[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61314-61323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24248]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-8058-N]
RIN 0938-AS34


Medicare Program; Medicare Part B Monthly Actuarial Rates, 
Premium Rate, and Annual Deductible Beginning January 1, 2015

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the monthly actuarial rates for aged 
(age 65 and over) and disabled (under age 65) beneficiaries enrolled in 
Part B of the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) program 
beginning January 1, 2015. In addition, this notice announces the 
monthly premium for aged and disabled beneficiaries as well as the 
income-related monthly adjustment amounts to be paid by beneficiaries 
with modified adjusted gross income above certain threshold amounts. 
The monthly actuarial rates for 2015 are $209.80 for aged enrollees and 
$254.80 for disabled enrollees. The standard monthly Part B premium 
rate for all enrollees for 2015 is $104.90, which is equal to 50 
percent of the monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees or 
approximately 25 percent of the expected average total cost of Part B 
coverage for aged enrollees. (The 2014 standard premium rate was 
$104.90.) The Part B deductible for 2015 is $147.00 for all Part B 
beneficiaries. If a beneficiary has to pay an income-related monthly 
adjustment, they may have to pay a total monthly premium of about 35, 
50, 65, or 80 percent of the total cost of Part B coverage.

DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: M. Kent Clemens, (410) 786-6391.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Part B is the voluntary portion of the Medicare program that pays 
all or part of the costs for physicians' services, outpatient hospital 
services, certain home health services, services furnished by rural 
health clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, comprehensive outpatient 
rehabilitation facilities, and certain other medical and health 
services not covered by Medicare Part A, Hospital Insurance. Medicare 
Part B is available to individuals who are entitled to Medicare Part A, 
as well as to U.S. residents who have attained age 65 and are citizens, 
and aliens who were lawfully admitted for permanent residence and have 
resided in the United States for 5 consecutive years. Part B requires 
enrollment and payment of monthly premiums, as described in 42 CFR part 
407, subpart B, and part 408, respectively. The difference between the 
premiums paid by all enrollees and total incurred costs is met by 
transfers from the general fund of the Treasury.
    The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the 
Secretary) is required by section 1839 of the Social Security Act (the 
Act) to announce the Part B monthly actuarial rates for aged and 
disabled beneficiaries as well as the monthly Part B premium. The Part 
B annual deductible is included because its determination is directly 
linked to the aged actuarial rate.
    The monthly actuarial rates for aged and disabled enrollees are 
used to determine the correct amount of general revenue financing per 
beneficiary each month. These amounts, according to actuarial 
estimates, will equal, respectively, one-half of the expected average 
monthly cost of Part B for each

[[Page 61315]]

