Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-246]

Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements

Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration, HHS.

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Health Care Financing

Administration (HCFA), 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 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.

We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information

collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of

section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have

submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following

requirements for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency

review because the collection of this information is needed before the

expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR,

Part 1320. This collection is necessary to ensure compliance with

section 1876 of the Social Security Act. Section 1876(I) of the Social

Security Act (the Act) sets forth several criteria for HMO contracts.

As relevant here, section 1876(I)(3) of the Act gives the Secretary, or

her designee the authority to incorporate additional contractual terms

and conditions that are consistent with section 1876. These statutorily

mandated contract provisions have been implemented in the regulations

at 42 CFR 417.470, et seq which reference 42 CFR 417.126(a) which

states that each HMO must have an effective procedure to develop,

compile, evaluate, and report to HCFA, to its enrollees, and to the

general public, at the times and in the manner that HCFA requires, the

following: the cost of its operations; the patterns of utilization of

its services; the availability, accessibility and acceptability of its

services; to the extent practical, developments in the health status of

its enrollees; information demonstrating that the HMO has a fiscally

sound operation and other matters that HCFA may require. Without

emergency approval HCFA will be unable to monitor the quality of care

received by beneficiaries in managed care measured through the Consumer

Assessment of Health Plans Study (CAHPS) survey asking beneficiaries

about their experiences with their plan. As a result, public harm is

likely to result because HCFA will be unable to monitor the quality of

care received by beneficiaries.

HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection

within 6 working days of publication of this notice in the Federal

Register, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and

recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the

individuals designated below by 5 working days of the publication of

this notice. During this 180-day period, we

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will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing the

initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment

period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB

review and an extension of this emergency approval.

Type of Information Request: Revision of Currently Approved

Collection.

Title of Information Collection: CAHPS (Consumer Assessment of

Health Plans Study) Survey.

Form Number: HCFA-R-246 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).

Use: We are revising the CAHPS to conform with the NCQA instrument.

This collection effort (CAHPS) will be used to hold the Medicare

managed care industry accountable for the quality of care they are

delivering. This collection will better allow HCFA to obtain the

information critical for the proper oversight of the program and to

disseminate information that will help beneficiaries choose among

plans, contribute to the improved quality of care through

identification of quality improvement opportunities, and assist HCFA in

carrying out its responsibilities.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit, Individuals or

Households.

Number of Respondents: 150,240.

Total Annual Responses: 150,240.

Total Annual Hours Requested: 49,579.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms

for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, E-mail your

request, including your address, phone number, and HCFA form number(s)

referenced above, to P[email protected], or call the Reports Clearance

Office on (410) 786-1326.

Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the

burden or any other aspect of these collections of information

requirements. However, as noted above, comments on these information

collection and recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed

to the designees referenced below within 4 working days of the

publication of this notice in the Federal Register:

Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services,

Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards,

Room C2-26-17, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, Fax

Number: (410) 786-1415, Attn: John Rudolph HCFA-R-246

and

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC

20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167, Attn: Allison

Herron Eydt, HCFA Desk Officer.

Dated: June 25, 1998.

John P. Burke III,

HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA, Office of Information Services,

Information Technology Investment Management Group, Division of HCFA

Enterprise Standards.

[FR Doc. 98-17664 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am]

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