[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 236 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71177-71178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20666]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10117, 10118, 10119, 10135, 10136 and 10214]


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 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 
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 the use of normal clearance procedures is 
reasonably likely to cause a statutory deadline to be missed.
    The Social Security Act requires that applicant organizations, 
offering Part C benefits for January 2008 be contracted with CMS for 
their approved service area with open enrollment beginning on November 
15, 2007. Further, the Act requires the submission of Part C benefit 
bids from applicant organizations by the

[[Page 71178]]

first Monday in June of 2007. In order to meet the Medicare 
Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act requirements, key 
preceding events must occur. If these events do not occur according to 
the statutorily mandated timeline, other statutory requirements will 
not be met.
    For the 2008 contract year, CMS is implementing several steps to 
reduce the person-hours necessary to complete the Part C solicitations. 
These steps include automating substantial portions of the Part C Plan 
solicitations within CMS' Health Plan Management System (HPMS) and 
streamlining key information previously requested by attachments.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection.
    Title of Information Collection; Medicare Advantage Applications: 
Medicare Advantage (MA) Application Coordinated Care Plans (CMS-10117); 
Medicare Advantage (MA) Application Private Fee-For-Service Plans (CMS-
10118); Medicare Advantage (MA) Application Regional PPO Plans (CMS-
10119); Medicare Advantage (MA) Application Service Area Expansion 
(SAE) for Coordinated Care Plans: Private Fee Service Plans (CMS-
10135); Medical Savings Account Plans (CMS-10136); and Employer Group 
Waiver Plans (CMS-10214).
    Form Number: CMS-10117, 10118, 10119, 10135, 10136 and 10214 
(OMB: 0938-0935).
    Use: An entity seeking a contract as an MA organization must be 
able to provide Medicare's basic benefits plus meet the organizational 
requirements set out under the regulations at 42 CFR Part 422. An 
applicant must demonstrate that it can meet the benefit and other 
requirements within the specific geographic area it is requesting. The 
application forms are designed to give CMS the information needed to 
determine a health plan's compliance with the regulations at 42 CFR 
Part 422. The MA application forms will be used by CMS to determine 
whether an entity is eligible to enter into a contract to provide 
services to Medicare beneficiaries.
    Frequency: Reporting--Once.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 220.
    Total Annual Responses: 220.
    Total Annual Hours: 5580.
    CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
January 5, 2007, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendation will be considered from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by December 22, 2006.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS's 
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 December 22, 2006:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: Bonnie L. Harkless, Room C4-
26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, and,
OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Carolyn Lovett, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503. Fax 
Number: (202) 395-6974.

    Dated: November 30, 2006.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E6-20666 Filed 12-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P