61314 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices 

approaches that maximize net benefits 

(including potential economic, 

environmental, public health and safety 

effects, distributive impacts, and 

equity). A regulatory impact analysis 

(RIA) must be prepared for major 

notices with economically significant 

effects ($100 million or more in any 1 

year). As stated in section IV of this 

notice, we estimate that the overall 

effect of the changes in the Part A 

premium will be a savings to voluntary 

enrollees (section 1818 and section 

1818A of the Act) of about $154 million. 

As a result, this notice is economically 

significant under section 3(f)(1) of 

Executive Order 12866 and thus, a 

major action under the Congressional 

Review Act. In accordance with the 

provisions of Executive Order 12866, 

this notice was reviewed by the Office 

of Management and Budget. 

The RFA requires agencies to analyze 

options for regulatory relief of small 

entities, if a rule has a significant impact 

on a substantial number of small 

entities. For purposes of the RFA, small 

entities include small businesses, 

nonprofit organizations, and small 

governmental jurisdictions. Most 

hospitals and most other providers and 

suppliers are small entities, either by 

nonprofit status or by having revenues 

of less than $7.5 million to $38.5 

million in any 1 year (for details, see the 

Small Business Administration’s Web 

site at http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/ 

files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf). 

Individuals and states are not 

included in the definition of a small 

entity. As discussed above, this annual 

notice announces Medicare’s Hospital 

Insurance (Part A) premium for 

uninsured enrollees in calendar year 

(CY) 2015. As a result, we are not 

preparing an analysis for the RFA 

because the Secretary has determined 

that this notice will not have a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. 

In addition, section 1102(b) of the 

Social Security Act requires us to 

prepare a regulatory impact analysis if 

a rule may have a significant impact on 

the operations of a substantial number 

of small rural hospitals. This analysis 

must conform to the provisions of 

section 604 of the RFA. For purposes of 

section 1102(b) of the Act, we define a 

small rural hospital as a hospital that is 

located outside of a Metropolitan 

Statistical Area for Medicare payment 

regulations and has fewer than 100 

beds. As discussed above, we are not 

preparing an analysis for section 1102(b) 

of the Act, because the Secretary has 

determined that this notice will not 

have a significant impact on the 

operations of a substantial number of 

small rural hospitals. 

Section 202 of the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 also 

requires that agencies assess anticipated 

costs and benefits before issuing any 

rule whose mandates require spending 

in any 1 year of $100 million in 1995 

dollars, updated annually for inflation. 

In 2014, that threshold is approximately 

$141 million. This notice does not 

impose mandates that will have a 

consequential effect of $141 million or 

more on state, local, or tribal 

governments or on the private sector. 

Executive Order 13132 establishes 

certain requirements that an agency 

must meet when it promulgates a 

proposed rule (and subsequent final 

rule) that imposes substantial direct 

requirement costs on state and local 

governments, preempts state law, or 

otherwise has Federalism implications. 

Since this notice does not impose any 

costs on state or local governments, the 

requirements of Executive Order 13132 

are not applicable. 

Dated: September 12, 2014. 

Marilyn Tavenner, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services. 

Dated: September 26, 2014. 

Sylvia M. Burwell, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2014–24250 Filed 10–9–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[CMS–8058–N] 

RIN 0938–AS34 

Medicare Program; Medicare Part B 

Monthly Actuarial Rates, Premium 

Rate, and Annual Deductible 

Beginning January 1, 2015 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

monthly actuarial rates for aged (age 65 

and over) and disabled (under age 65) 

beneficiaries enrolled in Part B of the 

Medicare Supplementary Medical 

Insurance (SMI) program beginning 

January 1, 2015. In addition, this notice 

announces the monthly premium for 

aged and disabled beneficiaries as well 

as the income-related monthly 

adjustment amounts to be paid by 

beneficiaries with modified adjusted 

gross income above certain threshold 

amounts. The monthly actuarial rates 

for 2015 are $209.80 for aged enrollees 

and $254.80 for disabled enrollees. The 

standard monthly Part B premium rate 

for all enrollees for 2015 is $104.90, 

which is equal to 50 percent of the 

monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees 

or approximately 25 percent of the 

expected average total cost of Part B 

coverage for aged enrollees. (The 2014 

standard premium rate was $104.90.) 

The Part B deductible for 2015 is 

$147.00 for all Part B beneficiaries. If a 

beneficiary has to pay an income-related 

monthly adjustment, they may have to 

pay a total monthly premium of about 

35, 50, 65, or 80 percent of the total cost 

of Part B coverage. 

DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2015. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: M. Kent 

Clemens, (410) 786–6391. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

Part B is the voluntary portion of the 

Medicare program that pays all or part 

of the costs for physicians’ services, 

outpatient hospital services, certain 

home health services, services furnished 

by rural health clinics, ambulatory 

surgical centers, comprehensive 

outpatient rehabilitation facilities, and 

certain other medical and health 

services not covered by Medicare Part 

A, Hospital Insurance. Medicare Part B 

is available to individuals who are 

entitled to Medicare Part A, as well as 

to U.S. residents who have attained age 

65 and are citizens, and aliens who were 

lawfully admitted for permanent 

residence and have resided in the 

United States for 5 consecutive years. 

Part B requires enrollment and payment 

of monthly premiums, as described in 

42 CFR part 407, subpart B, and part 

408, respectively. The difference 

between the premiums paid by all 

enrollees and total incurred costs is met 

by transfers from the general fund of the 

Treasury. 

The Secretary of the Department of 

Health and Human Services (the 

Secretary) is required by section 1839 of 

the Social Security Act (the Act) to 

announce the Part B monthly actuarial 

rates for aged and disabled beneficiaries 

as well as the monthly Part B premium. 

The Part B annual deductible is 

included because its determination is 

directly linked to the aged actuarial rate. 

The monthly actuarial rates for aged 

and disabled enrollees are used to 

determine the correct amount of general 

revenue financing per beneficiary each 

month. These amounts, according to 

actuarial estimates, will equal, 

respectively, one-half of the expected 

average monthly cost of Part B for each 

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aged enrollee (age 65 or over) and onehalf of the expected average monthly 

cost of Part B for each disabled enrollee 

(under age 65). 

