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.