Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 67229-67230 [E9-30143]

Agencies

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 242 (Friday, December 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67229-67230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30143]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10299, CMS-10300 and CMS-10294]


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

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

    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), Department of Health and Human Services, 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 function; (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: State Plan Amendment Template for the Option to 
Cover Certain Children and Pregnant Women Lawfully residing in U.S.; 
Use: This new option for State Medicaid and Children Health Insurance 
Programs (CHIP) was provided by section 214 of the Children's Health 
Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, Public Law 111-3, which 
amends section 1902 of the Social Security Act. To select this option, 
a State Medicaid or CHIP agency will complete a template page and 
submit it for approval as part of their State Plan. Form Number: CMS-
10299 (OMB: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Reporting--Once and 
occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; 
Number of Respondents: 51; Total Annual Responses: 51; Total Annual 
Hours: 51. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Bob 
Tomlinson at 410-786-5907. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: State Plan Amendment Templates for Additional 
State Plan Option for Providing Premium Assistance under Title XIX and 
XXI; Use: Section 301 of the Children's Health Insurance Program 
Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), Public Law 111-3, adds Section 
2105(c)(10) of the Social Security Act effective April 1, 2009, to 
offer States a new option to provide premium assistance subsidies to 
enroll targeted low-income individuals under age 19, and their parents 
in qualified employer-sponsored coverage. To elect this option, a State 
Children's Health Insurance Program agency will complete the template 
pages and submit it for approval as part of a State plan amendment. 
Form Number: CMS-10300 (OMB: 0938-New); Frequency: Reporting--
Once and On occasion; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal 
Government; Number of Respondents: 51; Total Annual Responses: 51; 
Total Annual Hours: 255. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Stacey Green at 410-786-6102. For all other issues 
call 410-786-1326.)
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Program Evaluation of the Eighth and Ninth 
Scope of Work Quality Improvement Organization Program; Use: The 
statutory authority for the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) 
Program is found in Part B of Title XI of the Social Security Act, as 
amended by the Peer Review Improvement Act of 1982. The Social Security 
Act established the Utilization and Quality Control Peer Review 
Organization Program, now known as the QIO Program. The statutory 
mission of the

[[Page 67230]]

QIO Program, as set forth in Title XVIII--Health Insurance for the Aged 
and Disabled, Section 1862(g) of the Social Security Act--is to improve 
the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and quality of services 
delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. The quality strategies of the 
Medicare QIO Program are carried out by specific QIO contractors 
working with health care providers in their state, territory, or the 
District of Columbia. The QIO contract contains a number of quality 
improvement initiatives that are authorized by various provisions in 
the Act. As a general matter, Section 1862(g) of the Act mandates that 
the secretary enter into contracts with QIOs for the purpose of 
determining that Medicare services are reasonable and medically 
necessary and for the purposes of promoting the effective, efficient, 
and economical delivery of health care services and of promoting the 
quality of the type of services for which payment may be made under 
Medicare. CMS interprets the term ``promoting the quality of services'' 
to involve more than QIOs reviewing care on a case-by-case basis, but 
to include a broad range of proactive initiatives that will promote 
higher quality. CMS has, for example, included in the SOW tasks in 
which the QIO will provide technical assistance to Medicare-
participating providers and practitioners in order to help them improve 
the quality of the care they furnish to Medicare beneficiaries.
    Additional authority for these activities appears in Section 
1154(a)(8) of the Act, which requires that QIOs perform such duties and 
functions, assume such responsibilities, and comply with such other 
requirements as may be required by the Medicare statute. CMS regards 
survey activities as appropriate if they will directly benefit Medicare 
beneficiaries. In addition, Section 1154(a)(10) of the Act specifically 
requires that the QIOs ``coordinate activities, including information 
exchanges, which are consistent with economical and efficient operation 
of programs among appropriate public and private agencies or 
organizations, including other public or private review organizations 
as may be appropriate.'' CMS regards this as specific authority for 
QIOs to coordinate and operate a broad range of collaborative and 
community activities among private and public entities, as long as the 
predicted outcome will directly benefit the Medicare program.
    The purpose of the study is to design and conduct an analysis 
evaluating the impact on national and regional health care processes 
and outcomes of the Ninth Scope of Work QIO Program. The QIO Program is 
national in scope and scale and affects the quality of healthcare of 43 
million elderly and disabled Americans. CMS will conduct an impact and 
process analysis using data from multiple sources: (1) Primary data 
collected via in-depth interviews, focus groups, and surveys of QIOs, 
health care providers, and other stakeholders; (2) secondary data 
reported by QIOs through CMS systems; and (3) CMS administrative data. 
The findings will be presented in a final report as well as in other 
documents and reports suitable for publication in peer-review journals. 
This request relates to the following data collections: (1) Survey of 
QIO directors and theme leaders; (2) Survey of hospital QI directors 
and nursing home administrators; (3) focus groups with Medicare 
beneficiaries; and (4) in-person and telephone discussions with QIO 
staff, partner organizations, health care providers, and community 
health leaders. Form Number: CMS-10294 (OMB 0938-New); 
Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Business or other for-
profits, and Medicare beneficiaries; Number of Respondents: 3,343; 
Total Annual Responses: 3,343; Total Annual Hours: 1,707. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact Robert Kambic at 410-786-
1515. 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 https://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995, or 
e-mail 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.
    To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collections must be received by the OMB desk 
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on January 19, 2010.
    OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS 
Desk Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, e-mail: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.

    Dated: December 11, 2009.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-30143 Filed 12-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P