[Federal Register: December 19, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 244)]
[Notices]
[Page 77791-77792]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de02-69]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10078]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS.
In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) (formerly known as the Health Care Financing
Administration (HCFA)), Department of Health and Human Services, is
publishing the following summary of proposed collections for public
comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this
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.
We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information
collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following
requirements for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency
review because the collection of this information is needed before the
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR
part 1320. This is necessary to ensure compliance with the Trade Act of
2002. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures
because of an unanticipated event and public harm.
President Bush signed into law on August 6, 2002, the Trade Act of
2002. Additionally, the law provided funding of $20 million in Fiscal
Year (FY) 2003 for seed grants to states to create high risk insurance
pools and $80 million ($40 million in FY 2003 and $40 million in FY
2004) for matching grants to states for the operation of existing high
risk pools. The provision in the legislation about high risk pools was
unanticipated. (High risk pools are a mechanism for states to provide
health coverage to individuals who cannot obtain health insurance in
the private market because of a history of illnesses.)
In addition, public harm will result if funding to the states is
delayed in any manner. The purpose of the grant program is to provide
money to the states to expand the coverage in the high risk pools to
make it available to more individuals. Any delay in the funding,
therefore, would result in a delay in individuals obtaining health care
for their illnesses. Because of this, the Bush Administration has
instructed that this program to be enacted as quickly as possible.
CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by
January 3, 2003, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the
individuals designated below by January 2, 2003. During this 180-day
period, we will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing
the initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment
period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB
review and an extension of this emergency approval.
Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of
Information Collection: Matching Grants to States for the Operation of
High Risk Pools; Form No.: CMS-10078 (OMB 0938-XXXX); Use:
HHS/CMS is requiring this information as a condition of eligibility for
grants that were authorized in the Trade Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-210).
The information is necessary to determine if a state applicant meets
the necessary eligibility criteria for a grant as required by the law.
The respondents will be states that have a high risk pool as defined in
section 2744(c)(2) of the Public Health Service Act. The grants will
provide matching funds to states that incur losses in the operation of
high risk pools. High risk pools are set up by states to provide heatlh
insurance to individuals that cannot obtain health insurance in the
private market because of a history of illness; Frequency: On occasion;
Affected Public: State, local, or tribal government; Number of
Respondents: 20; Total Annual Responses: 20; Total Annual Hours: 800.
We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of
these information collections. A notice will be published in the
Federal Register when approval is obtained.
To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS'
Web Site address at http://cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/default.asp or
E-mail
[[Page 77792]]
your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS
document identifier, to Paperwork@hcfa.gov, or call the Reports
Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information
requirements. However, as noted above, comments on these information
collection and recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed
to the designees referenced below, by December 30, 2002.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development
and Issuances, Room C5-16-03, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD
21244-1850. Fax Number: (410) 786-3064. Attn: Julie Brown.
and,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC
20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167. Attn: Brenda
Aguilar, CMS Desk Officer.
Dated: December 10, 2002.
John P. Burke, III,
CMS Reports Clearance Officer, CMS, Office of Information Services,
Security and Standards Group, Division of CMS Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 02-31923 Filed 12-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P