Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)

Federal Register Volume 77, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)

Notices

Pages 6123-6124

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2012-2821

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Document Identifier: CMS-10421

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

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) 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.

1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Fee-for-Service Recovery Audit Prepayment Review Demonstration and Prior Authorization Demonstration; Use: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the collections required for two demonstrations of prepayment review and prior authorization. The first demonstration would allow Medicare Recovery Auditors to review claims on a pre-payment basis in certain States. The second demonstration would establish a prior authorization program for Power Mobility Device claims in certain States.

   For the Recovery Audit Prepayment Review Demonstration, CMS and its agents will request additional documentation, including medical records, to support submitted claims. As discussed in more detail in Chapter 3 of the Program Integrity Manual, additional documentation includes any medical documentation, beyond what is included on the face of the claim that supports the item or service that is billed. For Medicare to consider coverage and payment for any item or service, the information submitted by the provider or supplier (e.g., claims) must be supported by the documentation in the patient's medical records. When conducting complex medical review, the contractor specifies documentation they require in accordance with Medicare's rules and policies. In addition, providers and suppliers may supply additional documentation not explicitly listed by the contractor. This supporting information may be requested by CMS and its agents on a routine basis in instances where diagnoses on a claim do not clearly indicate medical necessity, or if there is a suspicion of fraud.

   For the Prior Authorization of Power Mobility Devices (PMDs) Demonstration, CMS will pilot prior authorization for Power Mobility Devices. Prior authorization will allow the applicable documentation that supports a claim to be submitted before the item is delivered. For prior authorization, relevant documentation for review is submitted before the item is delivered or the service is rendered. CMS will conduct this demonstration in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Texas based on beneficiary address as reported to the Social Security Administration and recorded in the Common Working File (CWF). For the demonstration, a prior authorization request can be completed by the (ordering) physician

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   or treating practitioner and submitted to the appropriate DME MAC for an initial decision. The supplier may also submit the request on behalf of the physician or treating practitioner. The physician, treating practitioner or supplier who submits the request on behalf of the physician or treating practitioner, is referred to as the ``submitter.'' Under this demonstration, the submitter will submit to the DME MAC a request for prior authorization and all relevant documentation to support Medicare coverage of the PMD item.

   These demonstrations have been designed to develop and demonstrate improved methods for the investigation and prosecution of fraud in the provision of care or services under the health programs established by the Social Security Act. The information required under this information collection request is requested by Medicare contractors to determine proper payment or if there is a suspicion of fraud. For the RAC demonstration, Medicare contractors may request the information from providers or suppliers submitting claims for payment from the Medicare program when data analysis indicates aberrant billing patterns or other information which may present a vulnerability to the Medicare program. Under the prior authorization demonstration, for certain PMDs, with a history of aberrant billing patterns, this information is requested in advance to determine appropriate payment or if there is a suspicion of fraud. Form Number: CMS-10421 (OCN 0938-New); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 479,750; Total Annual Responses: 479,750; Total Annual Hours: 243,060. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Debbie Skinner at (410) 786-7480. 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 http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995, or Email 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.

   In commenting on the proposed information collections please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of the following ways by April 9, 2012:

1. Electronically. You may submit 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) 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 CMS-10161 (OCN 0938-0979), Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

   Dated: February 1, 2012.

   Martique Jones,

   Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.

   FR Doc. 2012-2821 Filed 2-3-12; 11:15 am

   BILLING CODE 4120-01-P