81 FR 3146 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 12 (January 20, 2016)

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 (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 a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the 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.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3146-3147]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers: CMS-10333 and CMS-10526]


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

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and 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 (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 a second opportunity 
for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to 
send comments regarding the 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.

DATES: Comments on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by February 19, 2016.

ADDRESSES: When commenting on the proposed information collections, 
please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be 
assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by 
the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions: OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-5806 OR, Email: 
[email protected].
    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: 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:
    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 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.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a previously 
approved collection of information; Title of Information Collection: 
Cost Sharing Reduction Reconciliation; Use: Under established 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations, qualified 
health plan (QHP) issuers will receive estimated advance payments of 
cost-sharing reductions throughout the year. Each issuer will then be 
subject to a reconciliation process at the end of the benefit year to 
ensure that each issuer is reimbursed only for cost sharing reductions 
provided. This revised collection establishes the data elements that a 
QHP issuer would be required to report to HHS in order to establish the 
cost-sharing reductions provided on behalf of enrollees for the benefit 
year. Comments submitted during the 60-day comment period were 
addressed in a Response to Comments document. Form Number: CMS-10526 
(OMB Control Number: 0938-1266); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: 
Private Sector (business or other for-profits); Number of Respondents: 
295; Total Annual Responses: 4,000,000; Total Annual Hours: 2,470. (For 
policy

[[Page 3147]]

questions regarding this collection contact Patricia Meisol at 410-786-
1917.)

    Dated: January 14, 2016.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-00994 Filed 1-19-16; 8:45 am]
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