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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[Document Identifier: HCFA-R-262]

Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements

Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration, HHS.

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Health Care Financing

Administration (HCFA), 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 PRA of 1995, we have submitted to the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following requirements for

emergency review. Due to the fact that the collection of this

information is needed before the expiration of the normal time limits

under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR, Part 1320, we are requesting an

emergency review. This collection is necessary to ensure compliance

with section 1852 and 1854 of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA). The Plan

Benefit Package (PBP) implements the BBA provisions and the

regulations, HCFA-1030-FC (which establishes the Medicare+Choice (M+C)

program). Under Part C of the Social Security Act (ACT), an M+C

organization is required to submit an Adjusted Community Rate Proposal

(ACRP), which includes the ACR (Document Identifier: HCFA-R-228) and

the PBP (Document Identifier: HCFA-R-262) no later than May 1 of each

calendar year. Without emergency approval, entities interested in

participating in the M+C program will not be afforded enough time to

participate in the PBP prior to the 05/01/1999 time period. (This pilot

test is intended to ensure reasonable usability of the reporting tool.)

As a result, public harm could occur because eligible individuals may

not receive the M+C health insurance options stipulated by the BBA. We

need to implement by 05/01/1999 so we can evaluate the results of the

pilot and proceed with our plan to implement the PBP for the Plan Year

2001. In order to obtain this goal our time table is as follows: obtain

emergency PRA approval for the pilot test by April 1999; evaluate,

modify, and submit the revised PRA package by August 1999; receive OMB

approval by February 2000; in order to meet the deadline for

distribution of ACRP instructions by March 2000 for the contract year

2001.

The PBP will be implemented as a pilot project for Plan Year 2000

ACRP submissions, in addition HCFA requires plans to submit PBP's for

Plan Year 2001. The PBP tool collects plan level information, replaces

the Benefits Information File (BIF), and standardizes

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the format for collecting benefit data. The PBP is a data driven

instrument containing options and pick lists, and a data collection

tool that collects data on access to a benefit package.

The PBP was developed with the assistance of industry

representatives, including the American Association of Health Plans

(AAHP), United Health Care, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, and,

HCFA's regional and central office staff, and establishes a standard

format for the submission of M+C organization's plan benefit packages.

Outside consultation included a recent two day session with an

organized group of approximately 250 Managed Care Plan representatives

which worked to review the draft and to provide feedback on the PBP

tool.

HCFA is requesting OMB review and approval of this collection

within 30 working days with a 180-day approval period. Written comments

and recommendations will be accepted from the public if received by the

individuals designated below within 29 working days. During the 180-day

period, we will publish a separate Federal Register notice announcing

the initiation of an extensive 60-day agency review and public comment

period on these requirements. We will submit the requirements for OMB

review and an extension of this emergency approval.

Type of Information Request: New Collection.

Title of Information Collection: Managed Care Plan Benefit Package

(PBP)/Adjusted Community Rate Proposal (ACRP).

Form Number: HCFA-R-262 (OMB approval #: 0938-NEW).

Use: The plan year 2000 pilot collection effort will be used to

verify that the information collection instrument will produce the data

HCFA needs to approve M+C plans in the future. Respondents include any

M+C organization that intends to offer an M+C plan in calendar year

2000.

This collection will also allow the Agency to provide a totally

automated submission and review capability, replace text with data

format, establish a standard set of benefit descriptions/definitions,

provide a framework to describe benefits, reduce variation in benefit

descriptions, collect benefit information and Medicare Compare data

with a single instrument, and eliminate the need to validate Medicare

Compare data.

Frequency: One-time.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, and not-for-profit

institution.

Number of Respondents: 25 Medicare managed care organizations for

plan year 2000.

Total Annual Responses: 75 for plan year 2000. The total annual

responses is based on an estimate of an average of 3 M+C plans per M+C

Organization. Each organization defines the content and number of

benefit packages.

Total Annual Hours Requested: 150 (2 hours per PBP) for plan year

2000. This estimate was based on a Medicare managed care organization

completing a paper version of the PBP. The PBP will allow plans to copy

health benefit information from one plan to another.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement for the proposed

paperwork collections referenced above, access HCFA's WEB SITE ADDRESS

at http://www.hcfa.gov/regs/prdact95.htm, or E-mail your request,

including your address and phone number, to P[email protected], or call

the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326. To obtain access to the

PBP please visit the web site at http://www.fu.com/hpms.

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 record keeping requirements must be mailed and/or faxed

to the designees referenced below within 29 working days of the

publication of this notice in the Federal Register:

Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Information Services,

Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards,

Room N2-14-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Fax

Number: (410) 786-0262, Attn: Louis Blank HCFA-R-262

and,

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC

20503, Fax Number: (202) 395-6974 or (202) 395-5167, Attn: Allison

Herron Eydt, HCFA Desk Officer.

Dated: March 8, 1999.

John P. Burke III,

HCFA Reports Clearance Officer, HCFA, Office of Information Services,

Security and Standards Group, Division of HCFA Enterprise Standards.

[FR Doc. 99-6549 Filed 3-17-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-03-P