The Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services will obtain feedback from over 30,000 Medicare
Providers via a survey about satisfaction, attitudes and
perceptions regarding the services provided by Medicare
Fee-for-Service (FFS) Carriers, Fiscal Intermediaries, Durable
Medical Equipment Suppliers, and Regional Home Health
Intermediaries and Medicare Administrative Contractors. The survey
focuses on basic business functions provided by the Medicare
Contractors such as Inquiries, Provider Communications, Claims
Processing, Appeals, Provider Enrollment, Medical Review and
Provider Audit & Reimbursement. Providers will receive a notice
requesting they use a specially constructed Web site to respond to
a set of questions customized for their Contractor's
responsibilities. The survey will be conducted yearly and annual
reports of the survey results will be available via an online
reporting system for use by CMS, Medicare Contractors, and the
general public.
The overall sample burden,
including both prescreening and survey completion activities, has
been increased from 6923 to 8286, an increase of 1,363 hours. The
reason for this increase is so that CMS can obtain state-level
estimates, and thus better monitor the work that Contractors are
doing with the Medicare providers. We also estimate an additional
60 burden hours for research and development activities. The total
annual increase in burden is 1,423 hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.