[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 44241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18344]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10333]


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: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title: Consumer Assistance Program Grants; Use: 
Section 1002 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides for the 
establishment of consumer assistance (or ombudsman) programs, starting 
in FY 2010. Federal grants will support these programs. These programs 
will assist consumers with filing complaints and appeals, assist 
consumers with enrollment into health coverage, collect data on 
consumer inquiries and complaints to identify problems in the 
marketplace, educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities, 
and with the establishment of the new Exchange marketplaces, resolve 
problems with premium credits for Exchange coverage.
    Importantly, these programs must provide detailed reporting on the 
types of problems and questions consumers may experience with health 
coverage, and how these problems and questions are resolved. In order 
to strengthen oversight, section 2793(d) of the ACA requires programs 
to report data to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) ``As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection 
(a), an office of health insurance consumer assistance or ombudsman 
program shall be required to collect and report data to the Secretary 
on the types of problems and inquiries encountered by consumers''.
    Analysis of this data reporting will help identify patterns of 
practice in the insurance marketplaces and uncover suspected patterns 
of noncompliance. HHS must share program data reports with the 
Departments of Labor and Treasury, and State regulators. Program data 
also can offer CMS one indication of the effectiveness of State 
enforcement, affording opportunities to provide technical assistance 
and support to State insurance regulators and, in extreme cases, inform 
the need to trigger federal enforcement. Form Number: CMS-10333 
(OMB: 0938-1097); Frequency: Quarterly and Annually; Affected 
Public: Private Sector: State, Local, or Tribal Governments; Number of 
Respondents: 56; Total Annual Responses: 504; Total Annual Hours: 129-
261 hours. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Eliza Bangit at 301-492-4219. 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.
    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 September 25, 2012:
    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: July 24, 2012.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Division B, Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-18344 Filed 7-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P