E7-5748. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is publishing the following summary of proposed collections for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension without change of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Advantage Applications: Medicare Advantage (MA) Application Coordinated Care Plans (CMS-10117), Medicare Advantage (MA) Application Private Fee-For-Service Plans (CMS-10118); Medicare Advantage (MA) Application Regional PPO Plans (CMS-10119); Medicare Advantage (MA) Application Service Area Expansion (SAE) for Coordinated Care Plans: Private Fee For Service Plans (CMS-10135); Medical Savings Account Plans (CMS-10136), and Employer Group Waiver Plans (CMS-10214); Form Number: CMS-10117, 10118, 10119, 10135, 10136 and 10214 (OMB#: 0938-0935); Use: An entity seeking a contract as an MA organization must be able to provide Medicare's basic benefits plus meet the organizational requirements set out under the regulations at 42 CFR Part 422. An applicant must demonstrate that it can meet the benefit and other requirements within the specific geographic area it is requesting. The application forms are designed to give CMS the information needed to determine a health plan's compliance with the regulations at 42 CFR Part 422. The MA application forms will be used by CMS to determine whether an entity is eligible to enter into a contract to provide services to Medicare beneficiaries; Frequency: Reporting—Once; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 220; Total Annual Responses: 220; Total Annual Hours: 5580.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' Web Site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/​PaperworkReductionActof1995,, or E-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone].

To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be received at the address below, no later than 5 p.m. on May 29, 2007.

CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development—C, Attention: Bonnie L Harkless, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

Dated: March 22, 2007.

Michelle Shortt,

Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.