aged enrollee (age 65 or over) and one-half of the expected average 
monthly cost of Part B for each disabled enrollee (under age 65).
    The Part B deductible to be paid by enrollees is also announced. 
Prior to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization 
Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173), the Part B deductible was set in 
statute. After setting the 2005 deductible amount at $110, section 629 
of the MMA (amending section 1833(b) of the Act) requires that the Part 
B deductible be indexed beginning in 2006. The inflation factor to be 
used each year is the annual percentage increase in the Part B 
actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over. Specifically, the 2015 
Part B deductible is calculated by multiplying the 2014 deductible by 
the ratio of the 2015 aged actuarial rate to the 2014 aged actuarial 
rate. The amount determined under this formula is then rounded to the 
nearest $1.
    The monthly Part B premium rate to be paid by aged and disabled 
enrollees is also announced. (Although the costs to the program per 
disabled enrollee are different than for the aged, the statute provides 
that they pay the same premium amount.) Beginning with the passage of 
section 203 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-603), 
the premium rate, which was determined on a fiscal year basis, was 
limited to the lesser of the actuarial rate for aged enrollees, or the 
current monthly premium rate increased by the same percentage as the 
most recent general increase in monthly Title II social security 
benefits.
    However, the passage of section 124 of the Tax Equity and Fiscal 
Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) (Pub. L. 97-248) suspended this 
premium determination process. Section 124 of TEFRA changed the premium 
basis to 50 percent of the monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees 
(that is, 25 percent of program costs for aged enrollees). Section 606 
of the Social Security Amendments of 1983 (Pub. L. 98-21), section 2302 
of the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (DEFRA 84) (Pub. L. 98-369), 
section 9313 of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 
1985 (COBRA 85) (Pub. L. 99-272), section 4080 of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA 87) (Pub. L. 100-203), and section 
6301 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA 89) (Pub. 
L. 101-239) extended the provision that the premium be based on 50 
percent of the monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees (that is, 25 
percent of program costs for aged enrollees). This extension expired at 
the end of 1990.
    The premium rate for 1991 through 1995 was legislated by section 
1839(e)(1)(B) of the Act, as added by section 4301 of the Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA 90) (Pub. L. 101-508). In 
January 1996, the premium determination basis would have reverted to 
the method established by the 1972 Social Security Act Amendments. 
However, section 13571 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 
(OBRA 93) (Pub. L. 103-66) changed the premium basis to 50 percent of 
the monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees (that is, 25 percent of 
program costs for aged enrollees) for 1996 through 1998.
    Section 4571 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) (Pub. L. 105-
33) permanently extended the provision that the premium be based on 50 
percent of the monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees (that is, 25 
percent of program costs for aged enrollees).
    The BBA included a further provision affecting the calculation of 
the Part B actuarial rates and premiums for 1998 through 2003. Section 
4611 of the BBA modified the home health benefit payable under Part A 
for individuals enrolled in Part B. Under this section, beginning in 
1998, expenditures for home health services not considered ``post-
institutional'' are payable under Part B rather than Part A. However, 
section 4611(e)(1) of the BBA required that there be a transition from 
1998 through 2002 for the aggregate amount of the expenditures 
transferred from Part A to Part B. Section 4611(e)(2) of the BBA also 
provided a specific yearly proportion for the transferred funds. The 
proportions were \1/6\ for 1998, \1/3\ for 1999, \1/2\ for 2000, \2/3\ 
for 2001, and \5/6\ for 2002. For the purpose of determining the 
correct amount of financing from general revenues of the Federal 
Government, it was necessary to include only these transitional amounts 
in the monthly actuarial rates for both aged and disabled enrollees, 
rather than the total cost of the home health services being 
transferred.
    Section 4611(e)(3) of the BBA also specified, for the purpose of 
determining the premium, that the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees 
age 65 and over be computed as though the transition would occur for 
1998 through 2003 and that \1/7\ of the cost be transferred in 1998, 
\2/7\ in 1999, \3/7\ in 2000, \4/7\ in 2001, \5/7\ in 2002, and \6/7\ 
in 2003. Therefore, the transition period for incorporating this home 
health transfer into the premium was 7 years while the transition 
period for including these services in the actuarial rate was 6 years.
    Section 811 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173, also known as the Medicare 
Modernization Act, or MMA), which amended section 1839 of the Act, 
requires that, starting on January 1, 2007, the Part B premium a 
beneficiary pays each month be based on their annual income. 
Specifically, if a beneficiary's ``modified adjusted gross income'' is 
greater than the legislated threshold amounts (for 2015, $85,000 for a 
beneficiary filing an individual income tax return, and $170,000 for a 
beneficiary filing a joint tax return) the beneficiary is responsible 
for a larger portion of the estimated total cost of Part B benefit 
coverage. In addition to the standard 25 percent premium, these 
beneficiaries now have to pay an income-related monthly adjustment 
amount. The MMA made no change to the actuarial rate calculation, and 
the standard premium, which will continue to be paid by beneficiaries 
whose modified adjusted gross income is below the applicable 
thresholds, still represents 25 percent of the estimated total cost to 
the program of Part B coverage for an aged enrollee. However, depending 
on income and tax filing status, a beneficiary can now be responsible 
for 35, 50, 65, or 80 percent of the estimated total cost of Part B 
coverage, rather than 25 percent. The end result of the higher premium 
is that the Part B premium subsidy is reduced and less general revenue 
financing is required for beneficiaries with higher income because they 
are paying a larger share of the total cost with their premium. That 
is, the premium subsidy continues to be approximately 75 percent for 
beneficiaries with income below the applicable income thresholds, but 
will be reduced for beneficiaries with income above these thresholds. 
The MMA specified that there be a 5-year transition to full 
implementation of this provision. However, section 5111 of the Deficit 
Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-171) (DRA) modified the transition 
to a 3-year period.
    Section 4732(c) of the BBA added section 1933(c) of the Act, which 
required the Secretary to allocate money from the Part B trust fund to 
the State Medicaid programs for the purpose of providing Medicare Part 
B premium assistance from 1998 through 2002 for the low-income Medicaid 
beneficiaries who qualify under section 1933 of the Act. This 
allocation, while not a benefit expenditure, was an expenditure of the 
trust fund and was included in calculating the Part B actuarial rates 
through 2002. For 2003 through 2014,

