[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5852-5853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1054]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

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


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

AGENCY: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 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

[[Page 5853]]

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. CMS does not have sufficient time to complete the 
normal PRA clearance process while making corrections and enhancements 
to the software and ensuring that organizations have ample time to 
complete and submit their tools by the statutory deadline in June 2006. 
The normal PRA clearance process would result in violating this 
statutory deadline which would prevent Medicare Advantage (MA) and 
Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) organizations from providing benefits to 
millions of Medicare beneficiaries.
    CMS is requesting to continue its use of the Plan Benefit Package 
software, formulary and Bid Pricing Tool for the collection of 
benefits, pricing and related information for CY 2007 through CY 2009 
as part of the annual bidding process. CMS estimates that MA and PDP 
organizations will be required to submit this information, per year, 
throughout this time period. Based on operational changes and policy 
clarifications to the Medicare program and continued input and feedback 
by the industry, CMS has made the necessary changes to the Bid Pricing 
Tool and plan benefit package submission.
    1. 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 (PDP) organizations are required to submit plan benefit packages 
for all Medicare beneficiaries residing in their service area. CMS 
requires that MA and PDP organizations submit a completed formulary and 
PBP as part of the annual bidding process. During this process, 
organizations prepare their proposed plan benefit packages for the 
upcoming contract year and submit them to CMS for review and approval; 
Form Number: CMS-R-262 (OMB: 0938-0763); Frequency: On 
occasion, Annually, and Other: As required by new legislation; Affected 
Public: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; 
Number of Respondents: 553; Total Annual Responses: 5,807; Total Annual 
Hours: 13,272.
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Bid Pricing Tool 
(BPT) for Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) and Prescription Drug 
Plans (PDPs); Use: Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, 
and Modernization (MMA), Medicare Advantage organizations (MAO) and 
Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) are required to submit an actuarial 
pricing ``bid'' for each plan offered to Medicare beneficiaries. CMS 
requires that MAOs and PDPs complete the BPT as part of the annual 
bidding 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 information for each plan. The BPT 
calculates the plan's bid, enrollee premiums, and payment rates. Form 
Number: CMS-10142 (OMB: 0938-0944); Frequency: On occasion, 
Annually, and Other: As required by new legislation; Affected Public: 
Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of 
Respondents: 570; Total Annual Responses: 4,830; Total Annual Hours: 
36,190.
    CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of these collections by 
March 16, 2006, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendation will be considered from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by March 5, 2006.
    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/PaperworkReductionActof1995/ 
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 5, 2006:
    Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, Fax Number: (410) 786-5267, Attn: 
Bonnie L Harkless and,
    OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Carolyn Lovett, 
New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.

    Date: January 31, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 06-1054 Filed 2-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P