The Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services collects quality performance measures in order to
hold the Medicare managed care industry accountable for the care
being delivered, to enable quality improvement, and to provide
quality information to Medicare beneficiaries in order to promote
an informed choice. It is critical to CMS's mission that we collect
and disseminate information that can be used to help beneficiaries
choose among health plans, contribute to improved quality of care
through identification of improvement opportunities, and assist CMS
in carrying out its oversight and purchasing
responsibilities.
Over the past five years the
overall baseline response rate has fallen short of the 70% target.
This is not saying that all plan by plan baseline response rates
were below 70%, but that as a whole the overall baseline response
rate has fallen below 70% consistently over the past five years.
Drastically increasing respondent burden has adverse implications
to future response rates so adjustments to the sampling methodology
were developed to moderately increase the number of responses where
appropriate and eliminate the burden where prudent.
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.