[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15817-15818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7833]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
March 25, 1999.
The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public
information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of
the ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by
contacting the Department of Labor, Acting Department Clearance
Officer, Pauline Perrow at (202) 219-5096, ext. 165 or by E-Mail at
Perrow-Pauline@dol.gov.
Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attn: Desk Officer for Pension and Welfare Benefits
Administration, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235,
Washington, DC 20503 ((202) 395-7316) on or before May 3, 1999.
OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
Minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other firms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.
Title: Summary Plan Description (SPD) Requirements under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Type: Extension of emergency clearance for provisions of the
interim final rule relating to the disclosure requirements of the
Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA) (63 FR
48372, September 9, 1998).
OMB Numbers: 1210-0039.
Frequency: On occasion.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit, Not-for-profit institutions.
Total Respondents: 888,393.
Total Responses: 52,115,000.
Estimated Burden Hours, Total Annual Burden: 746,983.
Total annual cost (operating and maintenance: $99,898,000.
Description: NMHPA amended ERISA by adding a new section 711
requiring group health plans to discloser to participants and
beneficiaries new federal law restrictions on the extent to which group
health plans and health insurance issuers may limit hospital lengths of
stay for mothers and newborn children following delivery. Disclosure
was required to be provided not later than 60 days after the first day
of the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 1998. On April
8, 1997 the Department issued interim final rules (62 FR 16979)
implementing provisions of section 711 by amending the existing SPD
content rules (29 CFR 2520.102-3) by requiring group health plan SPDs
to include specific disclosures concerning minimum hospital lengths of
stay for mothers and newborn children following childbirth. In response
to subsequent public comment, and in recognition of a need for further
clarification, the Department issued an interim final rule (63 FR
48372,
[[Page 15818]]
September 9, 1998) clarifying disclosure requirements with respect to
an exception to the minimum length of stay requirement.
Pauline Perrow,
Acting Department Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-7833 Filed 3-31-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-M
