This document is scheduled to be published in the

Federal Register on 12/23/2013 and available online at

http://federalregister.gov/a/2013-30434, and on FDsys.gov

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Billing Code: 4120-01-U-P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 

[Document Identifier: CMS-10510] 

Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the 

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and 

Human Services, is publishing a summary of this proposed information collection for 

public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this 

collection’s proposed burden estimates 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. 

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995, we have also submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the 

proposed information collection for their emergency review. While the collection is 

necessary to ensure compliance with an initiative of the Administration, we are 

requesting emergency review under 5 CFR 1320(a)(2)(i) because public harm is 

reasonably likely to result if the regular clearance procedures are followed. 
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Without emergency approval, we will need to delay by approximately 4 months 

the release of Basic Health Program (BHP) federal payment rates beyond the March 2014 

timeframe that was published in the BHP proposed regulation released on September 25, 

2013 (78 FR 59122). Instead, we would release rates in early summer 2014 to 

accommodate the normal PRA approval process. Rates are needed in March 2014 to 

support state decisions to implement BHP on January 1, 2015, and to provide the 

necessary time for states to do their planning, contracting with issuers, and conducting 

open enrollment. Providing rates in the summer 2014 will likely postpone interested 

states’ decisions and their implementation dates by as much as a year. This could result 

in as many as 1.3 million low income people not having access to BHP in early 2015, 

thereby prohibiting them from availing continuity of providers and health care that BHP 

is intended to provide. That is, BHP is a bridge program for low income people who 

today move in and out of health programs as their eligibility changes based on 

fluctuations in income and other factors, and such movements disrupt their access to the 

providers and services that they need. This delay in access to BHP benefits would likely 

cause public harm. 

1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (request for a new OMB 

control number); Title of Information Collection: Basic Health Program Report for 

Health Insurance Exchange Premium; Use: In accordance with section 1331 of the 

Affordable Care Act, the Basic Health Program (BHP) is federally funded by determining 

the amount of payments that the federal government would have made through premium 

tax credits (PTCs) and cost sharing reductions (CSRs) for people enrolled in BHP had 

they instead been enrolled in an Exchange. 
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To calculate these amounts for each state, we need the reference premiums for the 

second lowest cost silver plans (SLCSPs) in each geographic area in a state, as SLCSPs 

are a basic unit in the calculation of PTCs and CSRs under the Exchanges. Relatedly, the 

reference premiums for these SLCSPs are critical components in the BHP payment 

methodology in order to estimate what PTCs and CSRs would have been paid. Similarly, 

we also need to collect reference premiums for the lowest cost bronze plans to 

appropriately account for CSR calculations for American Indians and Alaskan Natives. 

Reference premiums are foundational inputs into the BHP payment methodology. 

We have the necessary information to determine these reference premiums for 

states whose Exchanges are operated by the Federally Facilitated Exchange (FFE) or in 

Partnership with the FFE. Therefore, this collection only pertains to the 17 states who are 

operating State Based Exchanges. A related notice, issued under CMS-2380-PN, is also 

publishing in today’s Federal Register; Form Number: CMS-10510 (OCN: 0938-New); 

Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Governments; Number of 

Respondents: 17; Total Annual Responses: 17; Total Annual Hours: 68. (For policy 

questions regarding this collection contact Jessica Schubel at 410-786-3032.) 

We are requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by December 23, 

2013, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and recommendations will be 

considered from the public if received by the date and address noted below. 

Copies of the supporting statement and any related forms can be found at: 

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995 or can be obtained by e-mailing 

your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS document 
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identifier, to: Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov, or by calling the Reports Clearance Office at: 

410-786-1326. 

When commenting on this proposed information collection, please reference the CMS 

document identifier and the OMB control number (OCN). To be assured consideration, 

comments and recommendations must be received in one of the following ways by 

[INSERT DATE 14 DAYS AFTER DATE OF FILING FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION]:

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 (CMS-10510) 

Room C4-26-05 

7500 Security Boulevard 

Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850. 

and, 

OMB Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 

Attention: CMS Desk Officer 

New Executive Office Building, Room 10235 

Washington, D.C. 20503 

 Fax Number: 202-395-6974 
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Dated: December 17, 2013 __________________________________________ 

Martique Jones 

 Deputy Director, Regulations Development Group 

 Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs 

[FR Doc. 2013-30434 Filed 12/18/2013 at 4:15 pm; Publication Date: 12/23/2013]