2013-11440. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Reporting Requirements for Grants to Support States in Health Insurance Rate Review and Pricing Transparency—Cycles I, II, and III; Use: Under the Section 1003 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (Section 2794 of the Public Health Service Act), the Secretary, in conjunction with the states and territories, is required to establish a process for the annual review, beginning with the 2010 plan year, of unreasonable increases in premiums for health insurance coverage. Section 2794(c) requires the Secretary to establish the Rate Review Grant Program to States to assist states to implement this provision. In addition, Section 2794(c) requires the Rate Review Grant Program to assist states in the establishment and enhancement of “Data Centers” that collect, analyze, and disseminate health care pricing data to the public.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Rate Review Grants Cycle I funding opportunity twice; first to states (and the District of Columbia) in June 2010 and then to the territories and the five states that did not apply during the first release, (http://www.hhs.gov/​ociio/​initiative/​final_​premium_​review_​grant_​solicitation.pdf). The second release was due to the decision that the territories were subject to provisions of the ACA and hence eligible for the Rate Review Grants. Forty-five (45) states and 5 U.S. territories plus the District of Columbia were awarded grants.

On February 24, 2011, HHS released the Funding Opportunity Award (FOA) for Cycle II Rate Review Grants. On December 21, 2012, Cycle II of the Rate Review Grant Program was amended in order to include an additional application date. Thirty (30) states, the District of Columbia, and three territories were awarded grants in Cycle II.

The CMS is seeking to publish the Cycle III Funding Opportunity Announcement, “Grants to Support States in Health Insurance Rate Review and Pricing Transparency”, and associated grantee reporting requirements consisting of: (4) quarterly reports, (5) rate review transaction data reports (quarterly and annual), (1) Annual report, and (1) final report from all grantees. This information collection is required for effective monitoring of grantees and to fulfill statutory requirements under section 2794(b)(1)(A) of the ACA that requires grantees, as a condition of receiving a grant authorized under section 2794(c) of the ACA, to report to the Secretary information about premium increases. Form Number: CMS-10380 (OCN: 0938-1121); Frequency: Annually, on occasion; Affected Public: Public Sector—State and Territory Governments; Number of Respondents: 56; Total Annual Responses: 1,001; Total Annual Hours: 31,378. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Sarah Norman at 301-492-4185. For all other issues call 410-786-1326.)

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 Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone].

In commenting on the proposed information collections please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in one of the following ways by July 15, 2013:

1. Electronically. You may submit 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) 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.

Dated: May 9, 2013.

Martique Jones,

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