[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 127 (Friday, July 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38655-38657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16600]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10398, CMS-10399, CMS-10137, and CMS-10237]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
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) 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: New collection; Title of
Information Collection: Generic Clearance for Medicaid and CHIP State
Plan, Waiver, and Program Submissions; Use: CMS is requesting a generic
PRA clearance for a body of forms necessary to conduct ongoing business
with State partners in the implementation of Medicaid and the
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The specific forms have not
yet been developed but will be developed over the 3-year approval
period. The types of forms to be produced in this collection include
State plan amendment templates, waiver and demonstration templates, and
reporting templates. The development of streamlined submission forms is
critical for States to implement timely health reform initiatives in
Medicaid and CHIP state plans, demonstrations, and waivers, including
legislative requirements enacted by the Affordable Care Act. The
development of streamlined submissions forms enhances the collaboration
and partnership between States and CMS by documenting CMS policy for
States to use as they are developing program changes. Streamlined forms
improve efficiency of administration by creating
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a common and user-friendly understanding of the information needed by
CMS to quickly process requests for State plan amendments, waivers, and
demonstration, as well as ongoing reporting; Form Number: CMS-10398
(OMB 0938-NEW); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public:
State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 56; Total
Annual Responses: 1120; Total Annual Hours: 28,747. (For policy
questions regarding this collection contact Candice Payne at 410-786-
4453. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)
2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of
Information Collection: Analysis of Transportation Barriers to
Utilization of Medicare Services by American Indian and Alaska Native
Medicare Beneficiaries; Use: The purpose of the proposed study is to
identify and analyze transportation barriers associated with the
utilization of Medicare services by American Indian and Alaska Native
(AI/AN) beneficiaries, to identify and analyze the health outcomes
resulting from those barriers, and ultimately to identify potential
solutions that could help mitigate the problem and produce meaningful
improvements in health care use and health outcomes for this
population. Specifically, the information that will be collected
through the use of instruments and the study developed under the
Analysis of Transportation Barriers to Utilization of Medicare Services
by American Indian and Alaska Native Medicare Beneficiaries Project has
not been collected or evaluated previously by any agency or individual,
so data on the extent of transportation barriers for rural AI/AN
beneficiaries to Medicare services by AI/AN Medicare beneficiaries are
not available except from the proposed data collection activity.
The information gathered as part of the project--through the use of
survey, interview, and focus group instruments--will be used by CMS to
identify transportation barriers to Medicare services for AI/AN
Medicare beneficiaries. It will provide the first ever complete
evaluation of transportation barriers to health care for this
population.; Form Number: CMS-10399 (OMB 0938-NEW);
Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals and Households,
Private Sector; Number of Respondents: 3,418; Total Annual Responses:
3,418; Total Annual Hours: 2,544. (For policy questions regarding this
collection contact Roger Goodacre at 410-786-3209. For all other issues
call 410-786-1326.)
3. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Application for
Prescription Drug Plans (PDP); Application for Medicare Advantage
Prescription Drug (MA-PD); Application for Cost Plans to Offer
Qualified Prescription Drug Coverage; Application for Employer Group
Waiver Plans to Offer Prescription Drug Coverage; Service Area
Expansion Application for Prescription Drug Coverage; Use: The Medicare
Prescription Drug Benefit program was established by section 101 of the
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
(MMA) and is codified in section 1860D of the Social Security Act (the
Act). Section 101 of the MMA amended Title XVIII of the Social Security
Act by redesignating Part D as Part E and inserting a new Part D, which
establishes the voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program (``Part
D''). The MMA was amended on July 15, 2008 by the enactment of the
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA),
on March 23, 2010 by the enactment of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act and on March 30, 2010 by the enactment the Health
Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively the
Affordable Care Act).
Coverage for the prescription drug benefit is provided through
contracted prescription drug plans (PDPs) or through Medicare Advantage
(MA) plans that offer integrated prescription drug and health care
coverage (MA-PD plans). Cost Plans that are regulated under Section
1876 of the Social Security Act, and Employer Group Waiver Plans (EGWP)
may also provide a Part D benefit. Organizations wishing to provide
services under the Prescription Drug Benefit Program must complete an
application, negotiate rates, and receive final approval from CMS.
Existing Part D Sponsors may also expand their contracted service area
by completing the Service Area Expansion (SAE) application.
Effective January 1, 2006, the Part D program established an
optional prescription drug benefit for individuals who are entitled to
Medicare Part A or enrolled in Part B. In general, coverage for the
prescription drug benefit is provided through PDPs that offer drug-only
coverage, or through MA organizations that offer integrated
prescription drug and health care coverage (MA-PD plans). PDPs must
offer a basic drug benefit. Medicare Advantage Coordinated Care Plans
(MA-CCPs) must offer either a basic benefit or may offer broader
coverage for no additional cost. Medicare Advantage Private Fee for
Service Plans (MA-PFFS) may choose to offer a Part D benefit. Cost
Plans that are regulated under Section 1876 of the Social Security Act,
and Employer Group Plans may also provide a Part D benefit. If any of
the contracting organizations meet basic requirements, they may also
offer supplemental benefits through enhanced alternative coverage for
an additional premium.
Applicants may offer either a PDP or MA-PD plan with a service area
covering the nation (i.e., offering a plan in every region) or covering
a limited number of regions. MA-PD and Cost Plan applicants may offer
local plans. There are 34 PDP regions and 26 MA regions in which PDPs
or regional MA-PDs may be offered respectively. The MMA requires that
each region have at least two Medicare prescription drug plans from
which to choose, and at least one of those must be a PDP. Requirements
for contracting with Part D Sponsors are defined in Part 423 of 42 CFR.
This clearance request is for the information collected to ensure
applicant compliance with CMS requirements and to gather data used to
support determination of contract awards; Form Number: CMS-10137 (OMB
0938-0936); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Privates
Sector; Number of Respondents: 178; Total Annual Responses: 178; Total
Annual Hours: 2,322. (For policy questions regarding this collection
contact Linda Anders at 410-786-0459. For all other issues call 410-
786-1326.)
4. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Part C Medicare
Advantage and 1876 Cost Plan Expansion Application; Use: Collection of
this information is mandated in Part C of the Medicare Prescription
Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) in Subpart K of
42 CRF 422 entitled ``Contracts with Medicare Advantage
Organizations.'' In addition, the Medicare Improvements for Patients
and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) amended titles XVII and XIX of the
Social Security Act to improve the Medicare program.
In general, coverage for the prescription drug benefit is provided
through prescription drug plans (PDPs) that offer drug-only coverage or
through Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations that offer integrated
prescription drug and health care products (MA-PD
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plans). PDPs must offer a basic drug benefit. Medicare Advantage
Coordinated Care Plans (MA-CCPs) either must offer a basic benefit or
may offer broader coverage for no additional cost. Medicare Advantage
Private Fee for Service Plans (MA-PFFS) may choose to offer enrollees a
Part D benefit. Employer Group Plans may also provide Part D benefits.
If any of the contracting organizations meet basic requirements, they
may also offer supplemental benefits through enhanced alternative
coverage for an additional premium.
Organizations wishing to provide healthcare services under MA and/
or MA-PD plans must complete an application, file a bid, and receive
final approval from CMS. Existing MA plans may request to expand their
contracted service area by completing the Service Area Expansion (SAE)
application. Applicants may offer a local MA plan in a county, a
portion of a county (i.e., a partial county) or multiple counties.
Applicants may offer a MA regional plan in one or more of the 26 MA
regions.
This clearance request is for the information collected to ensure
applicant compliance with CMS requirements and to gather data used to
support determination of contract awards. The information will be
collected under the solicitation of Part C application from MA, EGWP
Plan, and Cost Plan applicants. The collection information will be used
by CMS to: (1) Ensure that applicants meet CMS requirements, (2)
support the determination of contract awards. Participation in all
Programs is voluntary in nature. Only organizations that are interested
in participating in the program will respond to the solicitation. MA-
PDs that voluntarily participate in the Part C program must submit a
Part D application and successful bid. Form Number: CMS-10237 (OMB
0938-0935); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private
Sector; Number of Respondents: 378; Total Annual Responses: 378; Total
Annual Hours: 13,296. (For policy questions regarding this collection
contact Letticia Ramsey at 410-786-5262. 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 e-mail 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 August 30, 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: June 28, 2011.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-16600 Filed 6-30-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P