80 FR 48110 - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 154 (August 11, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 154 (August 11, 2015)
| Page Range | 48110-48112 | |
| FR Document | 2015-19657 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 154 (Tuesday, August 11, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 48110-48112] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-19657] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed changes to the currently approved information collection project: ``Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Clinician and Group Survey Comparative Database.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 13, 2015. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by email at [email protected]. Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by email at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Project Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Clinician and Group Survey Comparative Database The CAHPS Clinician and Group Survey (``the CAHPS CG Survey'') is a tool for collecting standardized information on patients' experiences with physicians and staff in outpatient medical practices. The results, enable clinicians and administrators to assess and improve patients' experiences with medical care. The CAHPS CG Survey is a product of the CAHPS[supreg] program, which is funded and administered by AHRQ, and CAHPS[supreg] is a registered trademark of AHRQ. AHRQ works closely with a consortium of public and private research organizations to develop and maintain surveys and tools to advance patient-centered care. In 1999, the CAHPS Consortium began work on a survey that would assess patients' experiences with medical groups and clinicians. The CAHPS Consortium developed a preliminary instrument known as the CAHPS Group Practices Survey (G-CAHPS), with input from the Pacific Business Group on Health, which developed a Consumer Assessment Survey that is the precedent for this type of instrument. In August 2004, AHRQ issued a notice in the Federal Register inviting organizations to test the CAHPS CG Survey. These field-test organizations were crucial partners in the evolution and development of the instrument, and provided critical data illuminating key aspects of survey design and administration. In July 2007 the CAHPS CG Survey was endorsed by the National Quality Forum (NQF), an organization established to standardize health care quality measurement and reporting. The endorsement represents the consensus of many health care providers, consumer groups, professional associations, purchasers, federal agencies, and research and quality organizations. The CAHPS CG Survey and related toolkit materials are available on the CAHPS Web site at https://cahps.ahrq.gov/surveys-guidance/cg/instructions/index.html. Since its release, the survey has been used by thousands of physicians and medical practices across the U.S. The current CAHPS Consortium includes AHRQ, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), RAND, Yale School of Public Health, and Westat. AHRQ developed the database for CAHPS CG Survey data following the CAHPS Health Plan Database as a model. The CAHPS Health Plan Database was developed in 1998 in response to requests from health plans, purchasers, and CMS for comparative data to support public reporting of health plan ratings, health plan accreditation and quality improvement (OMB Control Number 0935-0165, expiration 5/31/2017). Demand for comparative results from the CG Survey has grown as well, and therefore AHRQ developed a dedicated CAHPS Clinician and Group Database to support benchmarking, quality improvement, and research (OMB Control Number 0935-0197, expiration 06/30/2015). The CAHPS Database contains data from AHRQ's standardized CAHPS Surveys which provide comparative measures of quality to health care purchasers, consumers, regulators, and policy makers. The CAHPS Database also provides data for AHRQ's annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. Health systems, medical groups and practices that administer the CAHPS Clinician & Group Survey according to CAHPS specifications can participate in this project. A health system is a complex of facilities, organizations, and providers of health care in a specified geographic area. A medical group is defined as a medical group, Accountable Care Organization (ACO), state organization or some other grouping of medical practices. A practice is an outpatient facility in a specific location whose physicians and other providers share administrative and clinical support staff. Each practice located in a building containing multiple medical offices is considered a separate practice. The goal of this project is to renew the CAHPS CG Database. This database will continue to update the CAHPS CG Database with the latest results of the CAHPS CG Survey. These results consist of 34 items that measure 5 areas or composites of patients' experiences with physicians and staff in outpatient medical practices. This database: (1) Allows participating organizations to compare their survey results with those of other outpatient medical groups; (2) Provides data to medical groups and practices to