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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1868-1870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31480]

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 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed changes to the 
currently approved information collection project: ``Medical 
Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance Component.'' In accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, AHRQ invites the public 
to comment on this proposed information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 11, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, 
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by email at 
doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov.
    Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection 
instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be 
obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports 
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by email at 
doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Project

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance Component

    Employer-sponsored health insurance is the source of coverage for 
85 million current and former workers, plus many of their family 
members, and is a cornerstone of the U.S. health care system. The 
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance Component (MEPS-IC) 
measures the extent, cost, and coverage of employer-sponsored health 
insurance on an annual basis. Statistics are produced at the National, 
State, and sub-State (metropolitan area) level for private industry. 
Statistics are also produced for State and Local governments. The MEPS-
IC was last approved by OMB on November 21st, 2013 and will expire on 
November 30th, 2016. The OMB control number for the MEPS-IC is 0935-
0110. All of the supporting documents for the current MEPS-IC can be 
downloaded from OMB's Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewDocument?ref_nbr=201310-0935-001.
    In order to ensure that the MEPS-IC is able to capture important 
changes in the employer-sponsored health insurance market due to the 
implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 
(PPACA), AHRQ researched and proposed revisions to the 2014 survey 
questionnaires based on the law's provisions. Many of these proposed 
revisions were related to the implementation of the Small Business 
Health Options Program (SHOP) exchanges/marketplaces that are available 
to small employers for purchasing health insurance beginning in 2014.
    The proposed revisions were sent to a variety of federal and 
private stakeholders to obtain their suggestions and comments. These 
stakeholders included the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' 
Assistant

[[Page 1869]]

Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), the Center for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services' (CMS) Center for Consumer Information and Insurance 
Oversight, the CMS Office of the Actuary, the National Center for 
Health Statistics, the President's Council of Economic Advisors, the 
Office of Management and Budget, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 
Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Bureau of the Census, 
and health insurance researchers at various universities and other not-
for-profit organizations. These reviewers' comments were invaluable, 
and are reflected in the questions proposed herein.
    In addition to the new questions recommended for 2014, several 
questions in the 2013 survey are proposed for deletion as part of the 
2014 improvements. These deletions are necessary to minimize the burden 
on survey respondents and are limited to those questions with less 
analytic value, with poor response rates, or those that are no longer 
relevant due to changes made under PPACA.
    Unlike for previous years' additions to the MEPS-IC questionnaires, 
the Bureau of the Census--which conducts and processes the survey for 
AHRQ--was not able to pretest the proposed 2014 questions. Many of the 
new questions relate to PPACA requirements or options (such as the SHOP 
marketplaces) which did not exist prior to the deadline for preparation 
of the 2014 questionnaires, so employers would not yet have made 
changes to their health insurance coverage that could be researched to 
help in the development of the new questions.
    For all establishment-level MEPS-IC forms, AHRQ proposes to make 
the following changes. As noted below, some new questions only will be 
asked of private-sector establishments with certain firm sizes (defined 
by number of employees) or comparably-sized government units:
    Additions:
     Did you offer health insurance through a small business 
(SHOP) exchange or marketplace in your State? Yes/No/Don't Know
    All firm sizes, except very large businesses:
     Last year, did your organization offer health insurance as 
a benefit to its employees at this location? Yes, offered in 2013/No, 
did not offer in 2013/Don't Know
    All firm sizes:
     How many employees reported in Question 2a above worked 
less than 30 hours per week?
    ---- employees
    Check box: No employees worked less than 30 hours
     Are employees' spouses eligible for health insurance 
coverage through your organization?
    All spouses are eligible/Only spouses not eligible through their 
own employer/No spouses eligible/Don't Know
    Deletions:
     Did your organization offer any health insurance as a 
benefit to its employees at this location between January 1, 2009 and 
December 31, 2013? Yes/No
     What was the last year your organization offered health 
insurance coverage to its employees at this location? Last year offered
     Did your organization offer health insurance to its 
temporary or seasonal employees at this location in 2014? Yes/No/
Organization has no temporary or seasonal employees/Don't Know
    For all plan-level MEPS-IC forms, AHRQ proposes to make the 
following changes. As noted below, some new questions only will be 
asked of private-sector establishments with certain firm sizes or 
comparably-sized government units:
    Additions:
     Health insurance plans are classified into different metal 
levels or tiers based on their level of benefits and cost-sharing 
provisions. Which level or tier was this plan in? Bronze/Silver/Gold/
Platinum/Don't Know
    > 50 firm size only:
     What is the actuarial value of this plan?
    The actuarial value is the percentage of medical expenses paid by 
the plan, rather than out-of-pocket by a covered person.
    ---- %
    Check box: Do not know actuarial value
    All firm sizes:
     You reported the total premium for a typical employee for 
SINGLE coverage. Did this premium vary for individual employees 
depending on their ages? Yes/No/Don't Know
     Did the amount individual employees contributed toward 
their single coverage vary by any of these characteristics?
     Participation/achievement in fitness/weight loss program