The Part B deductible to be paid by 

enrollees is also announced. Prior to the 

Medicare Prescription Drug, 

Improvement, and Modernization Act of 

2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108–173), the Part 

B deductible was set in statute. After 

setting the 2005 deductible amount at 

$110, section 629 of the MMA 

(amending section 1833(b) of the Act) 

requires that the Part B deductible be 

indexed beginning in 2006. The 

inflation factor to be used each year is 

the annual percentage increase in the 

Part B actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 

and over. Specifically, the 2015 Part B 

deductible is calculated by multiplying 

the 2014 deductible by the ratio of the 

2015 aged actuarial rate to the 2014 aged 

actuarial rate. The amount determined 

under this formula is then rounded to 

the nearest $1. 

The monthly Part B premium rate to 

be paid by aged and disabled enrollees 

is also announced. (Although the costs 

to the program per disabled enrollee are 

different than for the aged, the statute 

provides that they pay the same 

premium amount.) Beginning with the 

passage of section 203 of the Social 

Security Amendments of 1972 (Pub. L. 

92–603), the premium rate, which was 

determined on a fiscal year basis, was 

limited to the lesser of the actuarial rate 

for aged enrollees, or the current 

monthly premium rate increased by the 

same percentage as the most recent 

general increase in monthly Title II 

social security benefits. 

However, the passage of section 124 

of the Tax Equity and Fiscal 

Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) 

(Pub. L. 97–248) suspended this 

premium determination process. 

Section 124 of TEFRA changed the 

premium basis to 50 percent of the 

monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees 

(that is, 25 percent of program costs for 

aged enrollees). Section 606 of the 

Social Security Amendments of 1983 

(Pub. L. 98–21), section 2302 of the 

Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (DEFRA 

84) (Pub. L. 98–369), section 9313 of the 

Consolidated Omnibus Budget 

Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA 85) 

(Pub. L. 99–272), section 4080 of the 

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 

1987 (OBRA 87) (Pub. L. 100–203), and 

section 6301 of the Omnibus Budget 

Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA 89) 

(Pub. L. 101–239) extended the 

provision that the premium be based on 

50 percent of the monthly actuarial rate 

for aged enrollees (that is, 25 percent of 

program costs for aged enrollees). This 

extension expired at the end of 1990. 

The premium rate for 1991 through 

1995 was legislated by section 

1839(e)(1)(B) of the Act, as added by 

section 4301 of the Omnibus Budget 

Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA 90) 

(Pub. L. 101–508). In January 1996, the 

premium determination basis would 

have reverted to the method established 

by the 1972 Social Security Act 

Amendments. However, section 13571 

of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 

Act of 1993 (OBRA 93) (Pub. L. 103–66) 

changed the premium basis to 50 

percent of the monthly actuarial rate for 

aged enrollees (that is, 25 percent of 

program costs for aged enrollees) for 

1996 through 1998. 

Section 4571 of the Balanced Budget 

Act of 1997 (BBA) (Pub. L. 105–33) 

permanently extended the provision 

that the premium be based on 50 

percent of the monthly actuarial rate for 

aged enrollees (that is, 25 percent of 

program costs for aged enrollees). 

The BBA included a further provision 

affecting the calculation of the Part B 

actuarial rates and premiums for 1998 

through 2003. Section 4611 of the BBA 

modified the home health benefit 

payable under Part A for individuals 

enrolled in Part B. Under this section, 

beginning in 1998, expenditures for 

home health services not considered 

‘‘post-institutional’’ are payable under 

Part B rather than Part A. However, 

section 4611(e)(1) of the BBA required 

that there be a transition from 1998 

through 2002 for the aggregate amount 

of the expenditures transferred from 

Part A to Part B. Section 4611(e)(2) of 

the BBA also provided a specific yearly 

proportion for the transferred funds. 

The proportions were 1⁄6 for 1998, 1⁄3 for 

1999, 1⁄2 for 2000, 2⁄3 for 2001, and 5⁄6

for 2002. For the purpose of determining 

the correct amount of financing from 

general revenues of the Federal 

Government, it was necessary to include 

only these transitional amounts in the 

monthly actuarial rates for both aged 

and disabled enrollees, rather than the 

total cost of the home health services 

being transferred. 

Section 4611(e)(3) of the BBA also 

specified, for the purpose of 

determining the premium, that the 

monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 

65 and over be computed as though the 

transition would occur for 1998 through 

2003 and that 1⁄7 of the cost be 

transferred in 1998, 2⁄7 in 1999, 3⁄7 in 

2000, 4⁄7 in 2001, 5⁄7 in 2002, and 6⁄7 in 

2003. Therefore, the transition period 

for incorporating this home health 

transfer into the premium was 7 years 

while the transition period for including 

these services in the actuarial rate was 

6 years. 

Section 811 of the Medicare 

Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 

Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108– 

173, also known as the Medicare 

Modernization Act, or MMA), which 

amended section 1839 of the Act, 

requires that, starting on January 1, 

2007, the Part B premium a beneficiary 

pays each month be based on their 

annual income. Specifically, if a 

beneficiary’s ‘‘modified adjusted gross 

income’’ is greater than the legislated 

threshold amounts (for 2015, $85,000 

for a beneficiary filing an individual 

income tax return, and $170,000 for a 

beneficiary filing a joint tax return) the 

beneficiary is responsible for a larger 

portion of the estimated total cost of 

Part B benefit coverage. In addition to 

the standard 25 percent premium, these 

beneficiaries now have to pay an 

income-related monthly adjustment 

amount. The MMA made no change to 

the actuarial rate calculation, and the 

standard premium, which will continue 

to be paid by beneficiaries whose 

modified adjusted gross income is 

below the applicable thresholds, still 

represents 25 percent of the estimated 

total cost to the program of Part B 

coverage for an aged enrollee. However, 

depending on income and tax filing 

status, a beneficiary can now be 

responsible for 35, 50, 65, or 80 percent 

of the estimated total cost of Part B 

coverage, rather than 25 percent. The 

end result of the higher premium is that 

the Part B premium subsidy is reduced 

and less general revenue financing is 

required for beneficiaries with higher 

income because they are paying a larger 

share of the total cost with their 

premium. That is, the premium subsidy 

continues to be approximately 75 

percent for beneficiaries with income 

below the applicable income thresholds, 

but will be reduced for beneficiaries 

with income above these thresholds. 

