2018-03972. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request  

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    AGENCY:

    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

    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 (the 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 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates 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 must be received by April 30, 2018.

    ADDRESSES:

    When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in any one of the following ways:

    1. Electronically. You may send your comments electronically to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for “Comment or Submission” or “More Search Options” to find the information collection document(s) that are accepting comments.

    2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB Control Number ___, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

    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 http://www.cms.hhs.gov/​PaperworkReductionActof1995.

    2. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov.

    3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    William Parham at (410) 786-4669.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Contents

    This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated with the following information collections. More detailed information can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see ADDRESSES).

    CMS-R-267 Medicare Advantage Program and Supporting Regulations

    Under the 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 requires federal agencies to publish a 60-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.

    Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Advantage Program and Supporting Regulations; Use: Regulations under 42 CFR part 422 pertain to MA organizations, applicants to Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations (MAOs), and CMS. MAOs and potential MA organizations (applicants) use the information to comply with application requirements and MA contract requirements. CMS uses the information to approve contract applications, monitor compliance with contract requirements, make proper payment to MA organizations, determine compliance with the new prescription drug benefit requirements established by the MMA, and to ensure that correct information is disclosed to Medicare beneficiaries, both potential enrollees and enrollees.

    This information collection request had been associated with a November 28, 2017 (82 FR 56336) proposed rule entitled, “Contract Year 2019 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost Plan, Medicare Fee-for-Service, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs, and the PACE Program.” CMS had withdrawn that information collection request as the rule inadvertently excluded language specifying that we were proposing to reinstate the information collection. The purpose of this information collection request is to reinstate the collection through the regular, that is non-rulemaking, PRA process. In addition to seeking approval Start Printed Page 8484for the entire information collection, we are also seeking approval for the provisions that were set out in the proposed rule. Form Number: CMS-R-267 (OMB control number: 0938-0753); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Individuals or households and Business or other for-profits; Number of Respondents: 13,958,526; Total Annual Responses: 35,596,762; Total Annual Hours: 8,529,541. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Russell Hendel at 410-786-0329.)

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    Dated: February 22, 2018.

    William N. Parham, III,

    Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.

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    [FR Doc. 2018-03972 Filed 2-26-18; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4120-01-P

Document Information

Published:
02/27/2018
Department:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
2018-03972
Dates:
Comments must be received by April 30, 2018.
Pages:
8483-8484 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Document Identifier CMS-R-267
PDF File:
2018-03972.Pdf