[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 188 (Monday, September 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60805-60808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21293]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living

[OMB #0985-0040]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Public Comment Request; State Health Insurance Assistance 
Program (SHIP) Data Performance Reports and Information Collection 
Tools

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living is announcing that the 
proposed collection of information listed above has been submitted to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance as 
required under section 506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995. This 30-Day notice collects comments on the information 
collection requirements related to the modification and use of the Data 
Performance Reports and Information Collection tools for the State 
Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) under OMB 0985-0040 that 
expires September 30, 2020

DATES: Submit written comments on the collection of information by 
11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by October 28, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information by:
    (a) Email to: [email protected], Attn: OMB Desk Officer 
for ACL;
    (b) fax to: 202.395.5806, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL; or
    (c) by mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
OMB, New Executive Office Bldg., 725 17th St. NW, Rm. 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Kinney, Office of Healthcare 
Information and Counseling (OHIC), Administration for Community Living, 
Washington, DC 20201, Phone: 202-795-7397 Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In compliance with 44 U.S.C. 3507, ACL has 
submitted the following proposed collection of information to OMB for 
review and clearance.
    The purpose of this data collection is to collect performance data 
from grantees, grantee team members, and partners. Congress requires 
this data collection for program monitoring and Government Performance 
Results Act (GPRA) purposes. This data collection allows the 
Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Center for Innovation 
and Partnership (CIP) to communicate with Congress and the public on 
the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), the Senior 
Medicare Patrol (SMP) program, the Medicare Improvements for Patients & 
Providers Act (MIPPA) program, and Aging and Disability Resource 
Centers (ADRC) activities. In addition to the SHIP Data Performance 
Reports and Information Collection (OMB #0985-0040), this revision 
incorporates the expired SMP Report collection (OMB #0985-0024) and the 
ADRC collection (OMB #0985-0062) into one tool.
    The SHIP, SMP, MIPPA, and ADRC programs are located in each of the 
50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands. In order to ensure that grantees report activity 
accurately and consistently it is imperative that these data collection 
tools remain active.
    The respondents for this data collection are grantees, grantee team 
members, and partners who meet with Medicare beneficiaries and older 
adults in-group settings and in one-on-one sessions to educate them on 
Medicare enrollment, Medicare benefits and subsidy programs, the 
importance of being aware of Medicare fraud, errors and abuse, and 
having the knowledge to protect the Medicare system.
    ACL is proposing to combine these three collection tools to reduce 
burden on the grantees, grantee team members, and partners as many of 
the individuals working on these programs, collecting information, and 
reporting results are the same at the local level. Combining these 
tools will reduce the need for duplicate or triplicate reporting of 
activities in separate tools further reducing the time and effort in 
reporting outcomes and activities. In addition, this combination will 
allow clarification on when, where, and how services are being 
delivered across these ACL programs further informing performance 
outcomes.

SHIP and MIPPA Data Collection (OMB #0985-0040)

    Section 4360(f) of OBRA 1990 created the State Health Insurance 
Assistance Program (SHIP) and requires the Secretary to provide a 
series of reports to the U.S. Congress on the performance of the SHIP 
program annually. The law also requires ACL to report on the program's 
impact on beneficiaries and to obtain important feedback from 
beneficiaries.
    This tool captures the information and data necessary for ACL to 
meet these Congressional requirements, as well as, grantee performance 
data providing ACL essential insight for monitoring and technical 
assistance purposes.
    In addition, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers 
Act (MIPPA), initially passed in 2008, provided targeted funding for

[[Page 60806]]

the SHIPs, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), and Aging and Disability 
Resource Centers (ADRC) to conduct enrollment assistance to Medicare 
beneficiaries for the Low Income Subsidy (LIS) and Medicare Savings 
Program (MSP). This tool also collects performance and outcome data on 
the MIPPA Program providing ACL necessary information for monitoring 
and oversight.

SMP Data Collection (OMB #0985-0024)

    Under Public Law 104-208, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations 
Act of 1997, Congress established the Senior Medicare Patrol Projects 
in order to further curb losses to the Medicare program. The Senate 
Committee noted that retired professionals, with appropriate training, 
could serve as educators and resources to assist Medicare beneficiaries 
and others to detect and report errors, fraud and abuse.
    Among other requirements, it directed the ACL to work with the 
Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Government Accountability 
Office (GAO), to assess the performance of the program. The ACL employs 
this tool to collect performance and outcome data on the SMP Program 
necessary information for monitoring and oversight. ACL has shared this 
data and worked with HHS/OIG to develop SMP performance measures.
    The HHS/OIG has collected SMP performance data and issued SMP 
performance reports since 1997. The information from the current 
collection is reported by the OIG to Congress and the public. This 
information is also used by ACL as the primary method for monitoring 
the SMP Projects.