The MMA specified that there be a 5- 

year transition to full implementation of 

this provision. However, section 5111 of 

the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub. 

L. 109–171) (DRA) modified the 

transition to a 3-year period. 

Section 4732(c) of the BBA added 

section 1933(c) of the Act, which 

required the Secretary to allocate money 

from the Part B trust fund to the State 

Medicaid programs for the purpose of 

providing Medicare Part B premium 

assistance from 1998 through 2002 for 

the low-income Medicaid beneficiaries 

who qualify under section 1933 of the 

Act. This allocation, while not a benefit 

expenditure, was an expenditure of the 

trust fund and was included in 

calculating the Part B actuarial rates 

through 2002. For 2003 through 2014, 

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the expenditure was made from the trust 

fund because the allocation was 

temporarily extended. However, 

because the extension occurred after the 

financing was determined, the 

allocation was not included in the 

calculation of the financing rates for 

these years. 

Another provision affecting the 

calculation of the Part B premium is 

section 1839(f) of the Act, as amended 

by section 211 of the Medicare 

Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 

(MCCA 88) (Pub. L. 100–360). 

(However, the Medicare Catastrophic 

Coverage Repeal Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 

101–234) did not repeal the revisions to 

section 1839(f) made by MCCA 88.) 

Section 1839(f) of the Act, referred to as 

the ‘‘hold-harmless’’ provision, provides 

that if an individual is entitled to 

benefits under section 202 or 223 of the 

Act (the Old-Age and Survivors 

Insurance Benefit and the Disability 

Insurance Benefit, respectively) and has 

the Part B premiums deducted from 

these benefit payments, the premium 

increase will be reduced, if necessary, to 

avoid causing a decrease in the 

individual’s net monthly payment. This 

decrease in payment occurs if the 

increase in the individual’s social 

security benefit due to the cost-of-living 

adjustment under section 215(i) of the 

Act is less than the increase in the 

premium. Specifically, the reduction in 

the premium amount applies if the 

individual is entitled to benefits under 

section 202 or 223 of the Act for 

November and December of a particular 

year and the individual’s Part B 

premiums for December and the 

following January are deducted from the 

respective month’s section 202 or 223 

benefits. The ‘‘hold-harmless’’ provision 

does not apply to beneficiaries who are 

required to pay an income-related 

monthly adjustment amount. 

A check for benefits under section 202 

or 223 of the Act is received in the 

month following the month for which 

the benefits are due. The Part B 

premium that is deducted from a 

particular check is the Part B payment 

for the month in which the check is 

received. Therefore, a benefit check for 

November is not received until 

December, but has December’s Part B 

premium deducted from it. 

Generally, if a beneficiary qualifies for 

hold-harmless protection, the reduced 

premium for the individual for that 

January and for each of the succeeding 

11 months is the greater of either— 

• The monthly premium for January 

reduced as necessary to make the 

December monthly benefits, after the 

deduction of the Part B premium for 

January, at least equal to the preceding 

November’s monthly benefits, after the 

deduction of the Part B premium for 

December; or 

• The monthly premium for that 

individual for that December. 

In determining the premium 

limitations under section 1839(f) of the 

Act, the monthly benefits to which an 

individual is entitled under section 202 

or 223 of the Act do not include 

retroactive adjustments or payments and 

deductions on account of work. Also, 

once the monthly premium amount is 

established under section 1839(f) of the 

Act, it will not be changed during the 

year even if there are retroactive 

adjustments or payments and 

deductions on account of work that 

apply to the individual’s monthly 

benefits. 

Individuals who have enrolled in Part 

B late or who have re-enrolled after the 

termination of a coverage period are 

subject to an increased premium under 

section 1839(b) of the Act. The increase 

is a percentage of the premium and is 

based on the new premium rate before 

any reductions under section 1839(f) of 

the Act are made. 

II. Provisions of the Notice 

A. Notice of Medicare Part B Monthly 

Actuarial Rates, Monthly Premium 

Rates, and Annual Deductible 

The Medicare Part B monthly 

actuarial rates applicable for 2015 are 

$209.80 for enrollees age 65 and over 

and $254.80 for disabled enrollees 

under age 65. In section II.B. of this 

notice, we present the actuarial 

assumptions and bases from which 

these rates are derived. The Part B 

standard monthly premium rate for all 

enrollees for 2015 is $104.90. The Part 

B annual deductible for 2015 is $147.00. 

The following are the 2015 Part B 

monthly premium rates to be paid by 

beneficiaries who file an individual tax 

return (including those who are single, 

head of household, qualifying 

widow(er) with dependent child, or 

married filing separately who lived 

apart from their spouse for the entire 

taxable year), or a joint tax return. 

Beneficiaries who file an individual tax return with income: Beneficiaries who file a joint tax return with income: 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $85,000 ..................................... Less than or equal to $170,000 ................................... $0.00 $104.90 

Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal to 

$107,000.

Greater than $170,000 and less than or equal to 

$214,000.

42.00 146.90 

Greater than $107,000 and less than or equal to 

$160,000.

Greater than $214,000 and less than or equal to 

$320,000.

104.90 209.80 

Greater than $160,000 and less than or equal to 

$214,000.

Greater than $320,000 and less than or equal to 

$428,000.

167.80 272.70 

Greater than $214,000 ................................................. Greater than $428,000 ................................................. 230.80 335.70 

In addition, the monthly premium 

rates to be paid by beneficiaries who are 

married and lived with their spouse at 

any time during the taxable year, but file 

a separate tax return from their spouse, 

are as follows: 

Beneficiaries who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the year, but file a separate tax 

return from their spouse: 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $85,000 ................................................................................................................................ $0.00 $104.90 

Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal to $129,000 ..................................................................................... 167.80 272.70 

Greater than $129,000 ............................................................................................................................................ 230.80 335.70 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices 61317 

The Part B annual deductible for 2015 

is $147.00 for all beneficiaries. 

