43256 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 149 / Friday, August 6, 2021 / Notices 

requirement, CMS is publishing this 

notice. 

Information Collection 

1. Type of Information Collection 

Request: Extension of a currently 

approved collection; Title of 

Information Collection: Coverage of 

Certain Preventive Services Under the 

Affordable Care Act; Use: The 2018 final 

regulations titled ‘‘Religious Exemptions 

and Accommodations for Coverage of 

Certain Preventive Services Under the 

Affordable Care Act’’ (83 FR 57536) and 

‘‘Moral Exemptions and 

Accommodations for Coverage of 

Certain Preventive Services Under the 

Affordable Care Act’’ (83 FR 57592) 

expand exemptions for religious beliefs 

and moral convictions for certain 

entities or individuals whose health 

plans may otherwise be subject to a 

mandate of contraceptive coverage 

through guidance issued pursuant to the 

Patient Protection and Affordable Care 

Act. The final regulations extend the 

exemption to health insurance issuers 

that hold religious or moral objections 

in certain circumstances, as well as to 

additional categories of group health 

plan sponsors. 

The 2018 final regulations also leave 

the accommodation process in place as 

an optional process for objecting entities 

who wish to use it, and expand the 

categories of group health plan sponsors 

that may avail themselves of the 

accommodation. To avoid contracting, 

arranging, paying, or referring for 

contraceptive coverage, an organization 

seeking to be treated as an eligible 

organization may self-certify (by using 

EBSA Form 700), prior to the beginning 

of the first plan year to which an 

accommodation is to apply, that it meets 

the definition of an eligible 

organization. The eligible organization 

must provide a copy of its selfcertification to each health insurance 

issuer that would otherwise provide 

such coverage in connection with the 

health plan (for insured group health 

plans or student health insurance 

coverage). The issuer that receives the 

self-certification must provide separate 

payments for contraceptive services for 

plan participants and beneficiaries (or 

students and dependents). For a selfinsured group health plan, the selfcertification must be provided to its 

third party administrator. An eligible 

organization may submit a notification 

to HHS as an alternative to submitting 

EBSA Form 700 to the eligible 

organization’s health insurance issuer or 

third party administrator. A health 

insurance issuer or third party 

administrator providing or arranging 

payments for contraceptive services for 

participants and beneficiaries in plans 

(or student enrollees and covered 

dependents in student health insurance 

coverage) of eligible organizations must 

provide a written notice to such plan 

participants and beneficiaries (or such 

student enrollees and covered 

dependents) informing them of the 

availability of such payments. 

Under the 2018 final regulations, 

eligible organizations can revoke the 

accommodation process if participants 

and beneficiaries (or student enrollees 

and covered dependents) receive 

written notice of such revocation from 

the issuer or third party administrator, 

and such revocation will be effective on 

the first day of the first plan year that 

begins on or after thirty days after the 

date of revocation. Final regulations 

were published in the Federal Register 

on July 14, 2015 (80 FR 41318) under 

which qualifying closely held, for-profit 

entities may avail themselves of the 

accommodation. Previously, this 

accommodation had been available only 

to non-profit eligible organizations. The 

2015 final regulations also finalized the 

2014 interim final regulations that 

permit an eligible organization to notify 

HHS directly that it will not contract, 

arrange, pay, or refer for all or a subset 

of contraceptive services. These 

information collection requirements 

(ICRs) are intended for use under 

whichever accommodation process is in 

effect at the time an entity avails of it 

(for example, the 2018 final regulations, 

or the 2015 final regulations). HHS will 

only implement the ICRs under 

regulations that are legally in effect at 

the time the ICRs are used. Form 

Number: CMS–10653 (OMB Control 

number 0938–1344); Frequency: On 

Occasion; Affected Public: Private 

Sector; Number of Respondents: 60; 

Number of Responses: 595,312; Total 

Annual Hours: 72. (For policy questions 

regarding this collection, contact Usree 

Bandyopadhyay at 410–786–6650.) 

Dated: August 2, 2021. 

William N. Parham, III, 

Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office 

of Strategic Operations and Regulatory 

Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16797 Filed 8–5–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[Document Identifier: CMS–10775] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Submission for OMB 

Review; Comment Request 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services, Health and Human 

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 

(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 September 7, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRAMain. Find this particular 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

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: 

https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-andGuidance/Legislation/ 

PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRAListing.html. 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 149 / Friday, August 6, 2021 / Notices 43257 

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: New collection (Request for a 

new OMB control number); Title of 

Information Collection: Medicare 

Severity Diagnosis Related Groups 

Reclassification Request (MS–DRGs); 

Use: Section 1886(d)(4) of the Act 

establishes a classification system, 

referred to as DRGs, for inpatient 

discharges and adjusts payments under 

the IPPS based on appropriate weighting 

factors assigned to each MS–DRG. 

