81 FR 63762 - 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 180 (September 16, 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: The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; the accuracy of the estimated burden; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 180 (Friday, September 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63762-63763]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22342]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers: CMS-10527]


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

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health 
and Human Services.

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: The 
necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the 
proper performance of the agency's functions; the accuracy of the 
estimated burden; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and 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 October 17, 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,

[[Page 63763]]

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: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Annual 
Eligibility Redetermination, Product Discontinuation and Renewal 
Notices; Use: Section 1411(f)(1)(B) of the Affordable Care Act directs 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish 
procedures to redetermine the eligibility of individuals on a periodic 
basis in appropriate circumstances. Section 1321(a) of the Affordable 
Care Act provides authority for the Secretary to establish standards 
and regulations to implement the statutory requirements related to 
Exchanges, QHPs and other components of title I of the Affordable Care 
Act. Under section 2703 of the PHS Act, as added by the Affordable Care 
Act, and former section 2712 and section 2741 of the PHS Act, enacted 
by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 
health insurance issuers in the group and individual markets must 
guarantee the renewability of coverage unless an exception applies. The 
final rule ``Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Annual 
Eligibility Redeterminations for Exchange Participation and Insurance 
Affordability Programs; Health Insurance Issuer Standards Under the 
Affordable Care Act, Including Standards Related to Exchanges'' (79 FR 
52994), provides that an Exchange may choose to conduct the annual 
redetermination process for a plan year (1) in accordance with the 
existing procedures described in 45 CFR 155.335; (2) in accordance with 
procedures described in guidance issued by the Secretary for the 
coverage year; or (3) using an alternative proposed by the Exchange and 
approved by the Secretary. The guidance document ``Guidance on Annual 
Redeterminations and Re-enrollment for Marketplace Coverage for 2017'' 
contains the procedures that the Secretary is specifying for the 2017 
coverage year, as noted in (2) above. These procedures will be adopted 
by the Federally-facilitated Exchange. The final rule also amends the 
requirements for product renewal and re-enrollment (or non-renewal) 
notices to be sent by Qualified Health Plan (QHP) issuers in the 
Exchanges and specifies content for these notices. The accompanying 
guidance document ``Updated Federal Standard Notices of Product 
Discontinuation and Renewal'' provides standard notices for product 
discontinuation and renewal to be sent by issuers of individual market 
QHPs and issuers in the individual market. Issuers in the small group 
market may use the draft Federal standard small group notices released 
in the June 26, 2014 bulletin ``Draft Standard Notices When 
Discontinuing or Renewing a Product in the Small Group or Individual 
Market'', or any forms of the notice otherwise permitted by applicable 
laws and regulations. States that are enforcing the guaranteed 
renewability provisions of the Affordable Care Act may develop their 
own standard notices for product discontinuances, renewals, or both, 
provided the State-developed notices are at least as protective as the 
Federal standard notices. Form Number: CMS-10527 (OMB control number 
0938-1254); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private Sector, State 
Governments; Number of Respondents: 2,945; Total Annual Responses: 
12,224; Total Annual Hours: 149,186. (For policy questions regarding 
this collection contact Russell Tipps at 301-492-4371).

    Dated: September 13, 2016.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-22342 Filed 9-15-16; 8:45 am]
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