Agency Information Collection Request; 60-Day Public Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing the following summary of a proposed collection for public comment.

DATES:

Comments on the ICR must be received on or before September 20, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to Sherrette.Funn@hhs.gov or by calling (202) 795-7714.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

When submitting comments or requesting information, please include the document identifier 0990-New-60D and project title for reference, to Sherrette A. Funn, email: Sherrette.Funn@hhs.gov, or call (202) 795-7714 the Reports Clearance Officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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.

Title of the Collection: Evaluation of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Demonstration in Accordance with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Type of Collection: New.

OMB No.: 0990-XXXX.

Abstract: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for new data collection activities to support its evaluation of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration program in accordance with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (Pub. L. 113-93; PAMA) authorized the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration to allow states to test a different strategy for delivering and reimbursing a comprehensive array of services provided in community behavioral health clinics. The demonstration aims to improve the availability, quality, and outcomes of outpatient services provided in these clinics by establishing a standard definition for CCBHCs and develops a new Medicaid prospective payment system (PPS) in each state that accounts for the total cost of providing nine types of services to all people who seek care. The PPS in each state is designed to provide CCBHCs with the financial support and stability necessary to deliver these required services. The demonstration also aims to incentivize quality through quality bonus payments to clinics and requires CCBHCs to report quality measures and costs. The demonstration was originally authorized for two years.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: PAMA mandates that HHS submit reports to Congress about the Section 223 demonstration that assess (1) access to community-based mental health services under Medicaid in the area or areas of a state targeted by a demonstration program as compared to other areas of the state, (2) the quality and scope of services provided by certified community behavioral health clinics as compared to community-based mental health services provided in states not participating in a demonstration program and in areas of a demonstration state that are not participating in the demonstration, and (3) the impact of the demonstration on the federal and state costs of a full range of mental health services (including inpatient, emergency, and ambulatory services). The ability of ASPE to provide this information to Congress requires a rigorously designed and independent evaluation of the CCBHC demonstration.

The total annual burden hours estimated for this information collection request are summarized in the table below.