[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 151 (Friday, August 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47591-47592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19910]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-10392]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Correction

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: Extension of a 
previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: 
Consumer Operated and Oriented (CO-OP) Program; Use: The Consumer 
Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program is a new program, 
established by Section 1322 of the Affordable Care Act. This program 
provides for loans to establish at least one consumer-operated, 
qualified nonprofit health insurance issuer in each State. Issuers 
supported by the CO-OP program will offer at least one qualified health 
plan at the silver level of benefits and one at the gold level of 
benefits in the Affordable Insurance Exchanges (Exchanges). At least 
two-thirds of policies or contracts offered by a CO-OP will be open to 
individuals and small employers. Profits generated by the nonprofit CO-
OPs will be used to lower premiums, improve benefits, improve the 
quality of health care delivered to their members, expand enrollment, 
or otherwise contribute to the stability of coverage offered by the CO-
OP. By increasing competition in the health insurance market and 
operating with a strong consumer focus, the CO-OP program will provide 
consumers more choices, greater plan accountability, increased 
competition to lower prices, and better models of care, benefiting all 
consumers, not just CO-OP members.
    The CO-OP program will provide nonprofits with loans to fund start-
up costs and State reserve requirements, in the form of Start-up Loans 
and Solvency Loans. An applicant may apply for (1) Joint Start-up and 
Solvency Loans; or (2) only a Solvency Loan. Start-up Loans are 
intended to assist loan recipients with the many start-up costs 
associated with establishing a new health insurance issuer. Solvency 
Loans are intended to assist loan recipients with meeting the solvency 
requirements of States in which the applicant seeks to be licensed to 
issue qualified health plans.
    The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) was released on July 28, 
2011. Applications will be due on October 17, 2011 and on a quarterly

[[Page 47592]]

basis thereafter up to and including December 31, 2012. At that time, a 
new FOA will be released subject to the availability of funding. Loan 
awards will be announced within approximately 75 days after each 
completed application is received.
    The purpose of this 60-day notice is to announce that CMS is 
seeking an extension of the information collection request (ICR) 
currently approved under 0938-1139. The Office of Management and Budget 
previously reviewed and approved the ICR under emergency processing 
according to 5 CFR 1320.13.
    Form Number: CMS-10392 (OMB  0938-1139); Frequency: 
Occasionally; Affected Public: Private sector, not-for-profit 
institutions; Number of Respondents: 238; Total Annual Responses: 
1,139; Total Annual Hours: 39,178. (For policy questions regarding this 
collection contact Anne Bollinger at 301-492-4395. 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's 
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 October 4, 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: August 2, 2011.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-19910 Filed 8-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P