[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR417.143]

[Page 700-701]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 417--HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS, COMPETITIVE MEDICAL PLANS, AND HEALTH CARE PREPAYMENT PLANS--Table of Contents
 
            Subpart D--Application for Federal Qualification
 
Sec. 417.143  Application requirements.

    (a) General requirements. This section sets forth application 
requirements for entities that seek qualification as HMOs; HMOs that 
seek expansion of their service areas; and HMOs that seek qualification 
of their regional components as HMOs.
    (b) Completion of an application form. (1) In order to receive a 
determination concerning whether an entity is a qualified HMO, an 
individual authorized to act for the entity (the applicant) must 
complete an application form provided by CMS.
    (2) The authorized individual must describe thoroughly how the 
entity meets, or will meet, the requirements for qualified HMOs 
described in the PHS Act and in subparts B and C of this part, this 
subpart D, and 417.168 and 417.169 of subpart F.
    (c) Collection of an application fee. In accordance with the 
requirements of 31 U.S.C. 9701, Fees and charges for Government services 
and things of value, CMS determines the amount of the application fee 
that must be submitted with each type of application.
    (1) The fee is reasonably related to the Federal government's cost 
of qualifying an entity and may vary based on the type of application.
    (2) Each type of application has one set fee rather than a charge 
based on the specific cost of each determination. (For example, each 
Federally qualified HMO applicant seeking Federal qualification of one 
of its regional components as an HMO is charged the same amount, unless 
the amount of the fee has been changed under paragraph (f) of this 
section.)
    (d) Application fee amounts. The application fee amounts for 
applications completed on or after July 13, 1987 are as follows:
    (1) $18,400 for an entity seeking qualification as an HMO or 
qualification of a regional component of an HMO.

If, in the case of an HMO seeking qualification of a regional component, 
CMS determines that there is no need for a site visit, $8,000 will be 
returned to the applicant.
    (2) $6,900 for an HMO seeking expansion of its service area.
    (3) $3,100 for a CMP seeking qualification as an HMO.
    (e) Refund of an application fee. CMS refunds an application fee 
only if the entity withdraws its application within 10 working days 
after receipt by CMS. Application fees are not returned in any other 
circumstance, even if qualification or certification is denied.
    (f) Procedure for changing the amount of an application fee. If CMS 
determines that a change in the amount of a fee is appropriate, CMS 
issues a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register to 
announce the proposed new amount.
    (g) New application after denial. An entity may not submit another 
application under this subpart for the same type of determination for 
four full months after the date of the notice in which CMS denied the 
application.
    (h) Disclosure of application information under the Freedom of 
Information Act. An applicant submitting material that he or she 
believes is protected from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552, the Freedom of 
Information Act, or because of exceptions provided in 45 CFR

[[Page 701]]

part 5, the Department's regulations providing exceptions to disclosure, 
should label the material ``privileged'' and include an explanation of 
the applicability of an exception described in 45 CFR part 5.

[52 FR 22321, June 11, 1987. Redesignated at 52 FR 36746, Sept. 30, 
1987, as amended at 58 FR 38077, July 15, 1993]