[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 231 (Monday, December 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71593-71594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30425]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection Request Submitted 
for Public Comment; National Medical Support Notice--Part B

AGENCY: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections 
of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA 95). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be 
provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial 
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, 
and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be 
properly assessed. Currently, the

[[Page 71594]]

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration is soliciting comments on 
the proposed extension of the National Medical Support Notice--Part B.
    A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained 
by contacting the individual shown in the Addresses section of this 
notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the 
Addresses section on or before January 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Gerald B. Lindrew, Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare 
Benefits Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20210, (202) 693-8410, FAX (202) 693-4745 (these are not toll-free 
numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 609(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
1974, as amended (ERISA), provides that each group health plan, as 
defined in ERISA section 607(1), shall provide benefits in accordance 
with the applicable requirements of any ``qualified medical child 
support order'' (QMCSO). Based on a desire to eliminate concerns raised 
both by state agencies that enforce the programs under Title IV-D of 
the SSA (known as the Child Support Enforcement Program, which is 
administered by the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) 
in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)), and by sponsors 
and administrators of group health plans about difficulties in 
establishing medical child support orders that are qualified, Congress 
enacted section 401 of the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act 
of 1998 (CSPIA) to amend both ERISA and the SSA.
    Section 401(a) of CSPIA mandated that the Secretaries of Labor and 
of Health and Human Services (the Secretaries) jointly establish a 
Medical Child Support Working Group (the Working Group) whose purpose 
was to identify the impediments to the effective enforcement of medical 
support by state agencies and to submit a report to the Secretaries 
containing recommendations for appropriate measures to address such 
impediments. CSPIA specifically directed the Working Group to make 
recommendations based on assessments of the form and content of QMCSOs.
    As a response to the concerns of state agencies and plan 
administrators regarding QMCSOs, the Department and HHS jointly 
promulgated the National Medical Support Notice (Notice). The Notice 
simplifies the issuance and processing of medical child support orders, 
provides standardized communication between state agencies, employers, 
and plan administrators, and creates a uniform and streamlined process 
for enforcement of medical child support to ensure that all children 
receive the health care coverage for which they are eligible and to 
which they are entitled. Part B pertains to plan administrators 
pursuant to ERISA.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor (Department) is particularly interested in 
comments that:
    [sbull] Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    [sbull] Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    [sbull] Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of this ICR 
will expire on January 31, 2003. After considering comments received in 
response to this notice, the Department intends to submit the ICR to 
OMB for continuing approval. No change to the existing ICR is proposed 
or made at this time.
    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Department of 
Labor.
    Title: National Medical Support Notice--Part B.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    OMB Number: 1210-0113.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Respondents: 156,000.
    Responses: 770,000.
    Average Response time: One hour to and hour and three-quarters.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 785,000.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): 
$1,100,000.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: November 26, 2002.
Gerald B. Lindrew,
Deputy Director, Office of Policy and Research, Pension and Welfare 
Benefits Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-30425 Filed 11-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P