[[Page 61316]]

the expenditure was made from the trust fund because the allocation was 
temporarily extended. However, because the extension occurred after the 
financing was determined, the allocation was not included in the 
calculation of the financing rates for these years.
    Another provision affecting the calculation of the Part B premium 
is section 1839(f) of the Act, as amended by section 211 of the 
Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 (MCCA 88) (Pub. L. 100-360). 
(However, the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Repeal Act of 1989 (Pub. 
L. 101-234) did not repeal the revisions to section 1839(f) made by 
MCCA 88.) Section 1839(f) of the Act, referred to as the ``hold-
harmless'' provision, provides that if an individual is entitled to 
benefits under section 202 or 223 of the Act (the Old-Age and Survivors 
Insurance Benefit and the Disability Insurance Benefit, respectively) 
and has the Part B premiums deducted from these benefit payments, the 
premium increase will be reduced, if necessary, to avoid causing a 
decrease in the individual's net monthly payment. This decrease in 
payment occurs if the increase in the individual's social security 
benefit due to the cost-of-living adjustment under section 215(i) of 
the Act is less than the increase in the premium. Specifically, the 
reduction in the premium amount applies if the individual is entitled 
to benefits under section 202 or 223 of the Act for November and 
December of a particular year and the individual's Part B premiums for 
December and the following January are deducted from the respective 
month's section 202 or 223 benefits. The ``hold-harmless'' provision 
does not apply to beneficiaries who are required to pay an income-
related monthly adjustment amount.
    A check for benefits under section 202 or 223 of the Act is 
received in the month following the month for which the benefits are 
due. The Part B premium that is deducted from a particular check is the 
Part B payment for the month in which the check is received. Therefore, 
a benefit check for November is not received until December, but has 
December's Part B premium deducted from it.
    Generally, if a beneficiary qualifies for hold-harmless protection, 
the reduced premium for the individual for that January and for each of 
the succeeding 11 months is the greater of either--
     The monthly premium for January reduced as necessary to 
make the December monthly benefits, after the deduction of the Part B 
premium for January, at least equal to the preceding November's monthly 
benefits, after the deduction of the Part B premium for December; or
     The monthly premium for that individual for that December.
    In determining the premium limitations under section 1839(f) of the 
Act, the monthly benefits to which an individual is entitled under 
section 202 or 223 of the Act do not include retroactive adjustments or 
payments and deductions on account of work. Also, once the monthly 
premium amount is established under section 1839(f) of the Act, it will 
not be changed during the year even if there are retroactive 
adjustments or payments and deductions on account of work that apply to 
the individual's monthly benefits.
    Individuals who have enrolled in Part B late or who have re-
enrolled after the termination of a coverage period are subject to an 
increased premium under section 1839(b) of the Act. The increase is a 
percentage of the premium and is based on the new premium rate before 
any reductions under section 1839(f) of the Act are made.