B. Statement of Actuarial Assumptions 

and Bases Employed in Determining the 

Monthly Actuarial Rates and the 

Monthly Premium Rate for Part B 

Beginning January 2015 

Except where noted, the actuarial 

assumptions and bases used to 

determine the monthly actuarial rates 

and the monthly premium rates for Part 

B are established by the Office of the 

Actuary in the Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services. The estimates 

underlying these determinations are 

prepared by actuaries meeting the 

qualification standards and following 

the actuarial standards of practice 

established by the Actuarial Standards 

Board. 

1. Actuarial Status of the Part B Account 

in the Supplementary Medical 

Insurance Trust Fund 

Under the statute, the starting point 

for determining the standard monthly 

premium is the amount that would be 

necessary to finance Part B on an 

incurred basis. This is the amount of 

income that would be sufficient to pay 

for services furnished during that year 

(including associated administrative 

costs) even though payment for some of 

these services will not be made until 

after the close of the year. The portion 

of income required to cover benefits not 

paid until after the close of the year is 

added to the trust fund and used when 

needed. 

The premium rates are established 

prospectively and are, therefore, subject 

to projection error. Additionally, 

legislation enacted after the financing 

was established, but effective for the 

period in which the financing is set, 

may affect program costs. As a result, 

the income to the program may not 

equal incurred costs. Therefore, trust 

fund assets must be maintained at a 

level that is adequate to cover an 

appropriate degree of variation between 

actual and projected costs, and the 

amount of incurred, but unpaid, 

expenses. Numerous factors determine 

what level of assets is appropriate to 

cover variation between actual and 

projected costs. The three most 

important of these factors are: (1) the 

difference from prior years between the 

actual performance of the program and 

estimates made at the time financing 

was established; (2) the likelihood and 

potential magnitude of expenditure 

changes resulting from enactment of 

legislation affecting Part B costs in a 

year subsequent to the establishment of 

financing for that year; and (3) the 

expected relationship between incurred 

and cash expenditures. These factors are 

analyzed on an ongoing basis, as the 

trends can vary over time. 

Table 1 summarizes the estimated 

actuarial status of the trust fund as of 

the end of the financing period for 2013 

and 2014. 

TABLE 1—ESTIMATED ACTUARIAL STATUS OF THE PART B ACCOUNT IN THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE TRUST

FUND AS OF THE END OF THE FINANCING PERIOD

Financing period ending Assets 

(millions) 

Liabilities 

(millions) 

Assets less 

liabilities 

(millions) 

December 31, 2013 ..................................................................................................................... $74,204 $19,656 $54,548 

December 31, 2014 ..................................................................................................................... 70,931 20,376 50,555 

2. Monthly Actuarial Rate for Enrollees 

Age 65 and Older 

The monthly actuarial rate for 

enrollees age 65 and older is one-half of 

the sum of monthly amounts for: (1) The 

projected cost of benefits, and (2) 

administrative expenses for each 

enrollee age 65 and older, after 

adjustments to this sum to allow for 

interest earnings on assets in the trust 

fund and an adequate contingency 

margin. The contingency margin is an 

amount appropriate to provide for 

possible variation between actual and 

projected costs and to amortize any 

surplus assets or unfunded liabilities. 

The monthly actuarial rate for 

enrollees age 65 and older for 2015 is 

determined by first establishing perenrollee cost by type of service from 

program data through 2013 and then 

projecting these costs for subsequent 

years. The projection factors used for 

financing periods from January 1, 2012 

through December 31, 2015 are shown 

in Table 2. 

As indicated in Table 3, the projected 

per-enrollee amount required to pay for 

one-half of the total of benefits and 

administrative costs for enrollees age 65 

and over for 2015 is $208.61. Based on 

current estimates, the assets are not 

sufficient to cover the amount of 

incurred, but unpaid, expenses and to 

provide for a significant degree of 

variation between actual and projected 

costs. Thus, a positive contingency 

margin is needed to increase assets to a 

more appropriate level. The monthly 

actuarial rate of $209.80 provides an 

adjustment of $3.41 for a contingency 

margin and ¥$2.22 for interest 

earnings. 

The size of the contingency margin for 

2015 is affected by several factors. The 

largest factor involves the current law 

formula for physician fees, which is 

scheduled to result in a reduction in 

physician fees of an estimated 21.1 

percent in April 2015. For 2003 through 

March 2015, lawmakers have prevented 

physician fee reductions from occurring. 

In recognition of the strong possibility 

of substantial increase in Part B 

expenditures that would result from 

similar legislation to override the 

decreases in physician fees in 2015, it 

is appropriate to maintain a 

significantly larger Part B contingency 

reserve than would otherwise be 

necessary. The asset level projected for 

the end of 2014 is not adequate to 

accommodate this contingency. 

Two other factors affect the 

contingency margin for 2015. Starting in 

2011, manufacturers and importers of 

brand-name prescription drugs have 

paid a fee that is allocated to the Part 

B account of the SMI trust. For 2015, the 

total of these brand-name drug fees is 

estimated to be $3.0 billion. The 

contingency margin has been reduced to 

account for this additional revenue. 

Another factor impacting the 

contingency margin comes from the 

requirement that certain payment 

incentives, to encourage the 

development and use of health 

information technology (HIT) by 

Medicare physicians, are to be excluded 

from the premium determination. HIT 

bonuses or penalties will be directly 

offset through transfers with the general 

fund of the Treasury. The monthly 

actuarial rate includes an adjustment of 

¥$0.24 for HIT bonus payments in 

2015. 

