[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21371-21372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9208]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier CMS-10337]
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: Revision of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Limited
Competition for State Planning and Establishment Grants 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
[[Page 21372]]
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. $51 million was made available for States
for State Exchange planning. Forty-nine States and the District of
Columbia applied and have been awarded grant funds. $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. 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-10337 (OCN: 0938-
1101); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local, or
Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 54; Number of Responses:
594; Total Annual Hours: 277,533. (For policy questions regarding this
collection, contact Katherine Harkins at (301) 492-4445. For all other
issues call (410) 786-1326.
2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Consumer
Assistance Program Grants; Use: Section 1002 of the Affordable Care Act
provides for the establishment of consumer assistance (or ombudsman)
programs, starting in FY 2010. Federal grants will support these
programs. For FY 2010, $30 million is appropriated. These programs will
assist consumers with filing complaints and appeals, assist consumers
with enrollment into health coverage, collect data on consumer
inquiries and complaints to identify problems in the marketplace,
educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities, and starting in
2014, resolve problems with premium credits for Exchange coverage.
Importantly, these programs must provide detailed reporting on the
types of problems and questions consumers may experience with health
coverage, and how these are resolved. In order to strengthen oversight,
the law requires programs to report data to the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ``As a condition of
receiving a grant under subsection (a), an office of health insurance
consumer assistance or ombudsman program shall be required to collect
and report data to the Secretary on the types of problems and inquiries
encountered by consumers'' (Sec. 2793 (d)). Form Number: CMS-10333
(OMB-0938-1097); Frequency: Quarterly; Affected Public: Private Sector:
State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 40; Number
of Responses: 200; Total Annual Hours: 4,800 . (For policy questions
regarding this collection, contact Eliza Bangit at (301) 492-4219. 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 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 June 14, 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.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-9208 Filed 4-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P