[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71177-71178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30367]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10076]


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

AGENCY: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS), 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 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following 
requirements for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency 
review because the collection of this information is needed before the 
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320. This is necessary to ensure compliance with an initiative of 
the Administration. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal 
clearance procedures because of an unanticipated event and possible 
public harm.
    The Administration identified that Medicare program authority to 
assist beneficiaries could be linked to emerging opportunities in the 
private sector to make prescription drugs more affordable to consumers. 
Through educating Medicare beneficiaries about

[[Page 71178]]

these opportunities and assisting them in identifying prescription 
discount card programs that are reputable and offer quality customer 
service, these beneficiaries can reduce their out-of-pocket 
expenditures for drugs substantially. Further, we believe under this 
initiative that beneficiaries will be more compliant with prescription 
drug treatment plans and consequently will make more optimal use of 
their Medicare-covered services. This initiative is consistent not only 
with the Secretary's duty under the Medicare program to educate 
beneficiaries, but is also consistent with the Secretary's duties under 
the Social Security Act to effectuate the purposes of the Medicare 
program.
    This collection of information is structured on the requirements 
already articulated in the final rule entitled, ``Medicare-Endorsed 
Prescription Drug Card Assistance Initiative'', published on September 
4, 2002 (67 FR 56618).
    CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
January 7, 2003, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by December 13, 2002. During this 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 Collection Request: New collection.
    Title of Information Collection: Medicare-Endorsed Prescription 
Drug Card Assistance Initiative.
    Form No.: CMS-10076 (OMB 0938-NEW).
    Use: CMS is soliciting applications from prescription discount card 
programs so that it may endorse qualifying programs for Medicare 
beneficiaries. CMS, on its website, and the endorsed programs, on 
request, will make information available for Medicare beneficiaries to 
use to compare the programs for possible enrollment in one of them.
    Frequency: Annually, bi-annually, monthly.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Total Annual Responses: 15.
    Total Annual Hours: 5,444.

Background

    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking 
applications from qualified entities interested in entering into a 
Medicare endorsement agreement for their prescription discount card 
program. The general purpose of this Medicare endorsement agreement 
will be to publicize information that allows Medicare beneficiaries to 
compare prescription drug discount cards, assist Medicare beneficiaries 
in understanding and accessing private market methods for securing 
discounts on the purchase of prescription drugs, and raise beneficiary 
awareness of prescription drug discount card programs available in the 
commercial market. Approximately 9 million Medicare beneficiaries are 
without drug coverage at any point in a year. We expect this initiative 
will help beneficiaries, particularly those who lack prescription drug 
coverage, understand how drug discount card programs can lower 
beneficiary out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses. Further, we 
believe under this initiative that beneficiaries will be more compliant 
with prescription drug treatment plans and consequently will make more 
optimal use of their Medicare-covered services. This effort is not, in 
any way, an offer of a Medicare-reimbursed drug benefit.
    Readers can find the application for this initiative on the Web 
site listed below. It is the final version subject to OMB approval.
    We have submitted a copy of this notice to OMB for its review of 
these information collections. A notice will be published in the 
Federal Register when approval is obtained.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' 
Web site address at http://cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/default.asp, 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 on (410) 786-1326.
    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, by December 13, 2002:

OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Brenda Aguilar, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Fax: 202-
395-6974,
     And,
CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of 
Regulations Development and Issuances, Attention: Julie Brown, Room C5-
16-03, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850, Fax: 
410-786-3064.

    Dated: November 20, 2002.
John P. Burke, III,
Paperwork Reduction Act Team Leader, CMS Reports Clearance Officer, 
Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of 
Regulations Development and Issuances.
[FR Doc. 02-30367 Filed 11-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P