facilitate internal assessment and learning in the quality improvement process; and (3) Provides information to help identify strengths and areas with potential for improvement in patient care. The five composite measures are: Getting Timely Appointments, Care, and Information How Well Providers Communicate With Patients [[Page 48111]] Helpful, Courteous, and Respectful Office Staff Care Coordination Patients' Rating of the Provider The collection of information for the CAHPS CG Database for Clinicians and Groups is being conducted pursuant to AHRQ's statutory authority to conduct and support research on health care and systems for the delivery of such care, including activities with respect to the quality, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness and value of health care services; quality measurement and improvement; and health surveys and database development 42 U.S.C. 299a(a)(1), (2) and (8). Method of Collection To achieve the goal of this project, the following activities and data collections will be implemented: (1) Registration Form--The purpose of this form is to determine the eligibility status and initiate the registration process for participating organizations seeking to voluntarily submit their CAHPS CG Survey data to the CAHPS CG Database. The point of contact (POC) at the participating organization (or parent organization) will complete the form. The POC is either a corporate-level health care manager or a survey vendor who contracts with a participating organization to collect the CAHPS CG Survey data. (2) Data Use Agreement (DUA)--The purpose of this DUA is to obtain authorization from participating organizations to use their voluntarily submitted CAHPS CG Survey data for analysis and reporting according to the terms specified in the DUA. The POC at the organization will complete the form. Vendors do not sign the DUA. (3) Data Submission--The number of submissions to the database may vary each year because medical groups and practices may not administer the survey and submit data each year. Data submission is typically handled by one POC who either is a health system, medical group or practice or a survey vendor who contracts with the medical group or practice to collect their data. After the POC has completed the Registration Form and the Data Use Agreement, they will submit their patient-level data from the CAHPS CG Survey to the CAHPS CG Database. Data on the organizational characteristics such as ownership, number of patient visits per year, medical specialty, and information related to survey administration such as mode, dates of survey administration, sample size, and response rate, which are collected as part of CAHPS CG Survey operations are also submitted. Each submission will consist of 3 data files: (1) A Group File that contains information about the group ownership and size of group, (2) a Practice File containing type of practice, the practice ownership and affiliation (i.e., commercial, hospital or integrated delivery system, insurance company, university or medical school, community health center, VA or military) and number of patient visits per year, and 3) a Sample File that contains one record for each patient surveyed, the date of visit, survey disposition code and information about survey completion. Survey data from the CAHPS CG Database is used to produce four types of products: (1) An online reporting of results available to the public on the CAHPS Database Web site; (2) individual participant comparative reports that are confidential and customized for each participating organization that submits their data, (3) an annual Chartbook that presents summary-level results in a downloadable PDF file; and (4) a dataset available to researchers for additional analyses. Information for the CAHPS CG Database has been collected by AHRQ through its contractor Westat on an annual basis since 2010. Participating organizations are asked to voluntarily submit their data to the CAHPS CG Database each year. The data is cleaned with standardized programs, then aggregated and used to produce comparative results. In addition, reports are produced that compare the participating organizations' results to the database in a password- protected section of the CAHPS CG Database online reporting system. Estimated Annual Respondent Burden Exhibit 1 shows the estimated burden hours for the respondent to participate in the CAHPS CG Database. The 20 POCs in exhibit 1 are the number of estimated vendors. The 240 POCs in exhibit 1 are the number of estimated participating Health/Medical entities. Each vendor will register online for submission. The online Registration form will require about 5 minutes to complete. The data use agreement will be completed by the 240 participating Health/Medical entities. Vendors do not sign DUAs. The DUA requires about 3 minutes to sign and return by fax, mail or to upload directly in the submission system. Each submitter will provide a copy of their questionnaire and the survey data file in the required file format. Survey data files must conform to the data file layout specifications provided by the CAHPS CG Database. The number of data submissions per POC will vary because some may submit data