The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation is currently conducting a number of studies aimed at producing evidence that will help to improve the accuracy of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, payments are based in part on the relative amount of physician work associated with each service. For a number of reasons, payment differentials for Evaluation and Management services relative to procedures, rather than narrowing, have continued to widen over time. While the fee schedule's relative values are updated to reflect changes in medical practice, technology and physician productivity, some have questioned whether the current process adequately reflects these changes. The intended data collection effort would be used to gather information on the time data that is used as an input in the fee schedule.
US Code:
42 USC 301
Name of Law: U.S. Public Health Service Act
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.