2024-09314. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human 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 (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 a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate 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 on the collection(s) of information must be received by the OMB desk officer by May 30, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, please access the CMS PRA website by copying and pasting the following web address into your web browser: https://www.cms.gov/​Regulations-and-Guidance/​Legislation/​PaperworkReductionActof1995/​PRA-Listing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William Parham at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (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 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires federal agencies to publish a 30-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 that summarizes the following proposed collection(s) of information for public comment:

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Prescription Drug and Health Care Spending; Use: On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) was signed into law. Section 204 of Title II of Division BB of the CAA added parallel provisions at section 9825 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code), section 725 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and section 2799A-10 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) that require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to annually report to the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (collectively, “the Departments”) certain information about prescription drug and health care spending, premiums, and enrollment under the plan or coverage. This information will support the development of public reports that will be published by the Departments on prescription drug reimbursements for plans and coverage, prescription drug pricing trends, and the role of prescription drug costs in contributing to premium increases or decreases under the plans or coverage. The 2021 interim final rules, “Prescription Drug and Health Care Spending” (2021 interim final rules), issued by the Departments and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) implement the provisions of section 9825 of the Code, section 725 of ERISA, and section 2799A-10 of the PHS Act, as enacted by section 204 of Title II of Division BB of the CAA. OPM joined the Departments in issuing the 2021 interim final rules, requiring Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) carriers to report information about prescription drug and health care spending, premiums, and plan enrollment in the same manner as a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage.

The 2023 Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC) Reporting Instructions reflect changes for the 2023 reference year and beyond. As a result of removing first-year implementation costs and burdens that were incurred prior to 2024, it is estimated that there will be a decrease in total three-year average annual burden from 1,684,080 to 668,952. Form Number: CMS-10788 (OMB Control Number: 0938-1407); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private Sector; Number of Respondents: 356; Number of Responses: 356; Total Annual Hours: 668,952. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Christina Whitefield at 202-536-8676.)

William N. Parham, III,

Director, Division of Information Collections and Regulatory Impacts, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.