SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as amended, OPM is soliciting comments for a new collection of information. OPM is particularly interested in comments that:

1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

2. 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;

3. Suggests ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

4. Suggest ways to 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 submissions of responses.

Background

The FPA Portal is an enrollee notification and eligibility verification system that will support the OPM requirement under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Protection Act of 2025 (Sec. 90101, Pub. L. 119-21, 139 Stat. 362) to conduct a comprehensive audit regarding family members who are covered in the FEHB Program. It will provide a secure and consistent process to ensure that only eligible individuals are enrolled in the FEHB Program. This will strengthen enrollment integrity and ensure ineligible family members are not participating in the FEHB Program. The FPA Portal will involve enrollees whose family member's eligibility has not yet been verified, OPM personnel, and a contracted vendor. Employing agencies, payroll offices, and participating health insurance carriers will be incorporated in subsequent phases. Enrollees whose family member's eligibility has not been verified will receive FPA Portal generated emails and mailed notices. These notices will direct enrollees to securely sign in to the FPA Portal enabling them to provide documentation to allow verification of the eligibility of their family members. ( printed page 66173) The FPA Portal will send status updates and reminders when a response or additional action is required. The enrollee will use online forms and document-upload features within the FPA Portal to enter requested information and submit supporting eligibility documents. The documents required depend on the family member's relationship to the enrollee and include records used to establish a spouse's or child's eligibility. The list of these records can be found in the FEHB Handbook at www.opm.gov/​healthcare-insurance/​healthcare/​reference-materials/​reference/​family-members/​. The FPA Portal will use automated document-verification capabilities to review the submitted information and documentation and determine whether the submission is sufficient to support an eligibility decision. If a case cannot be resolved through the automated review process, it will be referred to the contracted vendor and OPM. The results of that review will be returned to the FPA Portal for continued processing.

Analysis

Agency: Office of Personnel Management.

Title: FEHB Protection Act Portal.

OMB Number: 3206-NEW.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Eligible individuals or household members.

Number of Respondents: ~2.7 million.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 30 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 1.4 million hours.

91 FR 66172