[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 69959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26450]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

November 24, 2004.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of 
this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by 
contacting Darrin King on 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) 
or e-mail: [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Employee Benefits Security 
Administration (EBSA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, 202-395-7316 (this is not a toll-free number), 
within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:
     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;
     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;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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 submission of responses.
    Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Title: Notice to Participants and Beneficiaries and the Federal 
Government to Electing One Percent Increased Cost Exemption.
    OMB Number: 1210-0105.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Type of Response: Reporting; Record keeping; and Third party 
disclosure.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; and Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Number of Annual Responses: 10,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 333.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $5,000.
    Description: The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-204) 
requires that group health plans provide parity in the application of 
dollar limits between mental health and medical/surgical benefits. The 
statute exempts plans from this requirement if its application results 
in an increase in the cost under the plan or coverage by at least one 
percent. The Interim Final Rules under 29 CFR 2590.712(f)(3)(i) and 
(ii) require a group health plan electing to take advantage of this 
exemption to provide a written notice to participants and beneficiaries 
and to the federal government of the plan's election. To satisfy the 
requirements to notify the federal government, a group health plan may 
either send the Department a copy of the summary of material reductions 
in covered services or benefits sent to participants and beneficiaries, 
or the plan may use the Department's model notice published in the 
Interim Final Rule which was developed for this purpose.

Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26450 Filed 11-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P