II. Provisions of the Notice

A. Notice of Medicare Part B Monthly Actuarial Rates, Monthly Premium 
Rates, and Annual Deductible

    The Medicare Part B monthly actuarial rates applicable for 2015 are 
$209.80 for enrollees age 65 and over and $254.80 for disabled 
enrollees under age 65. In section II.B. of this notice, we present the 
actuarial assumptions and bases from which these rates are derived. The 
Part B standard monthly premium rate for all enrollees for 2015 is 
$104.90. The Part B annual deductible for 2015 is $147.00. The 
following are the 2015 Part B monthly premium rates to be paid by 
beneficiaries who file an individual tax return (including those who 
are single, head of household, qualifying widow(er) with dependent 
child, or married filing separately who lived apart from their spouse 
for the entire taxable year), or a joint tax return.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Income-related
  Beneficiaries who file an individual tax    Beneficiaries who file a joint tax      monthly      Total monthly
            return with income:                      return with income:            adjustment    premium amount
                                                                                      amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to $85,000..............  Less than or equal to $170,000.....           $0.00         $104.90
Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal  Greater than $170,000 and less than           42.00          146.90
 to $107,000.                                 or equal to $214,000.
Greater than $107,000 and less than or       Greater than $214,000 and less than          104.90          209.80
 equal to $160,000.                           or equal to $320,000.
Greater than $160,000 and less than or       Greater than $320,000 and less than          167.80          272.70
 equal to $214,000.                           or equal to $428,000.
Greater than $214,000......................  Greater than $428,000..............          230.80          335.70
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the monthly premium rates to be paid by beneficiaries 
who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the 
taxable year, but file a separate tax return from their spouse, are as 
follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Beneficiaries who are married and lived  Income-related
with their spouse at any time during the      monthly      Total monthly
  year, but file a separate tax return      adjustment    premium amount
           from their spouse:                 amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to $85,000...........           $0.00         $104.90
Greater than $85,000 and less than or             167.80          272.70
 equal to $129,000......................
Greater than $129,000...................          230.80          335.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 61317]]

    The Part B annual deductible for 2015 is $147.00 for all 
beneficiaries.

B. Statement of Actuarial Assumptions and Bases Employed in Determining 
the Monthly Actuarial Rates and the Monthly Premium Rate for Part B 
Beginning January 2015

    Except where noted, the actuarial assumptions and bases used to 
determine the monthly actuarial rates and the monthly premium rates for 
Part B are established by the Office of the Actuary in the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services. The estimates underlying these 
determinations are prepared by actuaries meeting the qualification 
standards and following the actuarial standards of practice established 
by the Actuarial Standards Board.
1. Actuarial Status of the Part B Account in the Supplementary Medical 
Insurance Trust Fund
    Under the statute, the starting point for determining the standard 
monthly premium is the amount that would be necessary to finance Part B 
on an incurred basis. This is the amount of income that would be 
sufficient to pay for services furnished during that year (including 
associated administrative costs) even though payment for some of these 
services will not be made until after the close of the year. The 
portion of income required to cover benefits not paid until after the 
close of the year is added to the trust fund and used when needed.
    The premium rates are established prospectively and are, therefore, 
subject to projection error. Additionally, legislation enacted after 
the financing was established, but effective for the period in which 
the financing is set, may affect program costs. As a result, the income 
to the program may not equal incurred costs. Therefore, trust fund 
assets must be maintained at a level that is adequate to cover an 
appropriate degree of variation between actual and projected costs, and 
the amount of incurred, but unpaid, expenses. Numerous factors 
determine what level of assets is appropriate to cover variation 
between actual and projected costs. The three most important of these 
factors are: (1) the difference from prior years between the actual 
performance of the program and estimates made at the time financing was 
established; (2) the likelihood and potential magnitude of expenditure 
changes resulting from enactment of legislation affecting Part B costs 
in a year subsequent to the establishment of financing for that year; 
and (3) the expected relationship between incurred and cash 
expenditures. These factors are analyzed on an ongoing basis, as the 
trends can vary over time.
    Table 1 summarizes the estimated actuarial status of the trust fund 
as of the end of the financing period for 2013 and 2014.