for multiple practices, while others may submit data for only one. Once a data file is uploaded the file will be automatically checked to ensure it conforms to the specifications and a data file status report will be produced and made available to the submitter. Submitters will review each report and will be expected to fix any errors in their data file and resubmit if necessary. It will take about one hour to complete each file submission. The total burden is estimated to be 454 hours annually. Exhibit 1--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Number of Form name respondents/ responses for Hours per Total burden POCs each POC response hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Registration Form............................... 20 1 5/60 2 Data Use Agreement.............................. 240 1 3/60 12 Data Files Submission........................... 440 1 1 440 --------------------------------------------------------------- Total....................................... 700 NA NA 454 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden based on the respondents' time to complete the submission process. The cost burden is estimated to be $18,613 annually. [[Page 48112]] Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Total burden Average hourly Total cost Form name respondents/ POCs hours wage rate * burden ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Registration Form................... 20 2 39.75 \a\ $80 Data Use Agreement.................. 240 12 86.88 \b\ 1043 Data Files Submission............... 20 440 39.75 \c\ 17,490 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total........................... 280 454 NA 18,613 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * National Compensation Survey: Occupational wages in the United States May 2014, ``U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.'' (a) and (c) Based on the mean hourly wages for Computer Programmer (15-1131). (b) Based on the mean hourly wage for Chief Executives (11-1011). http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#15-0000 Request for Comments In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ's information collection are requested with regard to any of the following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ health care research and information dissemination functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information upon the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of public record. Sharon B. Arnold, Deputy Director. [FR Doc. 2015-19657 Filed 8-10-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160-90-P
![48110 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 154 / Tuesday, August 11, 2015 / Notices
D Followup duration is 0 to 18 years SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CAHPS Health Plan Database as a
model. The CAHPS Health Plan
Settings Proposed Project
Database was developed in 1998 in
• Community-dwelling individuals Consumer Assessment of Healthcare response to requests from health plans,
seen by primary care physicians or Providers and Systems (CAHPS) purchasers, and CMS for comparative
obstetricians in private or academic Clinician and Group Survey data to support public reporting of
medical practices (KQ1, 3) Comparative Database health plan ratings, health plan
• Community dwelling children seen accreditation and quality improvement
in outpatient health care or educational The CAHPS Clinician and Group
Survey (‘‘the CAHPS CG Survey’’) is a (OMB Control Number 0935–0165,
settings (KQ2, 3) expiration 5/31/2017). Demand for
Study designs will be limited to tool for collecting standardized
information on patients’ experiences comparative results from the CG Survey
Randomized Controlled Trials, has grown as well, and therefore AHRQ
prospective cohort studies, and nested with physicians and staff in outpatient
medical practices. The results, enable developed a dedicated CAHPS Clinician
case control studies (cross-sectional, and Group Database to support
retrospective cohort, and case study clinicians and administrators to assess
and improve patients’ experiences with benchmarking, quality improvement,
designs will be excluded; studies must
medical care. The CAHPS CG Survey is and research (OMB Control Number
have measure of intake/exposure prior
a product of the CAHPS® program, 0935–0197, expiration 06/30/2015).
to outcome). Language will be restricted
which is funded and administered by The CAHPS Database contains data
to English. Only peer-reviewed studies
AHRQ, and CAHPS® is a registered from AHRQ’s standardized CAHPS
will be included; unpublished studies
trademark of AHRQ. AHRQ works Surveys which provide comparative
will not be included.
closely with a consortium of public and measures of quality to health care
Sharon B. Arnold, private research organizations to purchasers, consumers, regulators, and
Deputy Director. develop and maintain surveys and tools policy makers. The CAHPS Database
[FR Doc. 2015–19658 Filed 8–10–15; 8:45 am] to advance patient-centered care. In also provides data for AHRQ’s annual
BILLING CODE 4160–90–P 1999, the CAHPS Consortium began National Healthcare Quality and
work on a survey that would assess Disparities Report.
