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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
0938-1105
ICR Reference No:
201009-0938-002
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency:
HHS/CMS
Agency Tracking No:
Title:
Process for Obtaining Waivers of the Annual Limits Requirements of PHS Act Section 2711
Type of Information Collection:
New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Emergency
Approval Requested By:
09/03/2010
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved without change
Conclusion Date:
09/02/2010
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
09/02/2010
Terms of Clearance:
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
03/31/2011
6 Months From Approved
Responses
100
0
0
Time Burden (Hours)
80,000
0
0
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
Abstract:
The application process will be used by HHS to grant some insurance issuers a waiver of the limitation on the annual limits requirement.
Emergency Justfication:
Section 2711(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) requires the Secretary to impose restrictions on the imposition of annual limits on the dollar value of essential health benefits for any participant or beneficiary in a new or existing group health plan or a new policy in the individual market for plan or policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 and prior to January 1, 2014. The restricted annual limits on the dollar value of essential benefits cannot be lower than: o For plan or policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 but before September 23, 2011, $750,000; o For plan or policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2011 but before September 23, 2012, $1.25 million; and o For plan or policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2012 but before January 1, 2014, $2 million. A class of plans, generally known as "limited benefit" plans or "mini med" plans, often has annual limits well below those set out in the regulation. These plans offer affordable coverage to part-time workers and volunteers. In anticipation of any perceived or potential disruption to coverage resulting from the application of these new standards to plans, the interim final regulation contemplated a waiver process prior to January 1, 2014 for cases in which "compliance with these interim final regulations would result in a significant decrease in access to benefits or significant increase in premiums." Plans can seek a waiver by submitting an application that includes: 1. The policy form(s) for which a waiver is sought. 2. The number of individuals covered by the form(s) submitted; 3. The annual limits and rates applicable to the forms submitted; 4. A short description of why compliance with these interim final regulations would result in a significant decrease in access to benefits or significant increase in premiums. 5. An attestation, signed by the Chief Executive Office of the issuer of the coverage, certifying that the application of restricted annual limits to such policies would result in a significant decrease in access to benefits for those currently covered by such policies, or a significant increase in premiums paid by those covered by such policies. The Chief Executive Officer would retain documents in support of this application for potential examination by the Secretary. The Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) is requesting emergency action for this clearance by the Office of Management and Budget. We are requesting emergency processing procedures for this application because this waiver process is needed immediately to reduce the possibility of a reduction in employer-offered insurance options for employees. As indicated above, the minimum annual limit requirements go into effect for plan or policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2010. Employers typically make insurance offering decisions for the following calendar year in August and September; therefore, if we want to limit coverage disruptions, we need to provide detail on the waiver process immediately. Plans and employers are already signaling that unless we provide details on the waiver process in the immediate future, they intend to drop coverage. Due to the urgency and short time frames associated with the data collection, OCIIO does not have sufficient time to allow for the usual comment timeframe required in the PRA process. We are requesting an Emergency Review for this collection and OMB approval of the package by August 19, 2010.
Authorizing Statute(s):
PL:
Pub.L. 111 - 148 2711(a)(2)
Name of Law: NO LIFETIME OR ANNUAL LIMITS.
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
PL: Pub.L. 111 - 148 2711(a)(2) Name of Law: NO LIFETIME OR ANNUAL LIMITS.
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
Not associated with rulemaking
Other Documents for OIRA Review
Federal Register Notices & Comments
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
No
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
1
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Waiver Process
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
100
0
100
0
0
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
80,000
0
80,000
0
0
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Increase Due to:
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Reduction Due to:
Short Statement:
This is a new information collection request.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$115,200
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002?
No
Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]?
Yes
Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]?
Uncollected
Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
Uncollected
Agency Contact:
William Parham 4107864669
Common Form ICR:
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date:
09/02/2010
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