 Table 1--Estimated Actuarial Status of the Part B Account in the Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund as
                                       of the End of the Financing Period
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Assets less
                     Financing period ending                          Assets        Liabilities     liabilities
                                                                    (millions)      (millions)      (millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2013...............................................         $74,204         $19,656         $54,548
December 31, 2014...............................................          70,931          20,376          50,555
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Monthly Actuarial Rate for Enrollees Age 65 and Older
    The monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and older is one-
half of the sum of monthly amounts for: (1) The projected cost of 
benefits, and (2) administrative expenses for each enrollee age 65 and 
older, after adjustments to this sum to allow for interest earnings on 
assets in the trust fund and an adequate contingency margin. The 
contingency margin is an amount appropriate to provide for possible 
variation between actual and projected costs and to amortize any 
surplus assets or unfunded liabilities.
    The monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and older for 2015 
is determined by first establishing per-enrollee cost by type of 
service from program data through 2013 and then projecting these costs 
for subsequent years. The projection factors used for financing periods 
from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2015 are shown in Table 2.
    As indicated in Table 3, the projected per-enrollee amount required 
to pay for one-half of the total of benefits and administrative costs 
for enrollees age 65 and over for 2015 is $208.61. Based on current 
estimates, the assets are not sufficient to cover the amount of 
incurred, but unpaid, expenses and to provide for a significant degree 
of variation between actual and projected costs. Thus, a positive 
contingency margin is needed to increase assets to a more appropriate 
level. The monthly actuarial rate of $209.80 provides an adjustment of 
$3.41 for a contingency margin and -$2.22 for interest earnings.
    The size of the contingency margin for 2015 is affected by several 
factors. The largest factor involves the current law formula for 
physician fees, which is scheduled to result in a reduction in 
physician fees of an estimated 21.1 percent in April 2015. For 2003 
through March 2015, lawmakers have prevented physician fee reductions 
from occurring. In recognition of the strong possibility of substantial 
increase in Part B expenditures that would result from similar 
legislation to override the decreases in physician fees in 2015, it is 
appropriate to maintain a significantly larger Part B contingency 
reserve than would otherwise be necessary. The asset level projected 
for the end of 2014 is not adequate to accommodate this contingency.
    Two other factors affect the contingency margin for 2015. Starting 
in 2011, manufacturers and importers of brand-name prescription drugs 
have paid a fee that is allocated to the Part B account of the SMI 
trust. For 2015, the total of these brand-name drug fees is estimated 
to be $3.0 billion. The contingency margin has been reduced to account 
for this additional revenue.
    Another factor impacting the contingency margin comes from the 
requirement that certain payment incentives, to encourage the 
development and use of health information technology (HIT) by Medicare 
physicians, are to be excluded from the premium determination. HIT 
bonuses or penalties will be directly offset through transfers with the 
general fund of the Treasury. The monthly actuarial rate includes an 
adjustment of -$0.24 for HIT bonus payments in 2015.
    The traditional goal for the Part B reserve has been that assets 
minus liabilities at the end of a year should

[[Page 61318]]

