[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24032-24033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10430]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10371 and CMS-10370]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service, 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) 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.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Cooperative 
Agreement to Support Establishment of State-Operated Health Insurance 
Exchanges; Use: All States (including the 50 States, consortia of 
States, and the District of Columbia herein referred to as States) that 
received a State Planning and Establishment Grant for Affordable Care 
Act's Exchanges are eligible for the Cooperative Agreement to Support 
Establishment of State Operated Insurance Exchanges. Section 1311(b) of 
the Affordable Care Act provides the opportunity for each State to 
establish an Exchange no later than January 1, 2014. The State of 
Alaska did not apply for a Planning grant. Because Alaska did not 
receive funding under Section 1311 for planning and establishment of an 
Exchange within one year of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, 
by Statute, the state will not be eligible for Section 1311 Exchange 
planning and establishment money in the future. Section 1311 of the 
Affordable Care Act provides for grants to States for the planning and 
establishment of these Exchanges. Given the innovative nature of 
Exchanges and the statutorily-prescribed relationship between the 
Secretary and States in their development and operation, it is critical 
that the Secretary work closely with States to provide necessary 
guidance and technical assistance to ensure that States can meet the 
prescribed timelines, federal requirements, and goals of the statute.
    In order to provide appropriate and timely guidance and technical 
assistance, the Secretary must have access to timely, periodic 
information regarding State progress. Consequently, the information 
collection associated with these grants is essential to facilitating 
reasonable and appropriate federal monitoring of funds, providing 
statutorily-mandated assistance to States to implement Exchanges in 
accordance with Federal requirements, and to ensure that States have 
all necessary information required to proceed, such that retrospective 
corrective action can be minimized.
    There are two levels of awards for States to apply for the 
Establishment grants. Each level is based on grantee readiness. Level 
One Establishment grants are open to States that received federal 
funding for Exchange Planning activities and awardees of the 
Cooperative Agreements to Support Innovative Exchange Information 
Technology Systems. Level One Establishment cooperative agreements 
provide one year of funding to States that are ready to initiate 
establishment activities having made progress under their Exchange 
Planning grant. Level Two Establishment cooperative agreements are open 
to States that received federal funding for Exchange Planning 
activities and awardees of the Cooperative Agreements to Support 
Innovative Exchange Information Technology Systems. Level Two 
Establishment grants are designed to provide funding to applicants who 
have made significant progress in meeting specific benchmarks in the 
Exchange establishment process. Level One Establishment grantees may 
apply for additional funding under Level Two Establishment grants once 
they have achieved the benchmarks identified in the Level Two 
Establishment review criteria. There will be four opportunities for 
Level One Establishment applicants to apply for funding and there will 
be six opportunities for Level Two Establishment applicants to apply 
for funding. HHS anticipates Level One Establishment applications will 
be due: March 30, 2011; June 30, 2011; September 30, 2011; and December 
30, 2011 with anticipated Notices of Grant Award made May 16, 2011; 
August 15, 2011; November 15, 2011; February 16, 2012. HHS anticipates 
Level Two Establishment applications will be due: March 30, 2011; June 
30, 2011; September 30, 2011; December 30, 2011; March 30, 2012, June 
29, 2012 with expected Notices of Grant Award made May 16, 2011; August 
15, 2011; November 15, 2011; February 15, 2012; May 15, 2012, August 
13, 2012. The Period of Performance for Level One Establishment grants 
is one year after date of award. The Period of Performance for Level 
Two Establishment grants is through December 31, 2014. HHS anticipates 
that the Funding Opportunity Announcement will be released on January 
20, 2011. Form Number: CMS-10371 (OCN: 0938-1119); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Governments; 
Number of Respondents: 50; Number of Responses: 94; Total Annual Hours: 
564 hours. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Leslie Shah at 301-

[[Page 24033]]

492-4452. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Territory 
Cooperative Agreement for the Affordable Care Act's Exchanges; Use: On 
March 23, 2010, the President signed into law the Patient Protection 
and Affordable Care Act. On March 30, 2010, the Health Care and 
Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 was signed into law. The two laws 
are collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable 
Care Act includes a wide variety of provisions designed to expand 
coverage, provide more health care choices, enhance the quality of 
health care for all Americans, hold insurance companies more 
accountable, and lower health care costs.
    The Affordable Care Act provides each State with the option to set 
up a State-operated Health Benefits Exchange. An Exchange is an 
organized marketplace to help consumers and small businesses buy health 
insurance in a way that permits easy comparison of available plan 
options based on price, benefits, and quality. By pooling people 
together, reducing transaction costs, and increasing price and quality 
transparency, Exchanges create more efficient and competitive health 
insurance markets for individuals and small employers. The Exchange 
will carry out a number of functions as required by the Affordable Care 
Act, including certifying qualified health plans, administering premium 
tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, responding to consumer 
requests for assistance, and providing an easy-to-use website and 
written materials that individuals can use to assess eligibility and 
enroll in health insurance coverage, and coordinating eligibility for 
and enrollment in other state health subsidy programs, including 
Medicaid and CHIP.
    Section 1311 of the Affordable Care Act provides for grants to 
States for the planning and establishment of American Health Benefit 
Exchanges. The Secretary is planning to disburse funds in at least 
three phases: First, for planning; second, for early information 
technology development; and third, for implementation. $5 million was 
made available for Territories Exchange early implementation. Five 
Territories were eligible to receive a Notice of Grant Award; four 
applied and have been awarded funds. The Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands did not apply for this funding opportunity 
announcement. States and Territories are eligible for up to $1 million 
each from this grant announcement, which will extend for up to twelve 
months. Form Number: CMS-10370 (OCN: 0938-1118); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; 
Number of Respondents: 4; Number of Responses: 40; Total Annual Hours: 
18,706 hours. (For policy questions regarding this collection, contact 
Katherine Harkins at (301) 492-4445. For all other issues call (410) 
786-1326.)
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' 
Web site at http://www.cms.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRAL/list.asp#TopOfPage or email your request, including your address, phone 
number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to 
[email protected], or call the Reports Clearance Office at 410-786-
1326.
    In commenting on the proposed information collections please 
reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured 
consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of 
the following ways by June 28, 2011:
    1. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically to 
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for ``Comment or 
Submission'' or ``More Search Options'' to find the information 
collection document(s) accepting comments.
    2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following 
address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 
Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB 
Control Number, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21244-1850.

    Dated: April 26, 2011.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-10430 Filed 4-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P