[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18221-18222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7742]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10361]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 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 & 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 without change
of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection:
Request for Adjustment to the Medical Loss Ratio Standard for a State's
Individual Market; Use: Under section 2718 of the Public Health Service
Act (PHS Act), a health insurance issuer (issuer) offering group or
individual health insurance coverage must submit a report to the
Secretary beginning in June of 2012 for calendar year 2011. The
reported data allows for the calculation of an issuer's medical loss
ratio (MLR) by market (individual, small group, and large group) within
each State in which the issuer conducts business. The PHS Act
establishes a MLR standard for each market segment that issuers must
meet. A health insurance issuer who fails to meet the MLR standard for
a plan year must rebate to enrollees, on a pro rata basis, the
difference between its MLR and the MLR standard.
Section 2718(b)(1)(A)(ii) allows the Secretary to lower the 80% MLR
standard in the individual market in a State if the application of the
80% MLR may destabilize the individual market in such State. An interim
final rule (IFR) implementing the MLR was published on December 1, 2010
(75 FR 74865) and was modified by technical corrections on December 30,
2010 (75 FR 82277), which added Part 158 to Title 45 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. The IFR is effective January 1, 2011. Under 45 CFR
158.301 (75 FR 74864, 74930), States requesting that HHS lower the MLR
standard must submit information that supports their assertion that the
individual market in their State may destabilize absent an adjustment
to the MLR. Much of the information requested is currently only
available at
[[Page 18222]]
the State level. HHS must have such information in order to ascertain
whether market destabilization has a high likelihood of occurring. Form
Number: CMS-10361 (OMB Control No. 0938-1114); Frequency: Once;
Affected Public: State, local or tribal governments; Number of
Respondents: 20; Number of Responses: 20; Average Hours per Response:
185; Total Annual Hours: 3,700. (For policy questions regarding this
collection, contact Carol Jimenez at (301) 492-4109. For all other
issues regarding this collection, 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.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995, 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 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 May 31, 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: March 28, 2011.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-7742 Filed 3-31-11; 8:45 am]
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