[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77469-77470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30434]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10510]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.
In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS),
Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing a summary of
this proposed information collection for public comment. Interested
persons are invited to send comments regarding this collection's
proposed burden estimates 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.
In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, we have also submitted to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) the proposed information collection for their emergency
review. While the collection is necessary to ensure compliance with an
initiative of the Administration, we are requesting emergency review
under 5 CFR 1320(a)(2)(i) because public harm is reasonably likely to
result if the regular clearance procedures are followed.
Without emergency approval, we will need to delay by approximately
4 months the release of Basic Health Program (BHP) federal payment
rates beyond the March 2014 timeframe that was published in the BHP
proposed regulation released on September 25, 2013 (78 FR 59122).
Instead, we would release rates in early summer 2014 to accommodate the
normal PRA approval process. Rates are needed in March 2014 to support
state decisions to implement BHP on January 1, 2015, and to provide the
necessary time for states to do their planning, contracting with
issuers, and conducting open enrollment. Providing rates in the summer
2014 will likely postpone interested states' decisions and their
implementation dates by as much as a year. This could result in as many
as 1.3 million low income people not having access to BHP in early
2015, thereby prohibiting them from availing continuity of providers
and health care that BHP is intended to provide. That is, BHP is a
bridge program for low income people who today move in and out of
health programs as their eligibility changes based on fluctuations in
income and other factors, and such movements disrupt their access to
the providers and services that they need. This delay in access to BHP
benefits would likely cause public harm.
1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (request
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Basic
Health Program Report for Health Insurance Exchange Premium; Use: In
accordance with section 1331 of the Affordable Care Act, the Basic
Health Program (BHP) is federally funded by determining the amount of
payments that the federal government would have made through premium
tax credits (PTCs) and cost sharing reductions (CSRs) for people
enrolled in BHP had they instead been enrolled in an Exchange.
To calculate these amounts for each state, we need the reference
premiums for the second lowest cost silver plans (SLCSPs) in each
geographic area in a state, as SLCSPs are a basic unit in the
calculation of PTCs and CSRs under the Exchanges. Relatedly, the
reference premiums for these SLCSPs are critical components in the BHP
payment methodology in order to estimate what PTCs and CSRs would have
been paid. Similarly, we also need to collect reference premiums for
the lowest cost bronze plans to appropriately account for CSR
calculations for American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Reference
premiums are foundational inputs into the BHP payment methodology.
We have the necessary information to determine these reference
premiums for states whose Exchanges are operated by the Federally
Facilitated Exchange (FFE) or in Partnership with the FFE. Therefore,
this collection only pertains to the 17 states who are operating State
Based Exchanges. A related notice, issued under CMS-2380-PN, is also
publishing in today's Federal Register; Form Number: CMS-10510 (OCN:
0938-New); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal
Governments; Number of Respondents: 17; Total Annual Responses: 17;
Total Annual Hours: 68. (For policy questions regarding this collection
contact Jessica Schubel at 410-786-3032.)
We are requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by
December 23, 2013, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and
recommendations will be considered from the public if received by the
date and address noted below.
Copies of the supporting statement and any related forms can be
found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995 or can be
obtained by emailing your request, including your address, phone
number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to:
[email protected], or by calling the Reports Clearance Office at:
410-786-1326.
When commenting on this proposed information collection, please
reference the CMS document identifier and the OMB control number (OCN).
To be assured consideration, comments and
[[Page 77470]]
recommendations must be received in one of the following ways by
January 2, 2014:
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
(CMS-10510), Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244-1850 and, OMB Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk Officer, New Executive Office Building,
Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Fax Number: 202-395-6974.
Dated: December 17, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-30434 Filed 12-18-13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P