[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 44241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18344]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10333]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.
In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) is publishing the following summary of proposed
collections for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (1)
The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for
the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of
the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology to minimize the information collection burden.
1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently
approved collection; Title: Consumer Assistance Program Grants; Use:
Section 1002 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides for the
establishment of consumer assistance (or ombudsman) programs, starting
in FY 2010. Federal grants will support these programs. These programs
will assist consumers with filing complaints and appeals, assist
consumers with enrollment into health coverage, collect data on
consumer inquiries and complaints to identify problems in the
marketplace, educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities,
and with the establishment of the new Exchange marketplaces, resolve
problems with premium credits for Exchange coverage.
Importantly, these programs must provide detailed reporting on the
types of problems and questions consumers may experience with health
coverage, and how these problems and questions are resolved. In order
to strengthen oversight, section 2793(d) of the ACA requires programs
to report data to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) ``As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection
(a), an office of health insurance consumer assistance or ombudsman
program shall be required to collect and report data to the Secretary
on the types of problems and inquiries encountered by consumers''.
Analysis of this data reporting will help identify patterns of
practice in the insurance marketplaces and uncover suspected patterns
of noncompliance. HHS must share program data reports with the
Departments of Labor and Treasury, and State regulators. Program data
also can offer CMS one indication of the effectiveness of State
enforcement, affording opportunities to provide technical assistance
and support to State insurance regulators and, in extreme cases, inform
the need to trigger federal enforcement. Form Number: CMS-10333
(OMB: 0938-1097); Frequency: Quarterly and Annually; Affected
Public: Private Sector: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of
Respondents: 56; Total Annual Responses: 504; Total Annual Hours: 129-
261 hours. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact
Eliza Bangit at 301-492-4219. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS'
Web Site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995,
or email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB
number, and CMS document identifier, to [email protected], or call
the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
In commenting on the proposed information collections please
reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured
consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of
the following ways by September 25, 2012:
1. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically to
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for ``Comment or
Submission'' or ``More Search Options'' to find the information
collection document(s) accepting comments.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following
address:
CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of
Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB Control
Number --------, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244-1850.
Dated: July 24, 2012.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-18344 Filed 7-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P