[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 184 (Friday, September 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 55861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19070]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document No. CMS-10170]
Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMMS).
In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS), 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 an initiative of
the Administration. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal
clearance procedures because the normal procedures are likely to cause
a statutory deadline to be missed.
Under Section 1860D-22 of the Social Security Act, added by the
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003
(MMA) and implementing regulations at 42 CFR Section 423.880 plan
sponsors (employers, unions etc.) who offer prescription drug coverage
to their qualified covered retirees are eligible to receive a 28% tax-
free subsidy for allowable drug costs. Plan sponsors must submit a
complete application to CMS in order to be considered for the Retiree
Drug Subsidy (RDS) program. All systems must be operational January 1,
2006, the effective date for the MMA. In order to meet this statutorily
mandated date, CMS is working diligently to establish the systems,
procedures, and documents necessary to implement the RDS program. CMS
is seeking an emergency Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval for the
RDS Payment and Reconciliation specifications and instructions.
CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by
October 24, 2005, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the
individuals designated below by October 22, 2005.
Type of Information Collection Request: New Collection; Title of
Information Collection: Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Payment Request and
Instructions; Use: Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement,
and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 and implementing regulations at 42
CFR Subpart R plan sponsors (employers, unions) who offer prescription
drug coverage to their qualified covered retirees are eligible to
receive a 28% tax-free subsidy for allowable drug costs. In order to
qualify, plan sponsors must submit a complete application to CMS with a
list of retirees for whom it intends to collect the subsidy; Form
Number: CMS-10170 (OMB: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Quarterly,
Monthly, Annually; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-
for-profit institutions, Federal, State, Local and Tribal Government;
Number of Respondents: 50,000; Total Annual Responses: 50,000; Total
Annual Hours: 2,025,000.
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://www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra or E-mail
your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS
document identifier, to [email protected], 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 received by the
designees referenced below by October 22, 2005:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Attn: Melissa Musotto, CMS-10170
and,
OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Christopher Martin,
New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.
Dated: September 20, 2005.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-19070 Filed 9-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P