[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 52 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13432-13433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6549]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-262]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration, HHS.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Health Care Financing 
Administration (HCFA), 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 PRA of 1995, we have submitted to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following requirements for 
emergency review. Due to the fact that the collection of this 
information is needed before the expiration of the normal time limits 
under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR, Part 1320, we are requesting an 
emergency review. This collection is necessary to ensure compliance 
with section 1852 and 1854 of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA). The Plan 
Benefit Package (PBP) implements the BBA provisions and the 
regulations, HCFA-1030-FC (which establishes the Medicare+Choice (M+C) 
program). Under Part C of the Social Security Act (ACT), an M+C 
organization is required to submit an Adjusted Community Rate Proposal 
(ACRP), which includes the ACR (Document Identifier: HCFA-R-228) and 
the PBP (Document Identifier: HCFA-R-262) no later than May 1 of each 
calendar year. Without emergency approval, entities interested in 
participating in the M+C program will not be afforded enough time to 
participate in the PBP prior to the 05/01/1999 time period. (This pilot 
test is intended to ensure reasonable usability of the reporting tool.) 
As a result, public harm could occur because eligible individuals may 
not receive the M+C health insurance options stipulated by the BBA. We 
need to implement by 05/01/1999 so we can evaluate the results of the 
pilot and proceed with our plan to implement the PBP for the Plan Year 
2001. In order to obtain this goal our time table is as follows: obtain 
emergency PRA approval for the pilot test by April 1999; evaluate, 
modify, and submit the revised PRA package by August 1999; receive OMB 
approval by February 2000; in order to meet the deadline for 
distribution of ACRP instructions by March 2000 for the contract year 
2001.
    The PBP will be implemented as a pilot project for Plan Year 2000 
ACRP submissions, in addition HCFA requires plans to submit PBP's for 
Plan Year 2001. The PBP tool collects plan level information, replaces 
the Benefits Information File (BIF), and standardizes

[[Page 13433]]

the format for collecting benefit data. The PBP is a data driven 
instrument containing options and pick lists, and a data collection 
tool that collects data on access to a benefit package.
    The PBP was developed with the assistance of industry 
representatives, including the American Association of Health Plans 
(AAHP), United Health Care, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, and, 
HCFA's regional and central office staff, and establishes a standard 
format for the submission of M+C organization's plan benefit packages. 
Outside consultation included a recent two day session with an 
organized group of approximately 250 Managed Care Plan representatives 
which worked to review the draft and to provide feedback on the PBP 
tool.
    HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection 
within 30 working days with a 180-day approval period. Written comments 
and recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below within 29 working days. During the 180-day 
period, we will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing 
the initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment 
period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB 
review and an extension of this emergency approval.
    Type of Information Request: New Collection.
    Title of Information Collection: Managed Care Plan Benefit Package 
(PBP)/Adjusted Community Rate Proposal (ACRP).
    Form Number: HCFA-R-262 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).
    Use: The plan year 2000 pilot collection effort will be used to 
verify that the information collection instrument will produce the data 
HCFA needs to approve M+C plans in the future. Respondents include any 
M+C organization that intends to offer an M+C plan in calendar year 
2000.
    This collection will also allow the Agency to provide a totally 
automated submission and review capability, replace text with data 
format, establish a standard set of benefit descriptions/definitions, 
provide a framework to describe benefits, reduce variation in benefit 
descriptions, collect benefit information and Medicare Compare data 
with a single instrument, and eliminate the need to validate Medicare 
Compare data.
    Frequency: One-time.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, and not-for-profit 
institution.
    Number of Respondents: 25 Medicare managed care organizations for 
plan year 2000.
    Total Annual Responses: 75 for plan year 2000. The total annual 
responses is based on an estimate of an average of 3 M+C plans per M+C 
Organization. Each organization defines the content and number of 
benefit packages.
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 150 (2 hours per PBP) for plan year 
2000. This estimate was based on a Medicare managed care organization 
completing a paper version of the PBP. The PBP will allow plans to copy 
health benefit information from one plan to another.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement for the proposed 
paperwork collections referenced above, access HCFA's WEB SITE ADDRESS 
at http://www.hcfa.gov/regs/prdact95.htm, or E-mail your request, 
including your address and phone number, to P[email protected], or call 
the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326. To obtain access to the 
PBP please visit the web site at http://www.fu.com/hpms.
    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 record keeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed 
to the designees referenced below within 29 working days of the 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register:

Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards, 
Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Fax 
Number: (410) 786-0262, Attn: Louis Blank HCFA-R-262
    and,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167, Attn: Allison 
Herron Eydt, HCFA Desk Officer.

    Dated: March 8, 1999.
John P. Burke III,
HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA, Office of Information Services, 
Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-6549 Filed 3-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P