ADRC Data Collection (OMB #0985-0062)

    The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) collects data for 
the No Wrong Door (NWD) System initiative. This tool seeks to connect 
fragmentation in the network, ease administrative reporting burden, and 
further support the need for early community-based interventions.
    ACL uses this tool to collect performance and outcome data 
necessary for monitoring and oversight. Additionally, this collection 
supports states in better coordinating and integrating their existing 
long-term services and supports (LTSS) access functions to develop a 
new interface that would make it easier for people to learn about and 
quickly access options that meet their needs. These programs operate 
throughout the United States and represent a nationally recognized 
network.

Comments in Response to the 60-Day Federal Register Notice

    ACL published both a 60-day and 30-day Federal Register Notice in 
the Federal Register soliciting public comments on this revision 
request. The 60-day FRN published on December 30, 2019, Volume 84, 
Number 249, pages 71954-71956; ACL received seventeen comments in 
response to the request for comments for the Proposed Collection of 
data through the OHIC Data System. ACL reviewed all of the comments. 
Most of the comments were proposed additions to the topics discussed on 
the various forms. ACL discussed the comments and included additions 
where it was deemed necessary.

              Beneficiary Contact Form Comments & Responses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Topic/issue             Public comment         ACL response
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficiary Demographics....  Please add veteran    ACL added a new
                               status to track       question to the
                               possible              Beneficiary Contact
                               eligibility for       Form to capture
                               benefits.             veteran status.
Topics Discussed/Original     Please add            ACL added
 Medicare.                     Accountable Care      ``Accountable Care
                               Organizations.        Organizations
                                                     (ACOs)''.
                              Add Part B            ACL added
                               conditional           ``Conditional
                               enrollment.           Enrollment''.
                              Include something to  ACL added
                               track equitable       ``Equitable
                               relief.               Relief''.
                              Please include late   ACL added ``Late
                               enrollment            Enrollment
                               penalties.            Penalty'' to the
                                                     Original Medicare
                                                     Topics Discussed
                                                     field and the
                                                     Medicare Part D
                                                     Topics Discussed
                                                     field.
                              Please include        ACL added ``Provider
                               something to track    Participation'' to
                               issues with           the Original
                               provider              Medicare Topics
                               participation to      Discussed field,
                               the form.             ``Provider
                                                     Network'' to the
                                                     Medicare Advantage
                                                     Topics Discussed,
                                                     ``Pharmacy
                                                     Network'' to
                                                     Medicare Part D
                                                     Topics Discussed,
                                                     and ``Provider
                                                     Participation'' to
                                                     the Medicaid Topics
                                                     Discussed field.
Topics Discussed/Medigap....  Include application   ACL added
                               assistance for        ``Application
                               Medigap plans.        Assistance''.
                              Please include a way  ACL added
                               to track Medigap      ``Complaints'' and
                               complaints and        ``Guaranteed Issue
                               guaranteed issue      Rights''.
                               right issues.
Topics Discussed/Medicare     Add Special Needs     ACL added ``Chronic
 Advantage (MA and MA-PD).     Plans to the form.    Condition Special
                                                     Needs Plans'',
                                                     ``Dual Eligible
                                                     Special Needs
                                                     Plans'', and
                                                     ``Institutional
                                                     Special Needs
                                                     Plans''.
                              Include the new       ACL added
                               benefits for MA       ``Supplemental
                               plans.                Benefits (please
                                                     explain)''.
                              Include Integrated    ACL did not include
                               Care on the           this item because
                               Beneficiary Contact   it is included in
                               Form.                 more detailed
                                                     Topics Discussed
                                                     captured throughout
                                                     the form.
Topics Discussed/Other        Add a way to track    ACL added
 Prescription Assistance.      prescription          ``Prescription
                               discount cards.       Discount Cards''.
Topics Discussed/Medicaid...  Add MSP Application   ACL deleted
                               Submission.           ``Application
                                                     Submission'' from
                                                     the Medicaid Topics
                                                     Discussed field and
                                                     added ``Medicaid
                                                     Application
                                                     Submission'', ``MSP
                                                     Application
                                                     Submission'', and
                                                     ``Medicaid Spend
                                                     Down'' to
                                                     differentiate
                                                     between the
                                                     actions.