[cir] Yes
[cir] No
[cir] Don't Know

     Participation/achievement in smoking cessation program

[cir] Yes
[cir] No
[cir] Don't Know

     Participation/achievement in wellness/health monitoring 
program

[cir] Yes
[cir] No
[cir] Don't Know

     Employee age

[cir] Yes: go to question below
[cir] No
[cir] Don't Know

     Other

[cir] Yes
[cir] No
[cir] Don't Know

     How did individual employees' contributions vary by age? 
Employer pays same percent of premium, and premiums vary by age/
Employer pays the same dollar amount toward premium, and premiums vary 
by age/Other/Don't Know
     Did the total premium for FAMILY coverage vary depending 
on the number of family members covered by the plan? Yes/No/Don't Know
     How much and/or what percentage did an enrollee pay out-
of-pocket for each type of prescription drug covered?
     Generic

[cir] $ -- Copay AND/OR -- % Coinsurance

     Preferred Brand Name

[cir] $ -- Copay AND/OR -- % Coinsurance

     Non-preferred Brand Name

[cir] $ -- Copay AND/OR -- % Coinsurance

    Deletions:
     Did the PREMIUMS for this insurance plan vary by any of 
these characteristics?

Age/Gender/Wage or salary levels/Smoker/Non-smoker status/Other

     Did the amount an EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTED toward his/her own 
coverage vary by any of these employee characteristics? Hours worked/
Union status/Wage or salary levels/Occupation/Length of employment/
Participation in a fitness/Weight loss program/Participation in a 
smoking cessation program/Other
     How much and/or what percentage did an enrollee pay out-
of-pocket for the lowest tier of prescription drug coverage? $ 
copayment/% coinsurance
     Could this plan have refused to cover persons with pre-
existing medical or health conditions?

    Yes/No

     Did this plan have a policy requiring a waiting period 
before covering pre-existing conditions?

    Yes/No

[[Page 1870]]

    The MEPS Definitions form--MEPS-20(D)--will also be updated with 
new definitions for terms used in these new questions (and the deletion 
of terms used only in the deleted questions).
    There are no changes to the 2014 MEPS-IC survey estimates of cost 
and hour burdens due to these proposed question changes. The response 
rate for the MEPS-IC survey also is not expected to change due to these 
proposed changes.
    The MEPS-IC is conducted pursuant to AHRQ's statutory authority to 
conduct surveys to collect data on the cost, use and quality of health 
care, including the types and costs of private health insurance. 42 
U.S.C. 299b-2(a).

Method of Collection

    There are no changes to the current data collection methods.

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden

    There are no changes to the current burden estimates.

Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government

    There are no changes to the current cost estimates.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ's 
information collection are requested with regard to any of the 
following: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ healthcare research and 
healthcare information dissemination functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's 
estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed 
collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information upon the 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the 
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: December 23, 2013.
Richard Kronick,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-31480 Filed 1-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
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