[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 141 (Thursday, July 23, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 43799-43800] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2015-18002] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of the Secretary Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Affordable Care Act Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Procedures for Non-Grandfathered Plans ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Affordable Care Act Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Procedures for Non-Grandfathered Plans,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Public comments on the ICR are invited. DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before August 21, 2015. ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201507-1210-001 (this link will only become active on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email at [email protected]. Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL- EBSA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email at [email protected]. Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for the Affordable Care Act internal claims and appeals and external review procedures for non-grandfathered health plans information collection information collection requirements codified in regulations 29 CFR 2590.715-2719(b)(2) and 2560.503-1. This ICR includes the reporting and third party notice and disclosure requirements a plan must satisfy under interim final regulations implementing provisions of the Affordable Care Act, which amended the Public Health Service Act among other things. The subject regulations pertain to internal claims and appeals and to the external review process. The EBSA makes several model notices available in a compliance assistance effort. Public Health Service Act section 2719 authorizes this information collection. See 42 U.S.C. 300gg-19. This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under Control Number 1210-0144. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal, and the current approval for this collection is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2015. The DOL seeks to extend PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, without any change to existing requirements. The DOL notes that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on October 15, 2014 (79 FR 61903). Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1210-0144. The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Agency: DOL-EBSA. Title of Collection: Affordable Care Act Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Procedures for Non-Grandfathered Plans. [[Page 43800]] OMB Control Number: 1210-0144. Affected Public: Private Sector-businesses or other for-profits and not-for-profit institutions. Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 276,000. Total Estimated Number of Responses: 276,000. Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 2,000 hours. Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $1,100,000. Dated: July 16, 2015. Michel Smyth, Departmental Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2015-18002 Filed 7-22-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-29-P