represent between 15 and 20 percent of the following year's total 
incurred expenditures. To accomplish this goal, a 17 percent reserve 
ratio has been the normal target used to calculate the Part B premium. 
In view of the strong likelihood of actual expenditures exceeding 
estimated levels, due to the likelihood of the enactment of legislation 
after the financing has been set for 2015 as a result of the scheduled 
2015 physician update, a contingency reserve ratio in excess of 20 
percent of the following year's expenditures would better ensure that 
the assets of the Part B account can adequately cover the cost of 
incurred-but-not-reported benefits together with variations between 
actual and estimated cost levels.
    The actuarial rate of $209.80 per month for aged beneficiaries, as 
announced in this notice for 2015, reflects the combined net effect of 
the factors previously described and the projection assumptions listed 
in Table 2.
3. Monthly Actuarial Rate for Disabled Enrollees
    Disabled enrollees are those persons under age 65 who are enrolled 
in Part B because of entitlement to Social Security disability benefits 
for more than 24 months or because of entitlement to Medicare under the 
end-stage renal disease (ESRD) program. Projected monthly costs for 
disabled enrollees (other than those with ESRD) are prepared in a 
fashion parallel to the projection for the aged using appropriate 
actuarial assumptions (see Table 2). Costs for the ESRD program are 
projected differently because of the different nature of services 
offered by the program.
    As shown in Table 4, the projected per-enrollee amount required to 
pay for one-half of the total of benefits and administrative costs for 
disabled enrollees for 2015 is $249.95. The monthly actuarial rate of 
$254.80 also provides an adjustment of -$2.95 for interest earnings and 
$7.80 for a contingency margin, reflecting the same factors described 
previously for the aged actuarial rate. Based on current estimates, the 
assets associated with the disabled Medicare beneficiaries at the end 
of 2014 are not sufficient to cover the amount of incurred, but unpaid, 
expenses and to provide for a significant degree of variation between 
actual and projected costs. Thus, a positive contingency margin is 
needed to increase assets to an appropriate level.
    The actuarial rate of $254.80 per month for disabled beneficiaries, 
as announced in this notice for 2015, reflects the combined net effect 
of the factors described previously for aged beneficiaries and the 
projection assumptions listed in Table 2.
4. Sensitivity Testing
    Several factors contribute to uncertainty about future trends in 
medical care costs. It is appropriate to test the adequacy of the rates 
using alternative cost growth rate assumptions. The results of those 
assumptions are shown in Table 5. One set represents increases that are 
higher and, therefore, more pessimistic than the current estimate. The 
other set represents increases that are lower and, therefore, more 
optimistic than the current estimate. The values for the alternative 
assumptions were determined from a statistical analysis of the 
historical variation in the respective increase factors.
    As indicated in Table 5, the monthly actuarial rates would result 
in an excess of assets over liabilities of $58,887 million by the end 
of December 2015 under the cost growth rate assumptions used in 
preparing this report and assuming that the provisions of current law 
are fully implemented. This amounts to 21.6 percent of the estimated 
total incurred expenditures for the following year.
    Assumptions that are somewhat more pessimistic (and that therefore 
test the adequacy of the assets to accommodate projection errors) 
produce a surplus of $17,781 million by the end of December 2015 under 
current law, which amounts to 5.8 percent of the estimated total 
incurred expenditures for the following year. Under fairly optimistic 
assumptions, the monthly actuarial rates would result in a surplus of 
$96,482 million by the end of December 2015, or 40.3 percent of the 
estimated total incurred expenditures for the following year.
    The sensitivity analysis indicates that the premium and general 
revenue financing established for 2015, together with existing Part B 
account assets would be adequate to cover estimated Part B costs for 
2015 under current law, even if actual costs prove to be somewhat 
greater than expected.
5. Premium Rates and Deductible
    As determined in accordance with section 1839 of the Act, listed 
are the 2015 Part B monthly premium rates to be paid by beneficiaries 
who file an individual tax return (including those who are single, head 
of household, qualifying widow(er) with dependent child, or married 
filing separately who lived apart from their spouse for the entire 
taxable year), or a joint tax return.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Income-related
  Beneficiaries who file an individual tax    Beneficiaries who file a joint tax      monthly      Total monthly
            return with income:                      return with income:            adjustment    premium amount
                                                                                      amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to $85,000..............  Less than or equal to $170,000.....           $0.00         $104.90
Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal  Greater than $170,000 and less than           42.00          146.90
 to $107,000.                                 or equal to $214,000.
Greater than $107,000 and less than or       Greater than $214,000 and less than          104.90          209.80
 equal to $160,000.                           or equal to $320,000.
Greater than $160,000 and less than or       Greater than $320,000 and less than          167.80          272.70
 equal to $214,000.                           or equal to $428,000.
Greater than $214,000......................  Greater than $428,000..............          230.80          335.70
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the monthly premium rates to be paid by beneficiaries 
who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the 
taxable year, but file a separate tax return from their spouse, are 
listed as follows:

[[Page 61319]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Beneficiaries who are married and lived  Income-related
with their spouse at any time during the      monthly      Total monthly
  year, but file a separate tax return      adjustment    premium amount
           from their spouse:                 amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to $85,000...........           $0.00         $104.90
Greater than $85,000 and less than or             167.80          272.70
 equal to $129,000......................
Greater than $129,000...................          230.80          335.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                    Table 2--Projection Factors \1\ 12-Month Periods Ending December 31 of 2012-2015
                                                                      [In percent]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Physicians' services                             Other
                                ----------------------   Durable     Carrier     carrier     Outpatient     Home     Hospital      Other       Managed
         Calendar year             Fees     Residual     medical     lab \4\     services     hospital     health    lab \6\   intermediary      care
                                   \2\        \3\       equipment                  \5\                     agency              services \7\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aged:
  2012.........................     -1.1          0.9          0.7        6.5          3.2          7.5       -3.4        4.1           4.2          1.9
  2013.........................     -0.1          0.3        -10.3        0.2          2.7          7.1       -0.9       -0.6          -1.1          0.7
  2014.........................      0.5          0.3        -17.5        2.1          3.3         10.3       -0.2      -26.7           3.6          6.4
  2015.........................    -16.6          0.4          1.6        3.7          2.2          6.0        0.3        3.9          -5.5          1.5
Disabled:
  2012.........................     -1.1          2.2          1.0       24.9          2.4          8.6       -0.7        4.6           2.0          1.3
  2013.........................     -0.1          2.5         -8.4       11.7          1.7          7.7       -0.2       -0.2           3.2          2.7
  2014.........................      0.5          0.6        -15.6        3.0          2.5         11.5        1.1      -30.1           5.4          7.8
  2015.........................    -16.6          0.8          1.7        3.9          1.8          6.3        0.5        4.0          -1.5          1.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All values for services other than managed care are per fee-for-service enrollee. Managed care values are per managed care enrollee.
\2\ As recognized for payment under the program.
\3\ Increase in the number of services received per enrollee and greater relative use of more expensive services.
\4\ Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the physician's office or an independent lab.
\5\ Includes physician-administered drugs, ambulatory surgical center facility costs, ambulance services, parenteral and enteral drug costs, supplies,
  etc.
\6\ Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the outpatient department of a hospital.
\7\ Includes services furnished in dialysis facilities, rural health clinics, Federally qualified health centers, rehabilitation and psychiatric
  hospitals, etc.

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III. Regulatory Impact Analysis

A. Statement of Need

    Section 1839 of the Act requires us to annually announce (that is 
by September 30th of each year) the Part B monthly actuarial rates for 
aged and disabled beneficiaries as well as the monthly Part B premium. 
We also announce the Part B annual deductible because its determination 
is directly linked to the aged actuarial rate.

B. Overall Impact

    We have examined the impacts of this rule as required by Executive 
Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review (September 30, 1993), 
Executive Order 13563 on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review 
(January 18, 2011), the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (September 19, 
1980, Pub. L. 96-354), section 1102(b) of the Social Security Act, 
section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (March 22, 
1995, Pub. L. 104-4), Executive Order 13132 on Federalism (August 4, 
1999) and the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 804(2)).
    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). A 
regulatory impact analysis (RIA) must be prepared for major notices 
with economically significant effects ($100 million or more in any 1 
year). For 2015, the standard Part B premium rate, the Part B income-
related premium rates, and the Part B deductible are the same as the 
respective amounts for 2014. As a result, this notice is not 
economically significant under section 3(f)(1) of Executive Order 12866 
and thus, is not a major action under the Congressional Review Act. In 
accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 12866, this notice 
was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
    As discussed earlier, this notice announces that the monthly 
actuarial rates applicable for 2015 are $209.80 for enrollees age 65 
and over and $254.80 for disabled enrollees under age 65. It also 
announces the 2015 monthly Part B premium rates to be paid by 
beneficiaries who file an individual tax return (including those who 
are single, head of household, qualifying widow(er) with a dependent 
child, or married filing separately who lived apart from their spouse 
for the entire taxable year), or a joint tax return.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Income-related
  Beneficiaries who file an individual tax    Beneficiaries who file a joint tax      monthly      Total monthly
            return with income:                      return with income:            adjustment    premium amount
                                                                                      amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to $85,000..............  Less than or equal to $170,000.....           $0.00         $104.90
Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal  Greater than $170,000 and less than           42.00          146.90
 to $107,000.                                 or equal to $214,000.
Greater than $107,000 and less than or       Greater than $214,000 and less than          104.90          209.80
 equal to $160,000.                           or equal to $320,000.

