[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 37 (Friday, February 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9335-9336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3550]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10142 and CMS-R-262]


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

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & 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 the burden 
estimates or any other aspects of these collections 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 
collections 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 emergency review 
because these collections of information are 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 the normal procedures are likely to cause 
a statutory deadline to be missed.

[[Page 9336]]

    CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of these collections by 
March 18, 2005, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by March 17, 2005.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Bid Pricing Tool (BPT) for Medicare Advantage 
Organizations (MAOs) and Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) and Supporting 
Regulations in 42 CFR 422.250, 422.252 422.254, 422.256, 422.258, 
422.262, 422.264, 422.266, 422.270, 422.300, 422.304, 422.306, 422.308, 
422.310, 422.312, 422.314, 422.316, 422.318, 422.320, 422.322, 422.324, 
423.251, 423.258, 423.265, 423.272, 423.279, 423.286, 423.293, 423.301, 
423.308, 423.315, 423.322, 423.329, 423.336, 423.343, 423.346, and 
423.350; Use: Under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), Medicare 
Advantage Organizations (MAOs) and Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) are 
required to submit an actuarial pricing bid for each plan for approval 
by CMS. MAOs and PDPs use the Bid Pricing Tool (BPT) software to 
develop their actuarial pricing bid. CMS uses the BPT to review and 
approve the plan pricing proposed by each organization. CMS requires 
that MAOs and PDPs complete the BPT as part of the annual bid process. 
During this process, organizations prepare their proposed actuarial bid 
pricing for the upcoming contract year and submit them to CMS for 
review and approval. The purpose of the BPT is to collect the actuarial 
pricing for each plan. The BPT calculates the plan's bid, enrollee 
premium(s), and any rebates or savings; Form Number: CMS-10142 
(OMB: 0938-NEW); Frequency: On occasion, annually, and as 
required by new legislation; Affected Public: Business or other for-
profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 350; 
Total Annual Responses: 350; Total Annual Hours: 12,050.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Plan Benefit 
Package (PBP) and Formulary Submission for Medicare Advantage (MA) 
Plans and Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs); Use: Under the Medicare 
Modernization Act (MMA), Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug 
Plan (PDPs) organizations are required to submit plan benefit packages 
for all Medicare beneficiaries residing in their service area. MA and 
PDP organizations will generate a formulary to illustrate their 
preferred list of drugs, including information on prior authorization, 
step therapy, tiering, and quantity limits. Additionally, the PBP 
software will be used to describe their organization's plan benefit 
packages, including information on premiums, cost sharing, 
authorization rules, and supplemental benefits. CMS uses the formulary 
and PBP data to review and approve the plan benefit packages proposed 
by each MA and PDP organization. The formulary is a new requirement 
under MMA; therefore, a revision to this currently approved information 
collection is necessary; Form Number: CMS-R-262 (OMB: 0938-
0763); Frequency: On occasion and as required by new legislation; 
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 470; Total Annual Responses: 
2,092; Total Annual Hours: 5,546.
    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://www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra 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 recordkeeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed 
to the designees referenced below by March 17, 2005:

CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of 
Regulations Development, 7500 Security Boulevard, Room C5-14-03, 
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, Attn: Melissa Musotto, CMS-10142 and CMS-R-
262, Fax Number: 410-786-3064; and,
OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, 
Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Christopher Martin, Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: 202-395-6974.

    Dated: February 17, 2005.
John P. Burke, III,
CMS Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer, Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Regulations Development 
Group.
[FR Doc. 05-3550 Filed 2-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P