patients’ experiences with medical Health systems, medical groups and
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND groups and clinicians. The CAHPS practices that administer the CAHPS
HUMAN SERVICES Consortium developed a preliminary Clinician & Group Survey according to
instrument known as the CAHPS Group CAHPS specifications can participate in
Agency for Healthcare Research and this project. A health system is a
Practices Survey (G–CAHPS), with
Quality Agency Information Collection complex of facilities, organizations, and
Activities: Proposed Collection; input from the Pacific Business Group
on Health, which developed a providers of health care in a specified
Comment Request geographic area. A medical group is
Consumer Assessment Survey that is the
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research precedent for this type of instrument. defined as a medical group,
and Quality, HHS. In August 2004, AHRQ issued a notice Accountable Care Organization (ACO),
ACTION: Notice. in the Federal Register inviting state organization or some other
organizations to test the CAHPS CG grouping of medical practices. A
SUMMARY: This notice announces the Survey. These field-test organizations practice is an outpatient facility in a
intention of the Agency for Healthcare were crucial partners in the evolution specific location whose physicians and
Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request and development of the instrument, and other providers share administrative
that the Office of Management and provided critical data illuminating key and clinical support staff. Each practice
Budget (OMB) approve the proposed aspects of survey design and located in a building containing
changes to the currently approved administration. In July 2007 the CAHPS multiple medical offices is considered a
information collection project: CG Survey was endorsed by the separate practice.
‘‘Consumer Assessment of Healthcare National Quality Forum (NQF), an The goal of this project is to renew the
Providers and Systems (CAHPS) organization established to standardize CAHPS CG Database. This database will
Clinician and Group Survey health care quality measurement and continue to update the CAHPS CG
Comparative Database.’’ In accordance reporting. The endorsement represents Database with the latest results of the
with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 the consensus of many health care CAHPS CG Survey. These results
U.S.C. 3501–3521, AHRQ invites the providers, consumer groups, consist of 34 items that measure 5 areas
public to comment on this proposed professional associations, purchasers, or composites of patients’ experiences
information collection. federal agencies, and research and with physicians and staff in outpatient
DATES: Comments on this notice must be quality organizations. The CAHPS CG medical practices. This database:
received by October 13, 2015. Survey and related toolkit materials are (1) Allows participating organizations to
ADDRESSES: Written comments should available on the CAHPS Web site at compare their survey results with those of
be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, https://cahps.ahrq.gov/surveys- other outpatient medical groups;
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by guidance/cg/instructions/index.html. (2) Provides data to medical groups and
email at doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov. Since its release, the survey has been practices to facilitate internal assessment and
Copies of the proposed collection learning in the quality improvement process;
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
used by thousands of physicians and
plans, data collection instruments, and and
medical practices across the U.S. (3) Provides information to help identify
specific details on the estimated burden The current CAHPS Consortium strengths and areas with potential for
can be obtained from the AHRQ Reports includes AHRQ, the Centers for improvement in patient care. The five
Clearance Officer. Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), composite measures are:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RAND, Yale School of Public Health, Getting Timely Appointments, Care, and
Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports and Westat. Information
Clearance Officer, (301) 427–1477, or by AHRQ developed the database for How Well Providers Communicate With
email at doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov. CAHPS CG Survey data following the Patients
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![48112 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 154 / Tuesday, August 11, 2015 / Notices
EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST BURDEN
Number of Average
Total burden Total cost
Form name respondents/ hourly wage
hours burden
POCs rate *
Registration Form .................................................................... 20 2 39.75 a $80
Data Use Agreement ............................................................... 240 12 86.88 b 1043
Data Files Submission ............................................................. 20 440 39.75 c 17,490
Total .................................................................................. 280 454 NA 18,613
* National Compensation Survey: Occupational wages in the United States May 2014, ‘‘U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.’’