[[Page 61322]]

 
Greater than $160,000 and less than or       Greater than $320,000 and less than          167.80          272.70
 equal to $214,000.                           or equal to $428,000.
Greater than $214,000......................  Greater than $428,000..............          230.80          335.70
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the monthly premium rates to be paid by beneficiaries 
who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the 
taxable year, but file a separate tax return from their spouse, are 
also announced and listed in the following chart:

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Beneficiaries who are married and lived  Income-related
with their spouse at any time during the      monthly      Total monthly
  year, but file a separate tax return      adjustment    premium amount
           from their spouse:                 amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to $85,000...........           $0.00         $104.90
Greater than $85,000 and less than or             167.80          272.70
 equal to $129,000......................
Greater than $129,000...................          230.80          335.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The RFA requires agencies to analyze options for regulatory relief 
of small businesses, if a rule has a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. For purposes of the RFA, small 
entities include small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and small 
governmental jurisdictions. Most hospitals and most other providers and 
suppliers are small entities, either by nonprofit status or by having 
revenues of less than $7.0 million to $38.5 million in any 1 year. 
Individuals and States are not included in the definition of a small 
entity. This notice announces the monthly actuarial rates for aged (age 
65 and over) and disabled (under 65) beneficiaries enrolled in Part B 
of the Medicare SMI program beginning January 1, 2015. Also, this 
notice announces the monthly premium for aged and disabled 
beneficiaries as well as the income-related monthly adjustment amounts 
to be paid by beneficiaries with modified adjusted gross income above 
certain threshold amounts. As a result, we are not preparing an 
analysis for the RFA because the Secretary has determined that this 
notice will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.
    In addition, section 1102(b) of the Act requires us to prepare a 
regulatory impact analysis if a rule may have a significant impact on 
the operations of a substantial number of small rural hospitals. This 
analysis must conform to the provisions of section 604 of the RFA. For 
purposes of section 1102(b) of the Act, we define a small rural 
hospital as a hospital that is located outside of a Metropolitan 
Statistical Area and has fewer than 100 beds. As we discussed 
previously, we are not preparing an analysis for section 1102(b) of the 
Act because the Secretary has determined that this notice will not have 
a significant effect on a substantial number of small rural hospitals.
    Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) also 
requires that agencies assess anticipated costs and benefits before 
issuing any rule whose mandates require spending in any 1 year of $100 
million in 1995 dollars, updated annually for inflation. In 2014, that 
threshold is approximately $141 million. This notice does not impose 
mandates that will have a consequential effect of $141 million or more 
on State, local, or tribal governments or on the private sector.
    Executive Order 13132 establishes certain requirements that an 
agency must meet when it publishes a proposed rule (and subsequent 
final rule) that imposes substantial direct compliance costs on State 
and local governments, preempts State law, or otherwise has Federalism 
implications. We have determined that this notice does not 
significantly affect the rights, roles, and responsibilities of States.
    For 2015, the standard Part B premium rate, the Part B income-
related premium rates, and the Part B deductible are the same as the 
respective amounts for 2014. Therefore, this notice is not a major rule 
as defined in 5 U.S.C. 804(2) and is not an economically significant 
rule under Executive Order 12866.
    In accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 12866, this 
notice was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

IV. Waiver of Proposed Notice

    The Medicare statute requires the publication of the monthly 
actuarial rates and the Part B premium amounts in September. We 
ordinarily use general notices, rather than notice and comment 
rulemaking procedures, to make such announcements. In doing so, we note 
that, under the Administrative Procedure Act, interpretive rules, 
general statements of policy, and rules of agency organization, 
procedure, or practice are excepted from the requirements of notice and 
comment rulemaking.
    We considered publishing a proposed notice to provide a period for 
public comment. However, we may waive that procedure if we find, for 
good cause, that prior notice and comment are impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. The statute 
establishes the time period for which the premium rates will apply, and 
delaying publication of the Part B premium rate such that it would not 
be published before that time would be contrary to the public interest. 
Moreover, we find that notice and comment are unnecessary because the 
formulas used to calculate the Part B premiums are statutorily 
directed. Therefore, we find good cause to waive publication of a 
proposed notice and solicitation of public comments.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program).


[[Page 61323]]


    Dated: September 12, 2014.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
    Approved: September 26, 2014.
Sylvia M. Burwell,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-24248 Filed 10-9-14; 8:45 am]
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