The traditional goal for the Part B 

reserve has been that assets minus 

liabilities at the end of a year should 

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61318 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices 

represent between 15 and 20 percent of 

the following year’s total incurred 

expenditures. To accomplish this goal, a 

17 percent reserve ratio has been the 

normal target used to calculate the Part 

B premium. In view of the strong 

likelihood of actual expenditures 

exceeding estimated levels, due to the 

likelihood of the enactment of 

legislation after the financing has been 

set for 2015 as a result of the scheduled 

2015 physician update, a contingency 

reserve ratio in excess of 20 percent of 

the following year’s expenditures would 

better ensure that the assets of the Part 

B account can adequately cover the cost 

of incurred-but-not-reported benefits 

together with variations between actual 

and estimated cost levels. 

The actuarial rate of $209.80 per 

month for aged beneficiaries, as 

announced in this notice for 2015, 

reflects the combined net effect of the 

factors previously described and the 

projection assumptions listed in Table 

2. 

3. Monthly Actuarial Rate for Disabled 

Enrollees 

Disabled enrollees are those persons 

under age 65 who are enrolled in Part 

B because of entitlement to Social 

Security disability benefits for more 

than 24 months or because of 

entitlement to Medicare under the endstage renal disease (ESRD) program. 

Projected monthly costs for disabled 

enrollees (other than those with ESRD) 

are prepared in a fashion parallel to the 

projection for the aged using 

appropriate actuarial assumptions (see 

Table 2). Costs for the ESRD program are 

projected differently because of the 

different nature of services offered by 

the program. 

As shown in Table 4, the projected 

per-enrollee amount required to pay for 

one-half of the total of benefits and 

administrative costs for disabled 

enrollees for 2015 is $249.95. The 

monthly actuarial rate of $254.80 also 

provides an adjustment of ¥$2.95 for 

interest earnings and $7.80 for a 

contingency margin, reflecting the same 

factors described previously for the aged 

actuarial rate. Based on current 

estimates, the assets associated with the 

disabled Medicare beneficiaries at the 

end of 2014 are not sufficient to cover 

the amount of incurred, but unpaid, 

expenses and to provide for a significant 

degree of variation between actual and 

projected costs. Thus, a positive 

contingency margin is needed to 

increase assets to an appropriate level. 

The actuarial rate of $254.80 per 

month for disabled beneficiaries, as 

announced in this notice for 2015, 

reflects the combined net effect of the 

factors described previously for aged 

beneficiaries and the projection 

assumptions listed in Table 2. 

4. Sensitivity Testing 

Several factors contribute to 

uncertainty about future trends in 

medical care costs. It is appropriate to 

test the adequacy of the rates using 

alternative cost growth rate 

assumptions. The results of those 

assumptions are shown in Table 5. One 

set represents increases that are higher 

and, therefore, more pessimistic than 

the current estimate. The other set 

represents increases that are lower and, 

therefore, more optimistic than the 

current estimate. The values for the 

alternative assumptions were 

determined from a statistical analysis of 

the historical variation in the respective 

increase factors. 

As indicated in Table 5, the monthly 

actuarial rates would result in an excess 

of assets over liabilities of $58,887 

million by the end of December 2015 

under the cost growth rate assumptions 

used in preparing this report and 

assuming that the provisions of current 

law are fully implemented. This 

amounts to 21.6 percent of the estimated 

total incurred expenditures for the 

following year. 

Assumptions that are somewhat more 

pessimistic (and that therefore test the 

adequacy of the assets to accommodate 

projection errors) produce a surplus of 

$17,781 million by the end of December 

2015 under current law, which amounts 

to 5.8 percent of the estimated total 

incurred expenditures for the following 

year. Under fairly optimistic 

assumptions, the monthly actuarial rates 

would result in a surplus of $96,482 

million by the end of December 2015, or 

40.3 percent of the estimated total 

incurred expenditures for the following 

year. 

The sensitivity analysis indicates that 

the premium and general revenue 

financing established for 2015, together 

with existing Part B account assets 

would be adequate to cover estimated 

Part B costs for 2015 under current law, 

even if actual costs prove to be 

somewhat greater than expected. 

5. Premium Rates and Deductible 

As determined in accordance with 

section 1839 of the Act, listed are the 

2015 Part B monthly premium rates to 

be paid by beneficiaries who file an 

individual tax return (including those 

who are single, head of household, 

qualifying widow(er) with dependent 

child, or married filing separately who 

lived apart from their spouse for the 

entire taxable year), or a joint tax return. 

Beneficiaries who file an individual tax return with income: Beneficiaries who file a joint tax return with income: 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $85,000 ..................................... Less than or equal to $170,000 ................................... $0.00 $104.90 

Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal to 

$107,000.

Greater than $170,000 and less than or equal to 

$214,000.

42.00 146.90 

Greater than $107,000 and less than or equal to 

$160,000.

Greater than $214,000 and less than or equal to 

$320,000.

104.90 209.80 

Greater than $160,000 and less than or equal to 

$214,000.

Greater than $320,000 and less than or equal to 

$428,000.

167.80 272.70 

Greater than $214,000 ................................................. Greater than $428,000 ................................................. 230.80 335.70 

In addition, the monthly premium 

rates to be paid by beneficiaries who are 

married and lived with their spouse at 

any time during the taxable year, but file 

a separate tax return from their spouse, 

are listed as follows: 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices 61319 

Beneficiaries who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the year, but file a separate tax 

return from their spouse: 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $85,000 ................................................................................................................................ $0.00 $104.90 

Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal to $129,000 ..................................................................................... 167.80 272.70 

Greater than $129,000 ............................................................................................................................................ 230.80 335.70 

TABLE 2—PROJECTION FACTORS 1 12-MONTH PERIODS ENDING DECEMBER 31 OF 2012–2015 

[In percent] 

Calendar 

year 

Physicians’ services Durable 

medical 

equipment 

Carrier 

lab 4

Other 

carrier 

services 5

Outpatient 

hospital 

Home 

health 

agency 

Hospital 

lab 6

Other intermediary 

services 7

Managed 

care Fees 2 Residual 3

Aged: 

2012 .. ¥1.1 0.9 0.7 6.5 3.2 7.5 ¥3.4 4.1 4.2 1.9 

2013 .. ¥0.1 0.3 ¥10.3 0.2 2.7 7.1 ¥0.9 ¥0.6 ¥1.1 0.7 

2014 .. 0.5 0.3 ¥17.5 2.1 3.3 10.3 ¥0.2 ¥26.7 3.6 6.4 

2015 .. ¥16.6 0.4 1.6 3.7 2.2 6.0 0.3 3.9 ¥5.5 1.5 

Disabled: 

