[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 72698-72699] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-33601] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration Proposed Extension of Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Establishing Prior Creditable Coverage, Health Insurance Portability for Group Health Plans
Action
Notice.
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Summary
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of a currently approved collection of information, Establishing Prior Creditable Coverage. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the addressee below.
Dates
Written comments must be submitted on or before February 28, 2000.
Addresses
Gerald B. Lindrew, Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-4782, FAX (202) 219-4745 (not toll-free numbers).
Supplementary Information
Background
Subtitle B of title 1 of ERISA, Part 7, section 707, added by the Health Care Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104- 191, August 31, 1996) (HIPAA) authorizes the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Secretary of the Treasury, to promulgate such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of the statute. Accordingly, Interim Rules implementing the Portability Requirement for Group Health Plans were published on April 8, 1997, (62 FR 16920 through 16923) (April 8 Interim Rules). In order to meet HIPAA's goal of improving access to and portability of health care benefits, the statute provides that, after the submission of evidence establishing prior creditable coverage, a subsequent health insurance provider would be limited to the extent to which it could use pre-existing condition exclusions to limit coverage. This ICR covers the submission of materials sufficient to establish prior creditable coverage.
Review Focus
The Department of Labor (Department) is particularly interested in comments which: • 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 submissions of responses. Current Actions: The Department has not modified the ICR incorporated in the April 8 Interim Rules, but intends to submit the ICR to OMB for continued clearance. Comments received in response to this notice will be incorporated in the submission to OMB. The existing collection of information should be continued because it implements disclosure provisions mandated by the portability provisions enacted in section 701 of HIPAA. Specifically, this ICR implements statutory requirements for establishing prior creditable coverage. Under the April 8 Interim Rules, a group health plan is obligated to provide a written certificate of information suitable for establishing prior creditable coverage of a participant or beneficiary. To the extent that a certification is not available or is inadequate to prove prior creditable coverage, alternative methods of establishing creditable coverage are provided. The April 8 Interim Rules offer model certification and notice forms to be used by group health plans and health insurance issuers, containing the minimum information mandated by the statute. Agency: Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration. Title: Establishing Prior Creditable Coverage. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. OMB Number: 1210-0103. Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions, Individuals or households. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Respondents: 15,604. Responses: 8,000,000. Total Estimated Burden Hours: 336,060. Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): $31,800,000. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: December 22, 1999. Gerald B. Lindrew, Deputy Director, Office of Policy and Research, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration. [FR Doc. 99-33601 Filed 12-27-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-29-M