our 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.
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
(OMB control number: 0938–1247);
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 Allyssa Allen at 410–786–
8436126.)
2. Type of Information Collection
Request: New collection of information
request; Title of Information Collection:
Virtual Groups for Merit-Based
Incentive Payment System (MIPS); Use:
CMS acknowledges the unique
challenges that small practices and
practices in rural areas may face with
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39441
the implementation of the Quality
Payment Program. To help support
these practices and provide them with
additional flexibility, CMS has created a
virtual group reporting option starting
with the 2018 MIPS performance
period. CMS held webinars and small,
interactive feedback sessions to gain
insight from clinicians as we developed
our policies on virtual groups. During
these sessions, participants expressed a
strong interest in virtual groups, and
indicated that the right policies could
minimize clinician burden and bolster
clinician success.
This information collection request is
related to the statutorily required virtual
group election process proposed in the
CY 2018 Quality Payment Program
proposed rule. A virtual group is a
combination of Tax Identification
Numbers (TINs), which would include
at least two separate TINs associated
with a solo practitioner TIN and
National Provider Identifier (TIN/NPI)
or group with 10 or fewer MIPS eligible
clinicians and another solo practitioner
(TIN/NPI) or group with 10 or fewer
MIPS eligible clinicians.
Section 1848(q)(5)(I) of the Act
requires that CMS establish and have in
place a process to allow an individual
MIPS eligible clinician or group
consisting of not more than 10 MIPS
eligible clinicians to elect, with respect
to a performance period for a year to be
in a virtual group with at least one other
such individual MIPS eligible clinician
or group. The Act also provides for the
use of voluntary virtual groups for
certain assessment purposes, including
the election of practices to be a virtual
group and the requirements for the
election process.
Section 1848(q)(5)(I)(i) of the Act also
provides that MIPS eligible clinicians
electing to be a virtual group must: (1)
Have their performance assessed for the
quality and cost performance categories
in a manner that applies the combined
performance of all the MIPS eligible
clinicians in the virtual group to each
MIPS eligible clinician in the virtual
group for the applicable performance
period; and (2) be scored for the quality
and cost performance categories based
on such assessment.
CMS will use the data collected from
virtual group representatives to
determine eligibility to participate in a
virtual group, approve the formation of
that virtual group, based on
determination of each TIN size, and
assign a virtual group identifier to the
virtual group. The data collected will
also be used to assign a performance
score to each TIN/NPI in the virtual
group. Form Number: CMS–10652
(OMB control number: 0938–NEW);
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Notices
Frequency: Annually; Affected Public:
Private Sector: Business or other forprofits and Not-for-profit institutions
and Individuals; Number of
Respondents: 16; Total Annual
Responses: 16; Total Annual Hours:
160. (For policy questions regarding this
collection contact Michelle Peterman at
410–786–2591.)
Dated: August 15, 2017.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group,
Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017–17495 Filed 8–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA–2017–N–4069]
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals;
Withdrawal of Approval of a New Drug
Application for BAYCOL (cerivastatin
sodium) Tablets, 0.05 Milligrams, 0.1
Milligrams, 0.2 Milligrams, 0.3
Milligrams, 0.4 Milligrams, and 0.8
Milligrams
AGENCY:
Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
ACTION:
Notice.
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is withdrawing
approval of new drug application (NDA)
020740 for BAYCOL (cerivastatin
sodium) tablets, 0.05 milligrams (mg),
0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, 0.3 mg, 0.4 mg, and 0.8
mg, held by Bayer Healthcare
Pharmaceuticals (Bayer). Bayer
requested withdrawal of this
application, and has waived its
opportunity for a hearing.
DATES: Approval is withdrawn as of
August 18, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristiana Brugger, Office of Regulatory
Policy, Center for Drug Evaluation and
Research, Food and Drug
Administration, 10903 New Hampshire
Ave., Bldg. 51, Rm. 6262, Silver Spring,
MD 20993, 301–796–3600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NDA
020740 for BAYCOL (cerivastatin
sodium) tablets, 0.05 mg, 0.1 mg, 0.2
mg, and 0.3 mg, was received on June
26, 1996, under section 505(b) of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(FD&C Act). FDA approved NDA 020740
on June 26, 1997, as safe and effective
as an adjunct to diet for the reduction
of elevated total and LDL cholesterol
levels in patients with primary
hypercholesterolemia and mixed
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dyslipidemia (Frederickson Types IIa
and IIb) when the response to dietary
restriction of saturated fat and
cholesterol and other nonpharmacological measures alone has
been inadequate. Supplemental NDAs
were received by FDA on July 17, 1998,
for the 0.4 mg strength of the drug
(approved on May 24, 1999) and on
September 23, 1999, for the 0.8 mg
strength of the drug (approved on July
21, 2000). The most recently approved
labeling (May 21, 2001) for this drug
stated that: ‘‘BAYCOL® (cerivastatin
sodium tablets) is indicated as an
adjunct to diet to reduce elevated
Total–C, LDL–C, apo B, and TG and to
increase HDL–C levels in patients with
primary hypercholesterolemia and
mixed dyslipidemia (Fredrickson Types
IIa and IIb) when the response to dietary
restriction of saturated fat and
cholesterol and other nonpharmacological measures alone has
been inadequate.’’
Over time, however, reports
associating cerivastatin with
rhabdomyolysis, a potentially fatal
condition involving muscle weakness,
increased. Because of these reports,
Bayer withdrew BAYCOL from the
market on August 8, 2001. On January
24, 2014, Bayer wrote to FDA asking the
Agency to withdraw approval of NDA
020740 under 21 CFR 314.150(d) and
waived its opportunity for a hearing.
