[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 240 (Friday, December 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64344-64346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27104]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document Identifiers CMS-10391, CMS-10410 and CMS-10142]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is 
announcing an opportunity for the public to

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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 January 14, 2019.

ADDRESSES: When commenting on the proposed information collections, 
please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be 
assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be received by 
the OMB desk officer via one of the following transmissions: OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: CMS Desk 
Officer, Fax Number: (202) 395-5806, OR Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3c73756e7d634f495e51554f4f5553527c53515e1259534c125b534a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6999f849789a5a3b4bbbfa5a5bfb9b896b9bbb4f8b3b9a6f8b1b9a0">[email protected]</span></a>.
    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' website address at website address at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html.
    1. Email your request, including your address, phone number, OMB 
number, and CMS document identifier, to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6e6d7c6d3c4c1d9c4ddf6d5dbc598dedec598d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="421223322730352d302902212f316c2a2a316c252d34">[email protected]</span></a>.
    2. Call the Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786-1326.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Parham at (410) 786-4669.

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: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Methods for 
Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid Services Under 42 CFR 447.203 and 
447.204; Use: Current regulations at 42 CFR 447.203(b) require states 
to develop an access monitoring review plan (AMRP) that is updated at 
least every three years for: Primary care services, physician 
specialist services, behavioral health services, pre and post-natal 
obstetric services (including labor and delivery), and home health 
services. When states reduce rates for other Medicaid services, they 
must add those services to the AMRP and monitor the effects of the rate 
reductions for 3 years. If access issues are detected, a state must 
submit a corrective action plan to CMS within 90 days and work to 
address the issues within 12 months. Section 447.203(b)(7) requires 
that states have mechanisms to obtain ongoing beneficiary and provider 
feedback. A state is also required to maintain a record of data on 
public input and how the state responded to the input. Prior to 
submitting proposals to reduce or restructure Medicaid service payment 
rates, states must receive input from beneficiaries, providers, and 
other affected stakeholders on the extent of beneficiary access to the 
affected services.
    The information is used by states to document that access to care 
is in compliance with section 1902(a)(30)(A) of the Social Security 
Act, to identify issues with access within a state's Medicaid program, 
and to inform any necessary programmatic changes to address issues with 
access to care. CMS uses the information to make informed approval 
decisions on State plan amendments that propose to make Medicaid rate 
reductions or restructure payment rates and to provide the necessary 
information for CMS to monitor ongoing compliance with section 
1902(a)(30)(A). Beneficiaries, providers and other affected 
stakeholders may use the information to raise access issues to state 
Medicaid agencies and work with agencies to address those issues. Form 
Number: CMS-10391 (OMB control number: 0938-1134); Frequency: Annually; 
Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments); Number of 
Respondents: 51; Number of Responses: 212; Total Annual Hours: 12,262. 
(For questions regarding this collection contact Jeremy Silanskis at 
410-786-1592.)
    2. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicaid Program; 
Eligibility Changes under the Affordable Care Act of 2010; Use: The 
eligibility systems are essential to the goal of increasing coverage in 
insurance affordability programs while reducing administrative burden 
on states and consumers. The electronic transmission and automation of 
data transfers are key elements in managing the expected insurance 
affordability program caseload that started in 2014. Accomplishing the 
same work without these information collection requirements would not 
be feasible. Form Number: CMS-10410 (OMB control number: 0938-1147); 
Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Individuals or Households, 
and State, Local, and Tribal Governments; Number of Respondents: 
25,500,096; Total Annual Responses: 25,500,333; Total Annual Hours: 
21,276,302. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact 
Stephanie Bell at 410-786-0617.)
    3. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently 
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Bid Pricing Tool 
(BPT) for Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans and Prescription Drug Plans 
(PDP); Use: The competitive bidding process defined by the ``The 
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act'' (MMA) 
applies to both the MA and Part D programs. It was first used for 
Contract Year 2006. It is an annual process that encompasses the 
release of the MA rate book in April, the bid's that plans submit to 
CMS in June, and the release of the Part D and RPPO benchmarks, which 
typically occurs in August.
    CMS requires that Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) and 
Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) complete the BPT as part of the annual 
bidding process. During this process, organizations prepare their 
proposed actuarial bid pricing for the upcoming contract year and 
submit them to CMS for review and approval. The purpose of the BPT is 
to collect the actuarial

[[Page 64346]]

pricing information for each plan. It is an Excel workbook with 
multiple worksheets and special functions through which bidders present 
to CMS their plan pricing information. Bidders enter information, such 
as plan experience, projected enrollment, and risk profile, and the BPT 
calculates the plan premiums and other values that drive the bidding 
process. CMS maintains and updates each BPT file and releases new 
versions every April.
    The BPT files may be downloaded from the Health Plan Management 
System website (or HPMS), which is a restricted-access website, so 
users must obtain approval from CMS before using it. From HPMS, the BPT 
files may be downloaded as part of the Plan Benefit Package (or PBP) 
software, or they may be downloaded as stand-alone blank files. These 
files are made available to users on the first Monday of April every 
year and an HPMS memo is released announcing the software availability. 
Plan sponsors are required to upload the completed BPTs to HPMS by the 
first Monday in June each year.
    MAOs and PDPs use the Bid Pricing Tool (BPT) software to develop 
their actuarial pricing bid. The information provided in the BPT is the 
basis for the plan's enrollee premiums and CMS payments for each 
contract year. The tool collects data such as medical expense 
development (from claims data and/or manual rating), administrative 
expenses, profit levels, and projected plan enrollment information. By 
statute, completed BPTs are due to CMS by the first Monday of June each 
year. Form Number: CMS-10142 (OMB control number: 0938-0944); 
Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other 
for-profits and Not- for-profit institution; Number of Respondents: 
555; Total Annual Responses: 4,995; Total Annual Hours: 149,850. (For 
policy questions regarding this collection contact Rachel Shevland at 
410-786-3026.)

    Dated: December 11, 2018.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office of Strategic Operations and 
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-27104 Filed 12-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P


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