E7-11468. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human 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: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Issuance of Advisory Opinions Concerning Physicians' Referrals; Use: Section 1877(g)(6) of the Social Security Act (the Act), requires that the Department of Health and Human Services issue advisory opinions concerning whether the referral of a Medicare patient by a physician for certain designated health services (other than clinical laboratory services) is prohibited under the physician referral provisions of the Social Security Act. Section 1877(g)(6) of the Act requires that the Department of Health and Human Services accept requests for advisory opinions made after November 3, 1997 and before August 21, 2000. Section 543 of the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2001, Public Law 106-554, extended indefinitely the period during which the Department of Health and Human Services accepts requests for these advisory opinions. The collection of information contained in 42 CFR 411.372 and 411.373 is necessary to comply with this statutory mandate, and allow CMS to consider requests for advisory opinions and provide accurate and useful opinions. Form Number: CMS-R-216 (OMB#: 0938-0714); Frequency: Once; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 50 Total Annual Responses: 50; Total Annual Hours: 1,000.

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Plan Benefit Package (PBP) and Formulary Submission for Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans and Prescription Drug Plans (PDP); Use: CMS requires that MA and PDP organizations submit a completed formulary and PBP as part of the annual bidding process. During this process, organizations prepare their proposed plan benefit packages for the upcoming contract year and submit them to CMS for review and approval. To see the comprehensive list of changes from CY2007 to CY2008, please refer to the document entitled “Appendix B—PBP-Formulary CY2008 List of Changes.” Form Number: CMS-R-262 (OMB#: 0938-0763); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions; Number of Respondents: 450 Total Annual Responses: 4725; Total Annual Hours: 10,800.

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Individuals Authorized Access to the CMS Computer Services (IACS); Form Number: CMS-10173 (OMB#: 0938-0989) Use: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the Individuals Authorized to Customer Service Application for Access to CMS Computer Systems. The IACS system provides a centralized user provisioning and administration service that supports the creation, deletion, and lifecycle management of enterprise identities. This service creates accounts, supports Role Based Access Control (RBAC), the form flow approval process and enterprise identity audit and recertification, and provides business application integration points. An application integration point allows business application owners to use the form flow process of the user provisioning service to approve or deny requests for access to business applications. The primary purpose of this system is to implement a unified framework for managing user information and access rights, for those individuals who apply for and are granted access across multiple CMS systems and business contexts. Information in this system will also be used to: (1) Support regulatory and policy functions performed within the Agency or by a contractor or consultant; (2) support constituent requests made to a Congressional representative; and (3) to support litigation involving the Agency related to this system. Although the Privacy Act requires only that the “routine use” portion of the system be published for comment, CMS invites comments on all portions of this notice. Frequency: As required; Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit; State, Local or Tribal governments; Number of Respondents: 60,000,000 Total Annual Responses: 15,000,000; Total Annual Hours: 15,000,000.

4. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: State Children's Health Insurance Program and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 431.636, 457.50, 457.60, 457.70, 457.340, 457.350, 457.431, 457.440, 457.525, 457.560, 457.570, 457.740, 457.750, 457.810, 457.940, 457.945, 457.965, 457.985, 457.1005, 457.1015, and 457.1180; Form Number: CMS-R-308 (OMB#: 0938-0841) Use: States are required to submit title XXI plans and amendments for approval by the Secretary pursuant to section 2102 of the Social Security Act in order to receive funds for initiating and expanding health insurance coverage for uninsured children. States are also required to submit State expenditure and statistical reports, annual reports and State evaluations to the Secretary as outlined in title XXI of the Social Security Act. Frequency: Yearly and quarterly; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal governments; Number of Respondents: 56; Total Annual Responses: 1,454,601; Total Annual Hours: 864,933.

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 August 14, 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: June 7, 2007.

Michelle Shortt,

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