[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 5, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12441-12442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04828]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

45 CFR Parts 160 and 162

[CMS-0037-N]


Administrative Simplification: Certification of Compliance for 
Health Plans; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period for the 
Administrative Simplification: Certification of Compliance for Health 
Plans proposed rule, which was published in the January 2, 2014 Federal 
Register. The comment period for the proposed rule, which would have 
ended on March 3, 2014, is extended to April 3, 2014.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published in the 
January 2, 2014 Federal Register (79 FR 298) is extended to April 3, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-0037-P. Because 
of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by 
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
    You may submit comments in one of four ways (please choose only one 
of the ways listed):
    1. You may submit electronic comments on this regulation to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the ``Submit a comment'' instructions.
    2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following 
address ONLY:


[[Page 12442]]


Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and 
Human Services, Attention: CMS-0037-P, P.O. Box 8013, Baltimore, MD 
21244-8013.

    Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received 
before the close of the comment period.
    3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to 
the following address ONLY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and 
Human Services, Attention: CMS-0037-P, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

    4. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver (by hand or 
courier) your written comments before the close of the comment period 
to either of the following addresses:
    a. For delivery in Washington, DC--

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and 
Human Services, Room 445-G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201.

    (Because access to the interior of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building 
is not readily available to persons without Federal government 
identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in 
the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-
in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing 
by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being 
filed.)
    b. For delivery in Baltimore, MD--

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and 
Human Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address, 
please call telephone number (410) 786-7195 in advance to schedule your 
arrival with one of our staff members.
    Comments mailed to the addresses indicated as appropriate for hand 
or courier delivery may be delayed and received after the comment 
period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geanelle G. Herring, (410) 786-4466. 
Matthew Albright, (410) 786-2546.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the January 2, 2014 Federal Register (79 
FR 298), we published the Administrative Simplification: Certification 
of Compliance for Health Plans proposed rule (hereafter, Compliance 
Certification proposed rule), which proposes that controlling health 
plans must submit certain information and documentation that 
demonstrates compliance with the standards and operating rules adopted 
under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 
(HIPAA) for three electronic transactions: Eligibility for a health 
plan, health care claim status, and health care electronic funds 
transfers (EFT) and remittance advice. This proposed rule would also 
establish penalty fees for a CHP that fails to comply with the 
certification of compliance requirements.
    The proposed rule is different from previous HIPAA administrative 
simplification regulations in that the number and type of entities that 
would be impacted by the requirements is much greater. For example, 
many self-funded health plans that meet the HIPAA definition of health 
plan would be subject to the requirements in the proposed rule; 
however, many self-funded health plans have not been impacted by 
previous HIPAA administrative simplification requirements because many 
do not directly conduct HIPAA covered transactions.
    Representatives of entities that are new to HIPAA administrative 
simplification requirements have requested more time to analyze the 
Compliance Certification proposed rule and educate themselves and their 
peers, as well as solicit feedback from their membership on the 
business impact of the propose rule, which they believe can be better 
achieved with more time for public comments. We concur. Therefore, we 
are extending the comment period until April 3, 2014.

    Dated: February 27, 2014.
Oliver A. Potts,
Deputy Executive Secretary to the Department, Department of Health and 
Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-04828 Filed 2-28-14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P