80 FR 67406 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 211 (November 2, 2015)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our 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.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 211 (Monday, November 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67406-67407]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27859]


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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.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is 
announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention 
to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice 
in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an 
existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public 
comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send 
comments regarding our 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.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 4, 2016.

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please reference the document identifier or 
OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and 
recommendations must be submitted in any one of the following ways:
    1. Electronically. You may send 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) that are 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.
    To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, you may make 
your request using one of following:
    1. Access CMS' Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995.
    2. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB 
number, and CMS document identifier, to [email protected].
    3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-
1326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Contents

    This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated 
with the following information collections. More detailed information 
can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated 
materials (see ADDRESSES). CMS-10333 Consumer Assistance Program Grants
    Under the 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 requires federal agencies 
to publish a 60-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.

Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Consumer 
Assistance Program Grants; Use: Section 1002 of the Affordable Care Act 
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, the law 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

[[Page 67407]]

the Secretary on the types of problems and inquiries encountered by 
consumers'' (Sec. 2793 (d)). 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 CCIIO 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 Control Number: 0938-1097); Frequency: Annually, 
Quarterly; Affected Public: Private Sector: State, Local, or Tribal 
Governments; Number of Respondents: 51; Total Annual Responses: 459; 
Total Annual Hours: 9,588. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Lateefa Dawkins at 301-492-4262.)

    Dated: October 28, 2015.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-27859 Filed 10-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P