[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21925-21927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10089]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

45 CFR Parts 147, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, and 158

[CMS-9930-F]
RIN 0938-AT12


Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit 
and Payment Parameters for 2019; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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[[Page 21926]]

SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the 
final rule published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2018 entitled 
``Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit and 
Payment Parameters for 2019.''

DATES: Effective Date: This correcting document is effective June 18, 
2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lindsey Murtagh, (301) 492-4106, 
Rachel Arguello, (301) 492-4263, or Abigail Walker, (410) 786-1725, for 
general information.
    Krutika Amin, (301) 492-5153, for matters related to risk 
adjustment.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In FR Doc. 2018-07355 of April 17, 2018 (83 FR 16930), the final 
rule entitled ``Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice 
of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2019'', there were a number of 
technical errors in the HHS risk adjustment model factors for adults 
and infants that are identified and corrected in the Correction of 
Errors section below. There was also an error in the Collection of 
Information section. The effective date of the final rule is June 18, 
2018.

II. Summary of Errors

    The 2019 benefit year final HHS risk adjustment model factors 
included in the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2019 
final rule include a few errors in the adult risk adjustment model 
factors (Table 2) and the infant risk adjustment model factors (Table 
5). This correction notice to the final rule amends the final adult and 
infant risk adjustment model factors for the 2019 benefit year. We have 
also made the final risk adjustment model factors for the 2019 benefit 
year for the adult, child and infant models, including corrections to 
the adult and infant model factors, available at https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/Downloads/2019-Final-HHS-RA-Model-Coefficients.pdf and https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/Downloads/2019-Final-HHS-RA-Model-Coefficients-X.xlsx.
    On page 17043 of the Collection of Information section, in our 
discussion regarding the submission of PRA related comments, the 
incorrect delivery information was included.

III. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking

    We ordinarily publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 
Federal Register to provide a period for public comment before the 
provisions of a rule take effect in accordance with section 553(b) of 
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). However, we 
can waive this notice and comment procedure if the Secretary finds, for 
good cause, that the notice and comment process is impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, and incorporates a 
statement of the finding and the reasons therefore in the notice.
    This document merely corrects technical and typographic errors in 
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit 
and Payment Parameters for 2019 final rule that was published on April 
17, 2018 and will become effective on June 18, 2018. The changes are 
not substantive changes to the standards set forth in the final rule. 
Therefore, we believe that undertaking further notice and comment 
procedures to incorporate these corrections is unnecessary. For the 
reasons stated previously, we find there is good cause to waive notice 
and comment procedures.

IV. Correction of Errors

    In FR Doc. 2018-07355 of April 17, 2018 (83 FR 16930), make the 
following corrections:
    1. On page 16945, the final adult risk adjustment model factors for 
the 2019 benefit year in Table 2 are corrected for four HCCs labeled as 
HCC029, HCC034, HCC035 and HCC036 to read as follows.

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              HCC or RXC No.                           Factor                Platinum          Gold           Silver          Bronze       Catastrophic
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HCC029...................................  Amyloidosis, Porphyria, and             2.380           2.280           2.200           2.137           2.132
                                            Other Metabolic Disorders.
HCC034...................................  Liver Transplant Status/               10.515          10.418          10.353          10.334          10.331
                                            Complications.
HCC035...................................  End-Stage Liver Disease......           5.696           5.491           5.349           5.341           5.339
HCC036...................................  Cirrhosis of Liver...........           1.995           1.868           1.780           1.725           1.720
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. On page 16950, the final infant risk adjustment model factors 
for the 2019 benefit year in Table 5 are corrected for the Age1 * 
Severity Level 5 (Highest) group to read as follows.

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                               Group                                     Platinum           Gold            Silver           Bronze        Catastrophic
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Age1 * Severity Level 5 (Highest)..................................          54.522           53.855           53.298           53.200           53.192
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    3. On page 16951, the final infant risk adjustment model factors 
for the 2019 benefit year in Table 5 are corrected for the Age1 * 
Severity Level 4, Age1 * Severity Level 3, Age1 * Severity Level 2, 
Age1 * Severity Level 1 (Lowest), Age 0 Male, and Age 1 Male groups to 
read as follows.

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              Group                  Platinum          Gold           Silver          Bronze       Catastrophic
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Age1 * Severity Level 4.........           9.637           9.153           8.751           8.495           8.473
Age1 * Severity Level 3.........           3.058           2.786           2.511           2.263           2.245
Age1 * Severity Level 2.........           1.960           1.747           1.509           1.246           1.226
Age1 * Severity Level 1 (Lowest)           0.520           0.443           0.330           0.252           0.247
Age 0 Male......................           0.627           0.584           0.561           0.502           0.495
Age 1 Male......................           0.106           0.090           0.077           0.052           0.050
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[[Page 21927]]

    4. On page 17043, in the collection of information section, ``We 
invite public comments on these information collection requirements. If 
you wish to comment, please submit your comments electronically as 
specified in the ADDRESSES section of this final rule and identify the 
rule (CMS-9930-F), the ICR's CFR citation, CMS ID number, and OMB 
control number.'' is corrected to read,
    ``We invite public comments on these information collection 
requirements. If you wish to comment, please identify the rule (CMS-
9930-F) the ICR's CFR citation, CMS ID number, and OMB control number. 
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: (202) 395-5806 OR 
Email: [email protected].
    To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms 
for the collection(s) summarized in this rule, you may make your 
request using one of following:
    1. Access CMS' website address at website address at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html.
    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.''

    Dated: May 7, 2018.
Ann C. Agnew,
Executive Secretary to the Department, Department of Health and Human 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2018-10089 Filed 5-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P