2012 .. ¥1.1 2.2 1.0 24.9 2.4 8.6 ¥0.7 4.6 2.0 1.3 

2013 .. ¥0.1 2.5 ¥8.4 11.7 1.7 7.7 ¥0.2 ¥0.2 3.2 2.7 

2014 .. 0.5 0.6 ¥15.6 3.0 2.5 11.5 1.1 ¥30.1 5.4 7.8 

2015 .. ¥16.6 0.8 1.7 3.9 1.8 6.3 0.5 4.0 ¥1.5 1.4 

1 All values for services other than managed care are per fee-for-service enrollee. Managed care values are per managed care enrollee. 2 As recognized for payment under the program. 3 Increase in the number of services received per enrollee and greater relative use of more expensive services. 4 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the physician’s office or an independent lab. 5 Includes physician-administered drugs, ambulatory surgical center facility costs, ambulance services, parenteral and enteral drug costs, supplies, etc. 6 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the outpatient department of a hospital. 7 Includes services furnished in dialysis facilities, rural health clinics, Federally qualified health centers, rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals, 

etc. 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

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61320 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICESEN10OC14.003</GPH> EN10OC14.004</GPH>

TABLE 3-DERIVA TION OF MONTHLY ACTUARIAL RATE FOR ENROLLEES AGE 65 AND OVER 

FOR FINANCING PERIODS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2012 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2015 (IN DOLLARS) 

Covered services (at level recognized): 

Physician fee schedule $80.02 

Durable medical equipment 8.32 

Carrier lab 1 4.31 

Other carrier services2 22.o7 

Outpatient hospital 37.14 

Home health 10.48 

Hospitallab1 3.89 

Other intermediary services-! 14.76 

Managed care 

Total services 242.46 

Cost sharing: 

Deductible ~5.37 

Coinsurance ~31.04 

Sequestration of benefits 0.00 

HIT payment incentives ~1.57 

Total benefits 204.48 

Administrative expenses 

Incurred expenditures 207.93 

Value of interest -2.21 

Contingency lor projection error and to amortize the surplus or deficit 

Monthly actuarial rate 199.80 

$78.30 

7.29 

4.22 

22.13 

38.85 

10.14 

3.77 

14.25 

244.17 

~5.63 

~29.06 

~3.16 

~2.04 

204.28 

207.85 

-1.80 

209.80 

$76.94 

5.84 

4.19 

22.23 

41.65 

9.84 

2.69 

14.35 

251.17 

~5.63 

~28.17 

~4.34 

210.15 

213.18 

-1.91 

~t.48 

209.80 1 Includes services paid under the lah fee schedule furni;;hed in the phvsieian's nllice or an independemlab. 

~ Includes physician-administered drugs, ambulatory surgical center f~cility costs, ambulance services, parenteral and enteral drug costs. supplies, etc. 3 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the outpatient department of a hospital. 4 Includes services tl.Jrnished in dialysis facilities, rural health clinics, Federally qualitied health centers. rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals, etc. 

TABLE 4-DERIVATION OF MO~THLY ACTUARJAL RATE ~~<'OR DISABLED ENROLLEES 

$65.05 

6.00 

4.39 

22.96 

44.64 

9.97 

2.82 

13.70 

242.46 

~5.63 

~26.32 

~4.21 

~0.24 

206.07 

208.61 

-2.22 

3.41 

209.80 

FOR FINANCING PERIODS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2012 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2015 (IN DOLLARS) 

Covered services (at level recognized): 

Physician fee schedule 

Durable medical equipment 

Carrier lab 1 

Other carrier scrviccs2 

Outpatient hospital 

IIome health 

Hospitallab3 

Other intennediary services4 

Managed care 

Total services 

Cost sharing: 

Deductible 

Coinsurance 

Sequestration of benefits 

HIT payment incentives 

Total benefits 

Administrative expenses 

Incurred expenditures 

Value of interest 

Contingency margin for projection eJTor and to amortize the surplus or deficit 

CY 2012 

$85.25 

15.78 

6.12 

25.R1 

52.49 

9.29 

5.45 

41.78 

48.76 

290.75 

-5.05 

~46.06 

0.00 

~J.60 

238.04 

4.01 

242.05 

~3.82 

-45.72 

Financin Periods 

CY 2013 

$84.62 

13.96 

6.58 

25.46 

54.70 

8.99 

5.29 

42.43 

54.92 

296.95 

-5.29 

~44.46 

-3.73 

-2.14 

241.32 

4.22 

245.54 

. 3.49 

~6.55 

CY 2014 

S83.64 

11.48 

6.58 

25.36 

59.55 

8.85 

3.59 

42.68 

63.14 

304.88 

-5.30 

~42.64 

. 5.13 

-3.09 

248.71 

3.59 

252.30 

2.71 

~30.69 

~··~--~~-~~-·~Monll:lly~~(;ltJ.ari~~~al~e~ ··- ~-~-~·~-~--~~~~---~~~ -~~----~ ~~---~-~·-~~-_1~2..:.:~0 ___ ~ --~~_35~-~--- _ 218.90 1 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the physician's office or an independent lab. 2 Includes physician-administered drugs. ambulatory surgical center faciliry costs, ambulance services, parenteral and enteral drug costs, supplies, etc. 3 Includes services paid under the lab lee schedLile furnished in the outpatient department of a hospital. 4 Includes services furnished in dialysis tacilities, rural health clinics, Federally qualitied health centers, rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals, etc. 

CY 2015 

$70.30 

11.70 

6.86 

25.92 

63.42 

8.92 

3.74 

42.74 

63.68 

297.28 

-5.29 

~39.80 

~5.04 

-0.25 

246.90 

3.05 

249.95 

~2.95 

7.80 

254.80 
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices 61321 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–C 

III. Regulatory Impact Analysis 

A. Statement of Need 

Section 1839 of the Act requires us to 

annually announce (that is by 

September 30th of each year) the Part B 

monthly actuarial rates for aged and 

disabled beneficiaries as well as the 

monthly Part B premium. We also 

announce the Part B annual deductible 

because its determination is directly 

linked to the aged actuarial rate. 

