Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human 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 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 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 must be received by September 9, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. 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, please access the CMS PRA website by copying and pasting the following web address into your web browser: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William N. Parham at (410) 786-4669.

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 ).

CMS-855B Medicare Enrollment Application for Clinics/Group Practices and Other Suppliers

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: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Enrollment Application for Clinics/Group Practices and Other Suppliers; Use: Various sections of the Act, the United States Code (U.S.C.), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code, and the CFR require providers and suppliers to furnish information concerning the amounts due and the identification of individuals or entities that furnish medical services to beneficiaries before payment can be made. The Form CMS-855B application is submitted when the applicant first requests Medicare enrollment. The application is used by the MACs to collect data to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to provide the health care services for which they intend to bill Medicare; this includes data that allows the Medicare contractor to correctly price, process, and pay the applicant's claims. It also gathers information that enables MACs to ensure that the supplier is neither excluded from the Medicare program nor debarred, suspended, or excluded from any other Federal agency or program. The application is also used by enrolled suppliers when they are reporting a change in their ownership, a change in their current Medicare enrollment information, or are revalidating or reactivating their Medicare enrollment. Form Number: CMS-855B (OMB control number: 0938-1377); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector; Business or other for-profits, and Not-for Profits; Number of Respondents: 132,800; Number of Response s: 132,800; Total Annual Hours: 155,884. (For questions regarding this collection, contact Frank Whalen at 410-786-1302 or Frank.Whelan@cms.hhs.gov.)