(a) and (c) Based on the mean hourly wages for Computer Programmer (15–1131). (b) Based on the mean hourly wage for Chief Executives
(11–1011). http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#15–0000
Request for Comments Quality Improvement Final Rule, 42 Rule to implement the Patient Safety
In accordance with the Paperwork CFR part 3 (Patient Safety Rule), Act. AHRQ administers the provisions
Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ’s published in the Federal Register on of the Patient Safety Act and Patient
information collection are requested November 21, 2008: 73 FR 70732, Safety Rule relating to the listing and
with regard to any of the following: (a) provide for the formation of Patient operation of PSOs. The Patient Safety
Whether the proposed collection of Safety Organizations (PSOs), which Rule authorizes AHRQ to list as a PSO
information is necessary for the proper collect, aggregate, and analyze an entity that attests that it meets the
performance of AHRQ health care confidential information regarding the statutory and regulatory requirements
research and information dissemination quality and safety of health care for listing. A PSO can be ‘‘delisted’’ if
functions, including whether the delivery. The Patient Safety Rule it is found to no longer meet the
information will have practical utility; authorizes AHRQ, on behalf of the requirements of the Patient Safety Act
(b) the accuracy of AHRQ’s estimate of Secretary of HHS, to list as a PSO an and Patient Safety Rule, when a PSO
burden (including hours and costs) of entity that attests that it meets the chooses to voluntarily relinquish its
the proposed collection(s) of statutory and regulatory requirements status as a PSO for any reason, or when
information; (c) ways to enhance the for listing. A PSO can be ‘‘delisted’’ by the PSO’s listing expires. Section
quality, utility, and clarity of the the Secretary if it is found to no longer 3.108(d) of the Patient Safety Rule
information to be collected; and (d) meet the requirements of the Patient requires AHRQ to provide public notice
ways to minimize the burden of the Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule, when it removes an organization from
collection of information upon the when a PSO chooses to voluntarily the list of federally approved PSOs.
respondents, including the use of relinquish its status as a PSO for any The McGuckin Methods International,
automated collection techniques or reason, or when a PSO’s listing expires. Inc., PSO number P0063 chose to let its
other forms of information technology. The listing from McGuckin Methods listing expire by not seeking continued
Comments submitted in response to International, Inc. has expired and listing. Accordingly, McGuckin
this notice will be summarized and AHRQ has delisted the PSO Methods International, Inc. was delisted
included in the Agency’s subsequent accordingly. effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on
request for OMB approval of the DATES: The directories for both listed May 5, 2015.
proposed information collection. All and delisted PSOs are ongoing and More information on PSOs can be
comments will become a matter of reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The obtained through AHRQ’s PSO Web site
public record. delisting was effective at 12:00 Midnight at http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/
ET (2400) on May 5, 2015. index.html.
Sharon B. Arnold,
ADDRESSES: Both directories can be Sharon B. Arnold,
Deputy Director.
accessed electronically at the following Director.
[FR Doc. 2015–19657 Filed 8–10–15; 8:45 am]
HHS Web site: http:// [FR Doc. 2015–19660 Filed 8–10–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160–90–P
www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html. BILLING CODE 4160–90–P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND Eileen Hogan, Center for Quality
HUMAN SERVICES Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850; HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Telephone (toll free): (866) 403–3697;
Quality Telephone (local): (301) 427–1111; TTY Centers for Disease Control and
(toll free): (866) 438–7231; TTY (local): Prevention
Patient Safety Organizations: Expired (301) 427–1130; Email: pso@
Listing for McGuckin Methods AHRQ.hhs.gov. Request for Nominations of
International, Inc. Candidates To Serve on the Board of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Scientific Counselors, National Center
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research Background for Environmental Health/Agency for
and Quality (AHRQ), Department of Toxic Substances and Disease
Health and Human Services (HHS). The Patient Safety Act authorizes the
Registry (BSC, NCEH/ATSDR)
ACTION: Notice of delisting. listing of PSOs, which are entities or
component organizations whose The Centers for Disease Control and
SUMMARY: The Patient Safety and mission and primary activity are to Prevention (CDC) is soliciting
Quality Improvement Act of 2005, 42 conduct activities to improve patient nominations for membership on the
U.S.C. 299b–21 to b–26, (Patient Safety safety and the quality of health care BSC, NCEH/ATSDR. The BSC, NCEH/
Act) and the related Patient Safety and delivery. HHS issued the Patient Safety ATSDR consists of 16 experts
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Document Created: 2016-09-27 22:25:33
Document Modified: 2016-09-27 22:25:33
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Comments on this notice must be received by October 13, 2015. | |
| Contact | Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by email at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 48110 |
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