B. Overall Impact 

We have examined the impacts of this 

rule as required by Executive Order 

12866 on Regulatory Planning and 

Review (September 30, 1993), Executive 

Order 13563 on Improving Regulation 

and Regulatory Review (January 18, 

2011), the Regulatory Flexibility Act 

(RFA) (September 19, 1980, Pub. L. 96– 

354), section 1102(b) of the Social 

Security Act, section 202 of the 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 

(March 22, 1995, Pub. L. 104–4), 

Executive Order 13132 on Federalism 

(August 4, 1999) and the Congressional 

Review Act (5 U.S.C. 804(2)). 

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 

direct agencies to assess all costs and 

benefits of available regulatory 

alternatives and, if regulation is 

necessary, to select regulatory 

approaches that maximize net benefits 

(including potential economic, 

environmental, public health and safety 

effects, distributive impacts, and 

equity). A regulatory impact analysis 

(RIA) must be prepared for major 

notices with economically significant 

effects ($100 million or more in any 1 

year). For 2015, the standard Part B 

premium rate, the Part B income-related 

premium rates, and the Part B 

deductible are the same as the 

respective amounts for 2014. As a result, 

this notice is not economically 

significant under section 3(f)(1) of 

Executive Order 12866 and thus, is not 

a major action under the Congressional 

Review Act. In accordance with the 

provisions of Executive Order 12866, 

this notice was reviewed by the Office 

of Management and Budget. 

As discussed earlier, this notice 

announces that the monthly actuarial 

rates applicable for 2015 are $209.80 for 

enrollees age 65 and over and $254.80 

for disabled enrollees under age 65. It 

also announces the 2015 monthly Part B 

premium rates to be paid by 

beneficiaries who file an individual tax 

return (including those who are single, 

head of household, qualifying 

widow(er) with a dependent child, or 

married filing separately who lived 

apart from their spouse for the entire 

taxable year), or a joint tax return. 

Beneficiaries who file an individual tax return with income: Beneficiaries who file a joint tax return with income: 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $85,000 ..................................... Less than or equal to $170,000 ................................... $0.00 $104.90 

Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal to 

$107,000.

Greater than $170,000 and less than or equal to 

$214,000.

42.00 146.90 

Greater than $107,000 and less than or equal to 

$160,000.

Greater than $214,000 and less than or equal to 

$320,000.

104.90 209.80 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICESEN10OC14.005</GPH>
61322 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices 

Beneficiaries who file an individual tax return with income: Beneficiaries who file a joint tax return with income: 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Greater than $160,000 and less than or equal to 

$214,000.

Greater than $320,000 and less than or equal to 

$428,000.

167.80 272.70 

Greater than $214,000 ................................................. Greater than $428,000 ................................................. 230.80 335.70 

In addition, the monthly premium 

rates to be paid by beneficiaries who are 

married and lived with their spouse at 

any time during the taxable year, but file 

a separate tax return from their spouse, 

are also announced and listed in the 

following chart: 

Beneficiaries who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the year, but file a separate tax 

return from their spouse: 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $85,000 ................................................................................................................................ $0.00 $104.90 

Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal to $129,000 ..................................................................................... 167.80 272.70 

Greater than $129,000 ............................................................................................................................................ 230.80 335.70 

The RFA requires agencies to analyze 

options for regulatory relief of small 

businesses, if a rule has a significant 

impact on a substantial number of small 

entities. For purposes of the RFA, small 

entities include small businesses, 

nonprofit organizations, and small 

governmental jurisdictions. Most 

hospitals and most other providers and 

suppliers are small entities, either by 

nonprofit status or by having revenues 

of less than $7.0 million to $38.5 

million in any 1 year. Individuals and 

States are not included in the definition 

of a small entity. This notice announces 

the monthly actuarial rates for aged (age 

65 and over) and disabled (under 65) 

beneficiaries enrolled in Part B of the 

Medicare SMI program beginning 

January 1, 2015. Also, this notice 

announces the monthly premium for 

aged and disabled beneficiaries as well 

as the income-related monthly 

adjustment amounts to be paid by 

beneficiaries with modified adjusted 

gross income above certain threshold 

amounts. As a result, we are not 

preparing an analysis for the RFA 

because the Secretary has determined 

that this notice will not have a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. 

In addition, section 1102(b) of the Act 

requires us to prepare a regulatory 

impact analysis if a rule may have a 

significant impact on the operations of 

a substantial number of small rural 

hospitals. This analysis must conform to 

the provisions of section 604 of the 

RFA. For purposes of section 1102(b) of 

the Act, we define a small rural hospital 

as a hospital that is located outside of 

a Metropolitan Statistical Area and has 

fewer than 100 beds. As we discussed 

previously, we are not preparing an 

analysis for section 1102(b) of the Act 

because the Secretary has determined 

that this notice will not have a 

significant effect on a substantial 

number of small rural hospitals. 

Section 202 of the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) 

also requires that agencies assess 

anticipated costs and benefits before 

issuing any rule whose mandates 

require spending in any 1 year of $100 

million in 1995 dollars, updated 

annually for inflation. In 2014, that 

threshold is approximately $141 

million. This notice does not impose 

mandates that will have a consequential 

effect of $141 million or more on State, 

local, or tribal governments or on the 

private sector. 

Executive Order 13132 establishes 

certain requirements that an agency 

must meet when it publishes a proposed 

rule (and subsequent final rule) that 

imposes substantial direct compliance 

costs on State and local governments, 

preempts State law, or otherwise has 

Federalism implications. We have 

determined that this notice does not 

significantly affect the rights, roles, and 

responsibilities of States. 

For 2015, the standard Part B 

premium rate, the Part B income-related 

premium rates, and the Part B 

deductible are the same as the 

respective amounts for 2014. Therefore, 

this notice is not a major rule as defined 

in 5 U.S.C. 804(2) and is not an 

economically significant rule under 

Executive Order 12866. 

