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-222-17 Rural Health Clinic Cost Report

CMS-10261 Part C Medicare Advantage Reporting Requirements

CMS-R-284 Transformed—Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS)

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: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Rural Health Clinic Cost Report; Use: Under the authority of sections 1815(a) and 1833(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395g), CMS requires that providers of services participating in the Medicare program submit information to determine costs for health care services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries. CMS requires that providers follow reasonable cost principles under 1861(v)(1)(A) of the Act when completing the Medicare cost report. Regulations at 42 CFR 413.20 and 413.24 require that providers submit acceptable cost reports on an annual basis and maintain sufficient financial records and statistical data, capable of verification by qualified auditors.

CMS requires Form CMS-222-17 to determine an RHC's reasonable costs incurred in furnishing medical services to Medicare beneficiaries and reimbursement due to or from an RHC. Each RHC submits the cost report to its contractor for a reimbursement determination. Section 1874A of the Act describes the functions of the contractor.

CMS regulations at 42 CFR 413.24(f)(4)(ii) requires that each RHC submit an annual cost report to their contractor in American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) electronic cost report (ECR) format. RHCs submit the ECR file to contractors using a compact disk (CD), flash drive, or the CMS approved Medicare Cost Report E-filing (MCREF) portal, [URL: https://mcref.cms.gov ]. Form Number: CMS-222-17 (OMB control number: 0938-0107); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector, State, Local, or Tribal Governments, Federal Government, Business or other for-profits, Not-for-profits institutions; Number of Respondents: 2,101; Total Annual Responses: 2,101; Total Annual Hours: 115,555. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact LuAnn Piccione at (410) 786-5423).

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision with of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Part C Medicare Advantage Reporting Requirements; Use: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established reporting requirements for Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) under the authority described in 42 CFR 422.516(a). Each MAO must have an effective procedure to develop, compile, evaluate, and report to CMS, to its enrollees, and to the general public at the times and in the manner that CMS requires. At the same time, each MAO must, in accordance with 42 CFR 422.516(a), safeguard the confidentiality of the provider-patient relationship.

Health plans can use this information to measure and benchmark their performance. CMS receives inquiries from the industry and other interested stakeholders about the beneficiary use of available benefits, including supplemental benefits, grievance and appeals rates, cost, and other factors pertaining to use of government funds, as well the performance of MA plans. Form Number: CMS-10261 (OMB control number: 0938-1054); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 743; Total Annual Responses: 6,687; Total Annual Hours: 187,979. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Lucia Patrone at 410-786-8621).

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Transformed—Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS); Use: The data reported in T-MSIS are used by Federal, State, and local officials, as well as by private researchers and corporations to monitor past and projected future trends in the Medicaid program. The data provide the only national level information available on enrollees, beneficiaries, and expenditures. It also provides the only national level information available on Medicaid utilization. The information is the basis for analyses and for cost savings estimates for the Department's cost sharing legislative initiatives to Congress. The collected data are also crucial to our actuarial forecasts. Form Number: CMS-R-284 (OMB control number: 0938-0345); Frequency: Quarterly and monthly; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 54; Total Annual Responses: 648; Total Annual Hours: 7,290. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Connie Gibson at 410-786-0755.)