Generic Clearance for the Collection of Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) Respondent “Pulse” Feedback (CMS-10948)

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DATES:

Comments on the collection(s) of information must be received by the OMB desk officer by June 1, 2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. The term "collection of information" is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires federal agencies to publish a 30-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this notice that summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for public comment.

Information Collection

1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) Respondent "Pulse" Feedback; Use: This new request will allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to efficiently utilize the MCBS to establish a new tool, the MCBS Pulse. This tool will establish a proactive, data-driven process that allows CMS to accomplish three goals: (1) Enhance operational efficiency by enabling decision-makers to obtain time-sensitive data points not available from other sources to inform program planning and development; (2) Add early design phase questionnaire testing capabilities by collecting rapid turnaround feedback on nascent questionnaire concepts; (3) Rapidly gather directional feedback from beneficiaries on emerging concerns for exploratory purposes and early-stage issue identification. Each MCBS Pulse survey will be brief and constrained in content, containing no more than five questions, that reflect an intentional prioritization of topics of greatest need to CMS stakeholders as well as a limitation of respondent burden and cost. Each individual MCBS Pulse survey will be incorporated into an existing MCBS round of data collection where it will be fielded for up to two weeks. The MCBS design includes three rounds per year, each lasting approximately 16 weeks. Given that each Pulse survey is exceptionally brief and fielded for only up to two weeks, CMS can conduct multiple Pulse surveys per round based on operational needs. Form Number: CMS-10948 (OMB control number: 0938-New); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Number of Respondents: 31,117; Total Annual Responses: 31,117; Total Annual Hours: 1,026. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact William Long at 410-786-7927.)