Section 1886(d)(4)(C)(i) of the Act 

specifies adjustments to the 

classification and weighting factors 

shall occur ‘‘at least annually to reflect 

changes in treatment patterns, 

technology, and other factors which 

may change the relative use of hospital 

resources.’’ 

The requests are evaluated in the 

Division of Coding and DRGs (DCDRG) 

by the DRG and Coding Team and the 

clinical advisors (medical officers) in 

both the Technology, Coding and 

Pricing Group (TCPG) and the Hospital 

and Ambulatory Policy Group (HAPG), 

along with the CMS contractor(s). This 

team participates via conference calls in 

the review of MedPAR claims data to 

analyze and perform clinical review of 

the requested changes. Based on the 

examination of claims data and clinical 

judgment, the team provides 

recommendations to CMS and HHS 

leadership for proposed changes. Per the 

statue, proposed MS–DRG changes and 

payment adjustments must go through 

notice and comment rulemaking giving 

the opportunity for the public to 

comment. Finalized MS–DRG changes 

are effective with discharges on and 

after October 1, consistent with the 

beginning of the fiscal year. CMS makes 

the updated MS–DRG Grouper software 

and related materials that reflects the 

changes available to the public for free 

via download at: https://www.cms.gov/ 

Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-ServicePayment/AcuteInpatientPPS/MS-DRGClassifications-and-Software. 

When an application is submitted in 

MEARISTM, the DRG and Coding Team 

in DCDRG will have instant access to 

the application request and 

accompanying materials to facilitate a 

more-timely review of the request, 

including the ability to efficiently 

inform other team members involved in 

the process that information is available 

for their review and input. Form 

Number: CMS–10775 (OMB control 

number 0938–New); Frequency: 

Occasionally; Affected Public: Private 

Sector, Business or other for-profits, 

Not-for-profits institutions; Number of 

Respondents: 50; Total Annual 

Responses: 50; Total Annual Hours: 

48,000. (For policy questions regarding 

this collection contact Marilu Hue at 

410–786–4510.) 

Dated: August 3, 2021. 

William N. Parham, III, 

Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office 

of Strategic Operations and Regulatory 

Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16865 Filed 8–5–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Indian Health Service 

Request for Public Comment: 60 Day 

Notice for Extension of the Indian 

Health Service Loan Repayment 

Program (LRP) 

AGENCY: Indian Health Service, HHS. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. Request for extension of 

approval. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Indian Health Service (IHS) invites the 

general public to take this opportunity 

to comment on the information 

collection Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) Control Number 0917– 

0014, titled, ‘‘IHS Loan Repayment 

Program (LRP).’’ 

DATES: Consideration will be given to all 

comments received by October 5, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For Comments: Submit 

comments to Jackie Santiago by one of 

the following methods: 

• Email: Jackie.Santiago@ihs.gov. 

Comments submitted in response to 

this notice will be made available to the 

public by publishing them in the 30 day 

Federal Register notice for this 

information collection. For this reason, 

please do not include information of a 

confidential nature, such as sensitive 

personal information or proprietary 

information. If comments are submitted 

via email, the email address will be 

automatically captured and included as 

part of the comment that is placed in the 

public docket and made available on the 

internet. Please note that responses to 

this public comment request containing 

any routine notice about the 

confidentiality of the communication 

will be treated as public comments that 

may be made available to the public 

notwithstanding the inclusion of the 

routine notice. 

A copy of the draft supporting 

statement is available at 

www.regulations.gov (see Docket ID 

(IHS_FRDOC_0001)). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To 

request additional information, please 

contact Evonne Bennett, Information 

Collection Clearance Officer at: 

Evonne.Bennett@ihs.gov or 301–443– 

4750. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

previously approved information 

collection project was last published in 

the Federal Register (83 FR 6601) on 

February 14, 2018, and allowed 30 days 

for public comment. No public 

comment was received in response to 

the notice. This notice announces our 

intent to submit this collection, which 

expires November 30, 2021, to OMB for 

approval of an extension and solicit 

comments on specific aspects for the 

proposed information collection. 

The IHS is submitting the proposed 

information collection to OMB for 

review, as required by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, as amended, and 

its implementing regulations. This 

notice is soliciting comments from 

members of the public and affected 

agencies as required by 44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(2)(A) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d) 

concerning the proposed collection of 

information to: (1) Evaluate whether the 

proposed collection of information is 

necessary for the proper performance of 

the functions of the agency, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility; (2) Evaluate the 

accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the 

burden of the proposed collection of 

information; (3) Enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and (4) Minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on those who are to respond; including 


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