[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3603-3604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01127]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier CMS-10538 and CMS-10527]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is 
announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention 
to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in 
the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an 
existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity 
for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to 
send comments regarding the 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

[[Page 3604]]

technology to minimize the information collection burden.

DATES: Comments on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by February 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: When commenting on the proposed information collections, 
please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be 
assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by 
the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions: OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-5806 OR, Email: 
OIRA_[email protected].
    To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, you may make 
your request using one of following:
    1. Access CMS' Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995.
    2. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB 
number, and CMS document identifier, to [email protected].
    3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-
1326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. The term ``collection of 
information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and 
includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public 
submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. 
Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires 
federal agencies to publish a 30-day notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each 
proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of 
information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To 
comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this notice that 
summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for 
public comment:
    1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (request 
for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Prior 
Authorization Form for Beneficiaries Enrolled in Hospice; Use: The form 
would be completed by the prescriber or the beneficiary's hospice, or 
if the prescriber or hospice provides the information verbally to the 
Part D sponsor, the form would be completed by the sponsor. Information 
provided on the form would be used by the Part D sponsor to establish 
coverage of the drug under Medicare Part D. Per statute, drugs that are 
necessary for the palliation and management of the terminal illness and 
related conditions are not eligible for payment under Part D. The 
standard form provides a vehicle for the hospice provider, prescriber 
or sponsor to document that the drug prescribed is ``unrelated'' to the 
terminal illness and related conditions. It also gives a hospice 
organization the option to communicate a beneficiary's change in 
hospice status and care plan to Part D sponsors. The package has been 
revised subsequent to the publication of the 60-day Federal Register 
notice on October 3, 2014 (79 FR 59772). Form Number: CMS-10538 (OMB 
control number 0938--New); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: 
Private sector (business or other for-profits); Number of Respondents: 
424; Total Annual Responses: 376,487; Total Annual Hours: 31,374. (For 
policy questions regarding this collection contact Shelly Winston at 
410-786-3694).
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Annual 
Eligibility Redetermination, Product Discontinuation and Renewal 
Notices; Use: Section 1411(f)(1)(B) of the Affordable Care Act directs 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish 
procedures to redetermine the eligibility of individuals on a periodic 
basis in appropriate circumstances. Section 1321(a) of the Affordable 
Care Act provides authority for the Secretary to establish standards 
and regulations to implement the statutory requirements related to 
Exchanges, QHPs and other components of title I of the Affordable Care 
Act. Under section 2703 of the PHS Act, as added by the Affordable Care 
Act, and sections 2712 and 2741 of the PHS Act, enacted by the Health 
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, health insurance 
issuers in the group and individual markets must guarantee the 
renewability of coverage unless an exception applies.
    The final rule ``Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Annual 
Eligibility Redeterminations for Exchange Participation and Insurance 
Affordability Programs; Health Insurance Issuer Standards Under the 
Affordable Care Act, Including Standards Related to Exchanges'' (79 FR 
52994), provides that an Exchange may choose to conduct the annual 
redetermination process for a plan year (1) in accordance with the 
existing procedures described in 45 CFR 155.335; (2) in accordance with 
procedures described in guidance issued by the Secretary for the 
coverage year; or (3) using an alternative proposed by the Exchange and 
approved by the Secretary. The guidance document ``Guidance on Annual 
Redeterminations for Coverage for 2015'' contains the procedures that 
the Secretary is specifying for the 2015 coverage year, as noted in (2) 
above. These procedures will be adopted by the Federally-facilitated 
Exchange. Under this option, the Exchange will provide three notices. 
These notices may be combined.
    The final rule also amends the requirements for product renewal and 
re-enrollment (or non-renewal) notices to be sent by Qualified Health 
Plan (QHP) issuers in the Exchanges and specifies content for these 
notices. The accompanying guidance document ``Form and Manner of 
Notices When Discontinuing or Renewing a Product in the Group or 
Individual Market'' provides standard notices for product 
discontinuation and renewal to be sent by issuers of individual market 
QHPs and issuers in the individual market. Issuers in the small group 
market may use the draft Federal standard small group notices released 
in the June 26, 2014, bulletin ``Draft Standard Notices When 
Discontinuing or Renewing a Product in the Small Group or Individual 
Market'', or any forms of the notice otherwise permitted by applicable 
laws and regulations. States that are enforcing the Affordable Care Act 
may develop their own standard notices, for product discontinuances, 
renewals, or both, provided the State-developed notices are at least as 
protective as the Federal standard notices. Form Number: CMS-10527; 
Frequency: Annual; Affected Public: Private Sector, State Governments; 
Number of Respondents: 2,945; Number of Responses: 12,224; Total Annual 
Hours: 149,186. (For policy questions regarding this collection, 
contact Usree Bandyopadhyay at 410-786-6650.)

    Dated: January 20, 2015.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-01127 Filed 1-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P