[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24032-24033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10430]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10371 and CMS-10370]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service, HHS.
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) 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.
1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Cooperative
Agreement to Support Establishment of State-Operated Health Insurance
Exchanges; Use: All States (including the 50 States, consortia of
States, and the District of Columbia herein referred to as States) that
received a State Planning and Establishment Grant for Affordable Care
Act's Exchanges are eligible for the Cooperative Agreement to Support
Establishment of State Operated Insurance Exchanges. Section 1311(b) of
the Affordable Care Act provides the opportunity for each State to
establish an Exchange no later than January 1, 2014. The State of
Alaska did not apply for a Planning grant. Because Alaska did not
receive funding under Section 1311 for planning and establishment of an
Exchange within one year of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act,
by Statute, the state will not be eligible for Section 1311 Exchange
planning and establishment money in the future. Section 1311 of the
Affordable Care Act provides for grants to States for the planning and
establishment of these Exchanges. Given the innovative nature of
Exchanges and the statutorily-prescribed relationship between the
Secretary and States in their development and operation, it is critical
that the Secretary work closely with States to provide necessary
guidance and technical assistance to ensure that States can meet the
prescribed timelines, federal requirements, and goals of the statute.
In order to provide appropriate and timely guidance and technical
assistance, the Secretary must have access to timely, periodic
information regarding State progress. Consequently, the information
collection associated with these grants is essential to facilitating
reasonable and appropriate federal monitoring of funds, providing
statutorily-mandated assistance to States to implement Exchanges in
accordance with Federal requirements, and to ensure that States have
all necessary information required to proceed, such that retrospective
corrective action can be minimized.
There are two levels of awards for States to apply for the
Establishment grants. Each level is based on grantee readiness. Level
One Establishment grants are open to States that received federal
funding for Exchange Planning activities and awardees of the
Cooperative Agreements to Support Innovative Exchange Information
Technology Systems. Level One Establishment cooperative agreements
provide one year of funding to States that are ready to initiate
establishment activities having made progress under their Exchange
Planning grant. Level Two Establishment cooperative agreements are open
to States that received federal funding for Exchange Planning
activities and awardees of the Cooperative Agreements to Support
Innovative Exchange Information Technology Systems. Level Two
Establishment grants are designed to provide funding to applicants who
have made significant progress in meeting specific benchmarks in the
Exchange establishment process. Level One Establishment grantees may
apply for additional funding under Level Two Establishment grants once
they have achieved the benchmarks identified in the Level Two
Establishment review criteria. There will be four opportunities for
Level One Establishment applicants to apply for funding and there will
be six opportunities for Level Two Establishment applicants to apply
for funding. HHS anticipates Level One Establishment applications will
be due: March 30, 2011; June 30, 2011; September 30, 2011; and December
30, 2011 with anticipated Notices of Grant Award made May 16, 2011;
August 15, 2011; November 15, 2011; February 16, 2012. HHS anticipates
Level Two Establishment applications will be due: March 30, 2011; June
30, 2011; September 30, 2011; December 30, 2011; March 30, 2012, June
29, 2012 with expected Notices of Grant Award made May 16, 2011; August
15, 2011; November 15, 2011; February 15, 2012; May 15, 2012, August
13, 2012. The Period of Performance for Level One Establishment grants
is one year after date of award. The Period of Performance for Level
Two Establishment grants is through December 31, 2014. HHS anticipates
that the Funding Opportunity Announcement will be released on January
20, 2011. Form Number: CMS-10371 (OCN: 0938-1119); Frequency:
Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Governments;
Number of Respondents: 50; Number of Responses: 94; Total Annual Hours:
564 hours. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact
Leslie Shah at 301-
[[Page 24033]]
492-4452. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Territory
Cooperative Agreement for the Affordable Care Act's Exchanges; Use: On
March 23, 2010, the President signed into law the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act. On March 30, 2010, the Health Care and
Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 was signed into law. The two laws
are collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable
Care Act includes a wide variety of provisions designed to expand
coverage, provide more health care choices, enhance the quality of
health care for all Americans, hold insurance companies more
accountable, and lower health care costs.
The Affordable Care Act provides each State with the option to set
up a State-operated Health Benefits Exchange. An Exchange is an
organized marketplace to help consumers and small businesses buy health
insurance in a way that permits easy comparison of available plan
options based on price, benefits, and quality. By pooling people
together, reducing transaction costs, and increasing price and quality
transparency, Exchanges create more efficient and competitive health
insurance markets for individuals and small employers. The Exchange
will carry out a number of functions as required by the Affordable Care
Act, including certifying qualified health plans, administering premium
tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, responding to consumer
requests for assistance, and providing an easy-to-use website and
written materials that individuals can use to assess eligibility and
enroll in health insurance coverage, and coordinating eligibility for
and enrollment in other state health subsidy programs, including
Medicaid and CHIP.
Section 1311 of the Affordable Care Act provides for grants to
States for the planning and establishment of American Health Benefit
Exchanges. The Secretary is planning to disburse funds in at least
three phases: First, for planning; second, for early information
technology development; and third, for implementation. $5 million was
made available for Territories Exchange early implementation. Five
Territories were eligible to receive a Notice of Grant Award; four
applied and have been awarded funds. The Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands did not apply for this funding opportunity
announcement. States and Territories are eligible for up to $1 million
each from this grant announcement, which will extend for up to twelve
months. Form Number: CMS-10370 (OCN: 0938-1118); Frequency:
Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments;
Number of Respondents: 4; Number of Responses: 40; Total Annual Hours:
18,706 hours. (For policy questions regarding this collection, contact
Katherine Harkins at (301) 492-4445. For all other issues call (410)
786-1326.)
To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS'
Web site at http://www.cms.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRAL/list.asp#TopOfPage or email your request, including your address, phone
number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to
[email protected], or call the Reports Clearance Office at 410-786-
1326.
In commenting on the proposed information collections please
reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured
consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of
the following ways by June 28, 2011:
1. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically to
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for ``Comment or
Submission'' or ``More Search Options'' to find the information
collection document(s) accepting comments.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following
address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs,
Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB
Control Number, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244-1850.
Dated: April 26, 2011.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-10430 Filed 4-28-11; 8:45 am]
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