[[Page 60807]]

 
                              Add Appeals to the    ACL added ``Appeals/
                               Medicaid section.     Grievances'' and
                                                     ``QMB Improper
                                                     Billing''.
                              Please include a way  ACL added ``Medicaid
                               to track issues       Expansion (ACA)
                               with Medicaid         Transitions to
                               Expansion and         Medicare'' to the
                               Marketplace           Medicaid Topics
                               transitions to        Discussed field and
                               Medicare.             ``Marketplace
                                                     Transition to
                                                     Medicare'' to the
                                                     Other Insurance
                                                     Topics Discussed
                                                     field.
                              Include a way to      ACL added ``Medicaid
                               track MSP             Recertification''
                               recertification.      and ``MSP
                                                     Recertification''.
                              Add PACE............  ACL added ``Program
                                                     of All-Inclusive
                                                     Care for the
                                                     Elderly (PACE)''.
Topics Discussed/Additional   Please add an easy    ACL added ``COVID-
 Topic Details.                way to track COVID-   19''.
                               19 issues.
                              Add a way to track    ACL added ``ESRD'',
                               issues with common    ``Mail Order
                               benefits such as      Prescription'',
                               transportation and    ``Mental Health'',
                               home health care.     ``Opioids'',
                                                     ``Physical
                                                     Therapy'',
                                                     ``Telehealth'', and
                                                     ``Transportation''.
                              Add HSAs............  ACL added ``Health
                                                     Savings Accounts''.
                              Add a way to track    ACL added ``Income
                               IRMA questions.       Related Monthly
                                                     Adjustment
                                                     Amount''.
                              Please find a way to  ACL added
                               track assistance      ``MyMedicare.gov
                               with setting up and   Account''.
                               assisting with
                               MyMedicare accounts.
                              Add Behavioral        ACL did not add this
                               Health as a topic.    as it is
                                                     encompassed by
                                                     ``Mental Health''.
                              Add Pooled Trusts...  ACL did not add as
                                                     it is not within
                                                     the SHIP scope of
                                                     work.
                              Add the following     ACL did not add
                               benefits: SNAP,       these benefits as
                               LIHEAP, SSI, SSDI,    it is not within
                               Tax Benefits,         the SHIP scope of
                               Veterans Benefits,    work.
                               Housing, Subsidies,
                               Lifeline, Public
                               Assistance,
                               Unemployment
                               Assistance,
                               Subsidized Transit
                               Benefits, Other
                               food Benefits,
                               Other home benefits.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed data collection tools may be found on the ACL website 
for review at https://www.acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.
    Estimated Program Burden: ACL estimates the burden associated with 
this collection of information as follows: The burden hours are based 
on the number of projects for ACL grantees.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of    Average burden
   Grantee respondent type     Form/report name      Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent     (in minutes)        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SMP.........................  Media Outreach &               216              46               2           662.4
                               Education.
SMP.........................  Group Outreach &             6,935               4               4        1,849.33
                               Education.
SMP.........................  Individual                   6,935              41               5       23,694.58
                               Interaction.
SMP.........................  Team Member.......             216              31               5             558
SMP.........................  SMP Team Member                216              31               5             558
                               Activity.
SMP.........................  SMP Interaction...           6,935               2               5        1,155.83
SMP.........................  SMP Subject.......           3,500               5               5        1,458.33
SMP.........................  OIG Report........               0               0               0               0
SMP.........................  Time Spent Report.               0               0               0               0
SHIP/MIPPA..................  Media Outreach &             3,750              15              15       14,062.50
                               Education.
SHIP/MIPPA..................  Group Outreach &             3,750              15               4           3,750
                               Education.
SHIP/MIPPA..................  SHIP Team Member..             216              75               5           1,350
SHIP/MIPPA..................  Beneficiary                 15,000             233               5         291,250
                               Contact.
SHIP/MIPPA..................  Training..........             216              75              15           4,050
SHIP/MIPPA..................  SHIP Performance                 0               0               0               0
                               Report.
SHIP/MIPPA..................  Resource Report...               0               0               0               0
SHIP/MIPPA..................  MIPPA Performance                0               0               0               0
                               Report.
SHIP/MIPPA..................  SHIP Team Member               216              40               7           1,008
                               Activity.
SHIP/MIPPA..................  SHIP Training.....             216               5               4              72
SHIP/SMP/MIPPA..............  Summary Reports...               0               0               0               0
SHIP/MIPPA..................  Part D Enrollment                0               0               0               0
                               Outcomes Report.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..................  ..................          48,317             618  ..............      335,166.47
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 60808]]

    Dated: September 17, 2020.
Mary Lazare,
Principal Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-21293 Filed 9-25-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P