Accordingly, under section 505(e) of
the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 355(e)) and
section 314.150(d), approval of NDA
020740, and all amendments and
supplements thereto, is withdrawn.
Distribution of BAYCOL (cerivastatin
sodium) tablets, 0.05 mg, 0.1 mg, 0.2
mg, 0.3 mg, 0.4 mg, and 0.8 mg in
interstate commerce without an
approved application is illegal and
subject to regulatory action (see sections
505(a) and 301(d) of the FD&C Act (21
U.S.C. 355(a) and 331(d)).
Dated: August 15, 2017.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017–17510 Filed 8–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Mental Health;
Notice of Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, notice is hereby given of a
meeting of the National Advisory
Mental Health Council.
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The meeting will be open to the
public as indicated below, with
attendance limited to space available.
Individuals who plan to attend and
need special assistance, such as sign
language interpretation or other
reasonable accommodations, should
notify the Contact Person listed below
in advance of the meeting.
The meeting will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Advisory
Mental Health Council.
Date: September 14, 2017.
Open: 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Agenda: Presentation of the NIMH
Director’s Report and discussion.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive
Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852.
Closed: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications and/or proposals.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive
Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852.
Contact Person: Jean G. Noronha, Ph.D.,
Director, Division of Extramural Activities,
National Institute of Mental Health, NIH
Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive Blvd.,
Room 6154, MSC 9609, Bethesda, MD 20892–
9609, 301–443–3367, jnoronha@mail.nih.gov.
Any member of the public interested in
presenting oral comments to the committee
may notify the Contact Person listed on this
notice at least 10 days in advance of the
meeting. Interested individuals and
representatives of organizations may submit
a letter of intent, a brief description of the
organization represented, and a short
description of the oral presentation. Only one
representative of an organization may be
allowed to present oral comments and if
accepted by the committee, presentations
may be limited to five minutes. Both printed
and electronic copies are requested for the
record. In addition, any interested person
may file written comments with the
committee by forwarding their statement to
the Contact Person listed on this notice. The
statement should include the name, address,
telephone number and when applicable, the
business or professional affiliation of the
interested person.
Information is also available on the
Institute’s/Center’s home page:
www.nimh.nih.gov/about/advisory-boardsand-groups/namhc/index.shtml., where an
agenda and any additional information for
the meeting will be posted when available.
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39440-39442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17495]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10437 and CMS-10652]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 September 18, 2017.
ADDRESSES: When commenting on the proposed information collections,
please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be
assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by
the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions: OMB,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-5806 OR, Email:
OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.
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 https://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995.
[[Page 39441]]
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: 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: Extension of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Generic Social
Marketing & Consumer Testing Research; Use: The purpose of this
submission is to extend the approval of the 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. The information collected
will be used to create a streamlined and 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 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 us to communicate more effectively with our 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. 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 (OMB control number: 0938-1247); 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 Allyssa Allen at 410-786-8436126.)
2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection of
information request; Title of Information Collection: Virtual Groups
for Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS); Use: CMS acknowledges
the unique challenges that small practices and practices in rural areas
may face with the implementation of the Quality Payment Program. To
help support these practices and provide them with additional
flexibility, CMS has created a virtual group reporting option starting
with the 2018 MIPS performance period. CMS held webinars and small,
interactive feedback sessions to gain insight from clinicians as we
developed our policies on virtual groups. During these sessions,
participants expressed a strong interest in virtual groups, and
indicated that the right policies could minimize clinician burden and
bolster clinician success.
This information collection request is related to the statutorily
required virtual group election process proposed in the CY 2018 Quality
Payment Program proposed rule. A virtual group is a combination of Tax
Identification Numbers (TINs), which would include at least two
separate TINs associated with a solo practitioner TIN and National
Provider Identifier (TIN/NPI) or group with 10 or fewer MIPS eligible
clinicians and another solo practitioner (TIN/NPI) or group with 10 or
fewer MIPS eligible clinicians.
Section 1848(q)(5)(I) of the Act requires that CMS establish and
have in place a process to allow an individual MIPS eligible clinician
or group consisting of not more than 10 MIPS eligible clinicians to
elect, with respect to a performance period for a year to be in a
virtual group with at least one other such individual MIPS eligible
clinician or group. The Act also provides for the use of voluntary
virtual groups for certain assessment purposes, including the election
of practices to be a virtual group and the requirements for the
election process.
Section 1848(q)(5)(I)(i) of the Act also provides that MIPS
eligible clinicians electing to be a virtual group must: (1) Have their
performance assessed for the quality and cost performance categories in
a manner that applies the combined performance of all the MIPS eligible
clinicians in the virtual group to each MIPS eligible clinician in the
virtual group for the applicable performance period; and (2) be scored
for the quality and cost performance categories based on such
assessment.
CMS will use the data collected from virtual group representatives
to determine eligibility to participate in a virtual group, approve the
formation of that virtual group, based on determination of each TIN
size, and assign a virtual group identifier to the virtual group. The
data collected will also be used to assign a performance score to each
TIN/NPI in the virtual group. Form Number: CMS-10652 (OMB control
number: 0938-NEW);
[[Page 39442]]
Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private Sector: Business or other
for-profits and Not-for-profit institutions and Individuals; Number of
Respondents: 16; Total Annual Responses: 16; Total Annual Hours: 160.
(For policy questions regarding this collection contact Michelle
Peterman at 410-786-2591.)
Dated: August 15, 2017.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-17495 Filed 8-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