In accordance with the provisions of 

Executive Order 12866, this notice was 

reviewed by the Office of Management 

and Budget. 

IV. Waiver of Proposed Notice 

The Medicare statute requires the 

publication of the monthly actuarial 

rates and the Part B premium amounts 

in September. We ordinarily use general 

notices, rather than notice and comment 

rulemaking procedures, to make such 

announcements. In doing so, we note 

that, under the Administrative 

Procedure Act, interpretive rules, 

general statements of policy, and rules 

of agency organization, procedure, or 

practice are excepted from the 

requirements of notice and comment 

rulemaking. 

We considered publishing a proposed 

notice to provide a period for public 

comment. However, we may waive that 

procedure if we find, for good cause, 

that prior notice and comment are 

impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary 

to the public interest. The statute 

establishes the time period for which 

the premium rates will apply, and 

delaying publication of the Part B 

premium rate such that it would not be 

published before that time would be 

contrary to the public interest. 

Moreover, we find that notice and 

comment are unnecessary because the 

formulas used to calculate the Part B 

premiums are statutorily directed. 

Therefore, we find good cause to waive 

publication of a proposed notice and 

solicitation of public comments. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program No. 93.774, Medicare— 

Supplementary Medical Insurance Program). 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices 61323 

Dated: September 12, 2014. 

Marilyn Tavenner, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services. 

Approved: September 26, 2014. 

Sylvia M. Burwell, 

Secretary, Department of Health and Human 

Services. 

[FR Doc. 2014–24248 Filed 10–9–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Administration for Children and 

Families 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

Title: Runaway and Homeless Youth 

Management Information System 

(RHYMIS) Version 3.0. 

OMB No.: 0970–0123. 

Description: The Runaway and 

Homeless Youth Act, as amended by 

Public Law 106–71 (42 U.S.C. 5701 et 

seq.), mandates that the Department of 

Health and Human Services (HHS) 

report regularly to Congress on the 

status of HHS-funded programs serving 

runaway and homeless youth. Such 

reporting is similarly mandated by the 

Government Performance and Results 

Act. Organizations funded under the 

Runaway and Homeless Youth program 

are required by statute (42 U.S.C. 5712, 

42 U.S.C. 5714–2) to meet certain data 

collection and reporting requirements. 

These requirements include 

maintenance of client statistical records 

on the number and the characteristics of 

the runaway and homeless youth, and 

youth at risk of family separation, who 

participate in the project, and the 

services provided to such youth by the 

project. 

Respondents: States localities, private 

entities and coordinated networks of 

such entities. Typical respondents are 

non-profit community based 

organizations who are reporting on the 

youth that they serve through their 

Basic Center, Transitional Living and 

Street Outreach programs. 

ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES

Instrument Number of 

respondents * 

Number of 

responses per 

respondent 

Average 

burden hours 

per response 

Total burden 

hours 

Youth Profile: Basic Center Program (one for each youth) ............................ 321 115 0.20 7,383 

Youth Profile: Transitional Living Program (one for each youth) .................... 205 19 0.250 974 

Youth Profile: Street Outreach Program (one for each youth) ........................ 138 524 0.073 5,279 

Brief Agency Contacts Report ** (3 data elements per youth) ........................ 664 865 0.05 28,718 

Data Transfer ................................................................................................... 664 2 0.50 664 

* Number of respondents and response estimates are based on FY 2013 grantee award and annual youth service volumes (the number of 

grantees awarded and their service volumes change from year to year but not greatly.) 

** Brief Agency Contacts Report is a new report that combines the elements of the Street Outreach Contacts, Turn away/Waitlist and Brief 

Contacts reports that were previously in place. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 43,018. 

Additional Information: Copies of the 

proposed collection may be obtained by 

writing to the Administration for 

Children and Families, Office of 

Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 

L’Enfant Promenade SW., Washington, 

DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance 

Officer. All requests should be 

identified by the title of the information 

collection. Email address: 

infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. 

OMB Comment: OMB is required to 

make a decision concerning the 

collection of information between 30 

and 60 days after publication of this 

document in the Federal Register. 

Therefore, a comment is best assured of 

having its full effect if OMB receives it 

within 30 days of publication. Written 

comments and recommendations for the 

proposed information collection should 

be sent directly to the following: Office 

of Management and Budget, Paperwork 

Reduction Project, Email: 

OIRA_SUBMISSION@OMB.EOP.GOV. 

Attn: Desk Officer for the 

Administration for Children and 

Families. 

Robert Sargis, 

Reports Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2014–24222 Filed 10–9–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4184–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Administration for Children and 

Families 

[CFDA Number 93.570] 

Announcement of a Single-Source 

Grant Award to Lao Family Community 

Development, Inc., in Oakland, CA 

AGENCY: Office of Community Services, 

ACF, HHS. 

ACTION: Announcing the award of a 

single-source grant to Lao Family 

Community Development, Inc. (LFCD), 

in Oakland, CA, to support activities 

that will enhance the successful 

renovation of the their Culture, Arts, 

Recreation and Education Center (CARE 

Center), creating jobs while increasing 

the health and well-being of the local 

community. 

SUMMARY: The Administration for 

Children and Families (ACF), Office of 

Community Services (OCS) announces 

the award of a single-source grant for 

$686,000 to the Lao Family Community 

Development, Inc., in Oakland, CA, to 

support the renovation of a former 

warehouse, located in the Fruitvale 

district, into a mixed-use building. 

DATES: The period of support is from 

September 30, 2014 to June 30, 2015. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rafael J. Elizalde, Program Manager 

Division of Community Discretionary 

Programs, 370 L’ Enfant Promenade 

SW., Washington, DC 20047. Telephone: 

202–401–5115; Email: rafael.elizalde@

acf.hhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office 

of Community Services (OCS) 

Community Economic Development 

(CED) program announces the award of 

$686,000 to Lao Family Community 

Development, Inc. (LFCD), in Oakland, 

CA. CED is a federal grant program 

funding Community Development 

Corporations (CDCs) that address the 

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