[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 184 (Friday, September 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 55861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19070]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Document No. CMS-10170]


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMMS).
    In compliance with the requirement of 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 
the following summary of proposed collections for public comment. 
Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden 
estimate 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.
    We are, however, requesting an emergency review of the information 
collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of 
section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following 
requirements for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency 
review because the collection of this information is needed before the 
expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR 
Part 1320. This is necessary to ensure compliance with an initiative of 
the Administration. We cannot reasonably comply with the normal 
clearance procedures because the normal procedures are likely to cause 
a statutory deadline to be missed.
    Under Section 1860D-22 of the Social Security Act, added by the 
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 
(MMA) and implementing regulations at 42 CFR Section 423.880 plan 
sponsors (employers, unions etc.) who offer prescription drug coverage 
to their qualified covered retirees are eligible to receive a 28% tax-
free subsidy for allowable drug costs. Plan sponsors must submit a 
complete application to CMS in order to be considered for the Retiree 
Drug Subsidy (RDS) program. All systems must be operational January 1, 
2006, the effective date for the MMA. In order to meet this statutorily 
mandated date, CMS is working diligently to establish the systems, 
procedures, and documents necessary to implement the RDS program. CMS 
is seeking an emergency Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval for the 
RDS Payment and Reconciliation specifications and instructions.
    CMS is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection by 
October 24, 2005, with a 180-day approval period. Written comments and 
recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the 
individuals designated below by October 22, 2005.
    Type of Information Collection Request: New Collection; Title of 
Information Collection: Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Payment Request and 
Instructions; Use: Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, 
and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 and implementing regulations at 42 
CFR Subpart R plan sponsors (employers, unions) who offer prescription 
drug coverage to their qualified covered retirees are eligible to 
receive a 28% tax-free subsidy for allowable drug costs. In order to 
qualify, plan sponsors must submit a complete application to CMS with a 
list of retirees for whom it intends to collect the subsidy; Form 
Number: CMS-10170 (OMB<greek-i>: 0938-NEW); Frequency: Quarterly, 
Monthly, Annually; Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-
for-profit institutions, Federal, State, Local and Tribal Government; 
Number of Respondents: 50,000; Total Annual Responses: 50,000; Total 
Annual Hours: 2,025,000.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms 
for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' 
Web site address at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra or E-mail 
your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and CMS 
document identifier, to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5f5c4d5c0d7d2cad7cee5c6c8d68bcdcdd68bc2cad3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="702011001502071f021b30131d035e1818035e171f06">[email protected]</span></a>, or call the Reports 
Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
    Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the 
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information 
requirements. However, as noted above, comments on these information 
collection and recordkeeping requirements must be received by the 
designees referenced below by October 22, 2005:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Strategic 
Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Attn: Melissa Musotto, CMS-10170

 and,

OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Christopher Martin, 
New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: September 20, 2005.
Michelle Shortt,
Director, Regulations Development Group, Office of Strategic Operations 
and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-19070 Filed 9-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P


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