[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 223 (Friday, November 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 71569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29838]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-10373]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; 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), 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 function; (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: Medical Loss 
Ratio (MLR) Quarterly Reporting for Mini-Med Plans and Expatriate 
Plans; Use: Under Section 2718 of the Affordable Care Act and 
implementing regulations at 45 CFR part 158 (75 FR 74865, December 1, 
2010) as modified by technical corrections on December 30, 2010 (75 FR 
82277), a health insurance issuer (issuer) offering group or individual 
health insurance coverage must submit a report to the Secretary 
concerning the amount the issuer spends each year on claims, quality 
improvement expenses, non-claims costs, Federal and State taxes and 
licensing or regulatory fees, and the amount of earned premium. An 
issuer must provide an annual rebate to enrollees if the amount it 
spends on certain costs compared to its premium revenue (excluding 
Federal and States taxes and licensing or regulatory fees) does not 
meet a certain ratio, referred to as the medical loss ratio (MLR). An 
interim final rule (IFR) implementing the MLR was published on December 
1, 2010 (75 FR 74865) and modified by technical corrections on December 
30, 2010 (75 FR 82277), which added part 158 to Title 45 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations. The IFR is effective January 1, 2011. Issuers are 
required to submit annual MLR reporting data for each large group 
market, small group market, and individual market within each State in 
which the issuer conducts business. For policies that have a total 
annual limit of $250,000 or less (sometimes referred to as ``mini-med 
plans'') and for group policies that primarily cover employees working 
outside the United States (referred to as ``expatriate plans''), the 
IFR applies a special circumstance adjustment to the MLR data for the 
2011 MLR reporting year. In order to evaluate the appropriateness of 
this special circumstance adjustment for years 2012 and beyond, issuers 
that provide such policies are required to submit quarterly MLR data to 
the Secretary for the 2011 MLR reporting year. We received two comment 
letters in response to the 60-day comment period that was associated 
with CMS-10373. We have taken into consideration all of the proposed 
suggestions, and as result, have not made any changes to the quarterly 
reporting form or to the estimated burden that correlates with the 
form. Form Number: CMS-10373 (OCN: 0938-1132); Frequency: Quarterly; 
Affected Public: Private Sector--Business or other for-profits and Not-
for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 75; Total Annual 
Responses: 825; Total Annual Hours: 3,700. (For policy questions 
regarding this collection contact Carol Jimenez at (301) 492-4109. 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 address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995, or 
Email 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.
    To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collections must be received by the OMB desk 
officer at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on December 19, 
2011.
    OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS 
Desk Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974, Email: [email protected].

    Dated: November 15, 2011.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-29838 Filed 11-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P