[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43690-43691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18437]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifier: CMS-10416 and CMS-10540]


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

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 the necessity and utility of the 
proposed information collection for the proper performance of the 
agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology to minimize the information collection 
burden.

DATES: Comments on the collection(s) of information must be received by 
the OMB desk officer by September 26, 2018.

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: 
[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' 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.

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,

[[Page 43691]]

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:

Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement with 
change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information 
Collection: Blueprint for Approval of State-Based Health Insurance 
Exchanges; Use: All States (including the 50 States, the Territories, 
and the District of Columbia herein referred to as States) have the 
opportunity under Section 1311(b) of the Affordable Care Act to 
establish Exchanges, subject to certification (or ``Approval'') that 
the Exchange meets Federal standards and will be able to offer health 
care coverage for the following plan year, beginning January 1, 2014. 
The original information collection request for the State Exchange 
Blueprint Data Collection Tool specified a single reporting tool for 
all the various exchange types and was partially paper based. 
Subsequent revisions simplified the tool by having separate collection 
tools for each type of exchange and on-line implementation of the tool 
to reduce the burden. This revision updates the tool to reflect current 
State Exchange model options (a State-based Exchange (SBE) or a State-
based Exchange on the Federal Platform (SBE-FP,)) program requirements, 
updated regulatory requirements promulgated through the 2017, 2018 and 
the 2019 Payment Notice, as well as through the Marketplace 
Stabilization Rule, and replaces the requirement for document and 
evidence submissions with attestations across all sections to further 
reduce the burden.
    Given the innovative nature of Exchanges and the statutorily-
prescribed relationship between the secretary and States in their 
development and operation, it is critical that the Secretary work 
closely with States to provide necessary guidance and technical 
assistance to ensure that States can meet the prescribed timelines, 
federal requirements, and goals of the statute.
    States seeking to establish a SBE or SBE-FP must build an Exchange 
that meets the requirements set out in Section 1311(d) of the 
Affordable Care Act and pursuant to CFR 155.105, FFE states that seek 
to operate an SBE or SBE-FP must complete and submit an Exchange 
Blueprint Application. The Blueprint Application documents that an 
Exchange will meet the legal and operational requirements associated 
with the Exchange model a state chooses to pursue. As part of its 
Blueprint submission, a state will also agree to demonstrating 
operational readiness to implement and execute the required Exchange 
activities described in the Blueprint Application. Form Number: CMS-
10416 (OMB control number: 0938-1172); Frequency: Once; Affected 
Public: State, Local, or Tribal governments; Number of Respondents: 21; 
Total Annual Responses: 7; Total Annual Hours: 221. (For policy 
questions regarding this collection contact Christy Woods at 301-492-
5140.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection. Title of Information Collection: Quality 
Improvement Strategy Implementation Plan and Progress Form. Use: 
Section 1311(c)(1)(E) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 
requires qualified health plans (QHPs) offered through an Exchange must 
implement a quality improvement strategy (QIS) as described in section 
1311(g)(1). Section 1311(g)(3) of the Patient Protection and Affordable 
Care Act specifies the guidelines under Section 1311(g)(2) shall 
require the periodic reporting to the applicable Exchange the 
activities that a qualified health plan has conducted to implement a 
strategy as described in section 1311(g)(1). CMS intends to have 
eligible QHP issuers complete the QIS Implementation Plan and Progress 
Form annually for initial certification and subsequent annual updates 
of progress in implementation of their strategy. The form will include 
topics to assess an issuer's compliance in creating a payment structure 
that provides increased reimbursement or other incentives to improve 
the health outcomes of plan enrollees, prevent hospital readmissions, 
improve patient safety and reduce medical errors, promote wellness and 
health, and reduce health and health care disparities, as described in 
Section 1311(g)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
    The QIS Implementation Plan and Progress Form will allow: (1) The 
Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to evaluate the compliance 
and adequacy of QHP issuers' quality improvement efforts, as required 
by Section 1311(c) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 
and (2) HHS will use the issuers' validated information to evaluate the 
issuers' quality improvement strategies for compliance with the 
requirements of Section 1311(g) of the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act. Form Number: CMS-10540 (OMB Control Number: 0938-
1286); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Public sector (Individuals 
and Households), Private sector (Business or other for-profits and Not-
for-profit institutions); Number of Respondents: 250; Total Annual 
Responses: 250; Total Annual Hours: 12,000. (For policy questions 
regarding this collection contact Nidhi Singh Shah at 301-492-5110).

    Dated: August 21, 2018.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-18437 Filed 8-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P