E8-29643. Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request an extension without change of a currently approved collection of information: 3220-0082, Medicare. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens.

The RRB invites comments on the proposed collection of information to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days of publication date.

Under Section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Medicare program for persons covered by the railroad retirement system. The RRB uses Form AA-6, Employee Application for Medicare; Form AA-7, Spouse/Divorced Spouse Application For Medicare; and Form AA-8, Widow/Widower Application for Medicare; to obtain the information needed to determine whether individuals who have not yet filed for benefits under the RRA are qualified for Medicare payments provided under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act.

Further, in order for the RRB to determine if a qualified railroad retirement beneficiary who is claiming supplementary medical insurance coverage under Medicare is entitled to a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and/or premium surcharge relief because of coverage under an Employer Group Health Plan (EGHP), it needs to obtain information regarding the claimant's EGHP coverage, if any. The RRB uses Form RL-311-F, Evidence of Coverage Under an Employer Group Health Plan, to obtain the basic information needed by the RRB to establish EGHP coverage for a qualified railroad retirement beneficiary. Completion of the forms is required to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent.

Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (73 FR 34965 and 34966 on June 19, 2008) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

Title: Medicare.

OMB Control Number: OMB 3220-0082.

Form(s) submitted: AA-6, AA-7, AA-8, RL-311-F.

Expiration date of current OMB clearance: 12/31/2008.

Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection of information.

Affected public: Individuals or households; Business-or-other for profit.

Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board administers the Medicare program for persons covered by the railroad retirement system. The forms in the collection obtain information needed to enroll non-retired employees and survivor applicants in the plan and also obtain information from railroad employers needed to determine if a railroad retirement beneficiary is entitled to a special enrollment period when applying for supplemental medical coverage under Medicare.

Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Forms AA-6, AA-7 and AA-8. Form RL-311-F is being revised to add an item which asks if the employee is still working. This information is being added to clarify the employment status of the employee and is need to determine the Special Enrollment Period.

The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

Form number	Annual responses	Time (min)	Burden hours
AA-6	180	8	24
AA-7	50	8	7
AA-8	10	8	1
RL-311-F	800	10	133
Total	1,040		165

Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the form and supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency clearance officer at (312-751-3363) or [e-mail].

Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or [e-mail] and to the OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, at the Office of Management and Budget, Room 10230, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Charles Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.