Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services want to know what people think about them asking for information, like when you fill out a form, to help them do their job better. They want to hear if filling out these forms is too hard and if there are easy ways to make it better before the end of March 2021.
Summary AI
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking public comment on its plan to gather information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This Act requires agencies to publish notices about proposed information collections in the Federal Register. Comments are invited on the estimated burden of the information collection and ways to minimize it using technologies or other methods. The deadline for sending comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is March 29, 2021, and further details can be found on CMS's website.
Abstract
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The Federal Register recently published a notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding their intention to collect information from the public. This is part of their obligations under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which mandates that federal agencies publish notices about proposed information collections and provide opportunities for public comment. The CMS is inviting comments on their burden estimates for this information collection, as well as suggestions on how to minimize these burdens, potentially through technology or other methods. Those interested have until March 29, 2021, to submit their feedback, with further details available on CMS's website.
General Summary
This notice by the CMS is essentially an open call for public participation in shaping the way the agency gathers information. By engaging in this process, CMS hopes to fulfill its duties efficiently while ensuring the needs and concerns of the public are met. This information collection is crucial for the CMS to perform its functions correctly, particularly in the context of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Significant Issues and Concerns
There are several noteworthy concerns about the document:
Complex Language: The document employs a legalistic and bureaucratic vernacular, likely making it inaccessible for the general public. This complexity might discourage public engagement.
Unclear Burden Estimates: The document mentions "burden estimates," yet there's no clarity on how these are calculated. Such lack of transparency could confuse or alienate individuals who might wish to critique or understand this aspect better.
Specific Information Collection: The document does not specify what information is being collected, which can lead to privacy concerns among the public. Understanding the type of data collected is critical for alleviating any privacy-related apprehensions.
Streamlined Submissions: There's a mention of streamlined submission forms intended to enhance collaboration and efficiency. However, without examples or detailed explanations, it's hard to evaluate how effective these will be.
Necessity Justification: The notice also lacks a detailed rationale for the necessity of the collection efforts proposed, raising potential concerns regarding the justification of resources and efforts.
Potential Public Impact
Broadly, this opportunity for public comment is a chance for citizens to influence how CMS collects information. If the CMS thoughtfully considers the public’s feedback, the efforts could result in reduced administrative burdens and more efficient handling of the essential data connected to Medicaid and CHIP services.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Public and Patients: For the general public and patients, this notice represents a potential positive impact by giving them a voice in health administration practices. However, concerns about data privacy could have negative effects if not adequately addressed.
State and Local Governments: As the document highlights submissions from state Medicaid and CHIP agencies, these stakeholders could experience streamlined administrative processes, potentially benefiting from reduced bureaucracy if the form revisions are beneficial.
With the proper attention to the concerns raised, CMS has the opportunity to refine its information collection processes, thereby optimizing the program's efficiency and support to the public it serves. However, without clarity and ease of understanding in the proposal, the agency risks underutilization of public feedback.
Issues
• The document uses complex legal and bureaucratic language, which may be difficult for the general public to understand.
• The document does not clarify how the burden estimates are calculated or what factors contribute to these estimates, which could lead to public confusion.
• There is no explanation of what specific information will be collected from the public under the proposed information collection, which may raise concerns about privacy or data usage.
• The document refers to streamlined submissions forms but does not provide examples or detail on how these enhance collaboration or efficiency.
• There is no detailed justification or analysis on the necessity of the proposed collection efforts, which could raise concerns about potential wasteful spending.