[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77469-77470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30434]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10510]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.
    In compliance with 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 a summary of 
this proposed information collection for public comment. Interested 
persons are invited to send comments regarding this collection's 
proposed burden estimates 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.
    In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we have also submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) the proposed information collection for their emergency 
review. While the collection is necessary to ensure compliance with an 
initiative of the Administration, we are requesting emergency review 
under 5 CFR 1320(a)(2)(i) because public harm is reasonably likely to 
result if the regular clearance procedures are followed.
    Without emergency approval, we will need to delay by approximately 
4 months the release of Basic Health Program (BHP) federal payment 
rates beyond the March 2014 timeframe that was published in the BHP 
proposed regulation released on September 25, 2013 (78 FR 59122). 
Instead, we would release rates in early summer 2014 to accommodate the 
normal PRA approval process. Rates are needed in March 2014 to support 
state decisions to implement BHP on January 1, 2015, and to provide the 
necessary time for states to do their planning, contracting with 
issuers, and conducting open enrollment. Providing rates in the summer 
2014 will likely postpone interested states' decisions and their 
implementation dates by as much as a year. This could result in as many 
as 1.3 million low income people not having access to BHP in early 
2015, thereby prohibiting them from availing continuity of providers 
and health care that BHP is intended to provide. That is, BHP is a 
bridge program for low income people who today move in and out of 
health programs as their eligibility changes based on fluctuations in 
income and other factors, and such movements disrupt their access to 
the providers and services that they need. This delay in access to BHP 
benefits would likely cause public harm.
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Basic 
Health Program Report for Health Insurance Exchange Premium; Use: In 
accordance with section 1331 of the Affordable Care Act, the Basic 
Health Program (BHP) is federally funded by determining the amount of 
payments that the federal government would have made through premium 
tax credits (PTCs) and cost sharing reductions (CSRs) for people 
enrolled in BHP had they instead been enrolled in an Exchange.
    To calculate these amounts for each state, we need the reference 
premiums for the second lowest cost silver plans (SLCSPs) in each 
geographic area in a state, as SLCSPs are a basic unit in the 
calculation of PTCs and CSRs under the Exchanges. Relatedly, the 
reference premiums for these SLCSPs are critical components in the BHP 
payment methodology in order to estimate what PTCs and CSRs would have 
been paid. Similarly, we also need to collect reference premiums for 
the lowest cost bronze plans to appropriately account for CSR 
calculations for American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Reference 
premiums are foundational inputs into the BHP payment methodology.
    We have the necessary information to determine these reference 
premiums for states whose Exchanges are operated by the Federally 
Facilitated Exchange (FFE) or in Partnership with the FFE. Therefore, 
this collection only pertains to the 17 states who are operating State 
Based Exchanges. A related notice, issued under CMS-2380-PN, is also 
publishing in today's Federal Register; Form Number: CMS-10510 (OCN: 
0938-New); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal 
Governments; Number of Respondents: 17; Total Annual Responses: 17; 
Total Annual Hours: 68. (For policy questions regarding this collection 
contact Jessica Schubel at 410-786-3032.)
    We are requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
December 23, 2013, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be considered from the public if received by the 
date and address noted below.
    Copies of the supporting statement and any related forms can be 
found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995 or can be 
obtained by emailing your request, including your address, phone 
number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to: 
[email protected], or by calling the Reports Clearance Office at: 
410-786-1326.
    When commenting on this proposed information collection, please 
reference the CMS document identifier and the OMB control number (OCN). 
To be assured consideration, comments and

[[Page 77470]]

recommendations must be received in one of the following ways by 
January 2, 2014:
    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 
(CMS-10510), Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21244-1850 and, OMB Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk Officer, New Executive Office Building, 
Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Fax Number: 202-395-6974.

    Dated: December 17, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-30434 Filed 12-18-13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P