2017-11431. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 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 (the 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 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates 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 must be received by August 1, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in any one of the following ways:

1. Electronically. You may send 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) that are 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.

To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, you may make your request using one of following:

1. Access CMS' Web site address at https://www.cms.gov/​Regulations-and-Guidance/​Legislation/​PaperworkReductionActof1995/​PRA-Listing.html.

2. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document identifier, to [e-mail].

3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William Parham at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Contents

This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated with the following information collections. More detailed information can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see ADDRESSES).

CMS-10380 Reporting Requirements for Grants to States for Rate Review Cycle IV and Effective Rate Review Program

Under the 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 requires federal agencies to publish a 60-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.

Information Collection

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Reporting Requirements for Grants to States for Rate Review Cycle IV and Effective Rate Review Program; Use: Section 2794(c) directs the Secretary to carry out a program to award grants to states, which are to serve the following purposes: (1) Establish or enhance rate review programs, referred to as “Rate Review” activities; (2) Help states to provide data to the Secretary regarding trends in rate increases as well as recommendations regarding plan participation in the Exchange, referred to as “Required Rate Reporting” activities; (3) Establish or enhance Data Centers that collect, analyze, and disseminate health care pricing data to the public, referred to as “Data Center” activities.

CMS has released Premium Review Grants in four funding opportunity cycles. Grant recipients must states submit the following to the Secretary for each grant cycle, as applicable: Quarterly reports—30 days after the quarter has ended for the entire duration of the grant; Annual report—This report does not contain data, but instead documents the progress toward establishing or enhancing an Effective Rate Review Program and/or a Data Center; Final report—This report is due at the end of the grant period.

The final rule “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Health Insurance Market Rules; Rate Review” (78 FR 13406, February 27, 2013) modified criteria and factors for states to have an Effective Rate Review Program. These changes were necessary to reflect market reform provisions and to fulfill the statutory requirement that the Secretary, in conjunction with the states, monitor premium increases of health insurance coverage offered through an Exchange and outside of an Exchange.

CMS is authorized under 45 CFR 154.301(d) to evaluate whether, and to what extent, a state's circumstances have changed such that it has begun to or has ceased to satisfy the Effective Rate Review Program criteria. States respond to a questionnaire annually via the Health Insurance Oversight System (HIOS), a web-based data collection system commonly used on a regular basis. All submissions are made electronically and no paper submissions are required. CMS is not requesting any changes to the questionnaire at this time. Form Number: CMS-10380 (OMB Control Number: 0938-1121); Frequency: Quarterly and Yearly; Affected Public: State agencies; Number of Respondents: 51; Total Annual Responses: 571; Total Annual Hours: 15,415. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Lisa Cuozzo at 410-786-1746.)

Dated: May 30, 2017.

William N. Parham, III,

Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs.