Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 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 (the 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 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates 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 must be received by January 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in any one of the following ways:

1. Electronically. You may send your comments electronically to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for “Comment or Submission” or “More Search Options” to find the information collection document(s) that are accepting comments.

2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB Control Number: __, Room C4–26–05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244–1850.

To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, please access the CMS PRA website by copying and pasting the following web address into your web browser: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William N. Parham at (410) 786–4669.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Contents

This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated with the following information collections. More detailed information can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see ADDRESSES ).

CMS–10558 Machine Readable Data for Provider Network and Prescription Formulary Content for FFM QHPs

Under the 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 requires federal agencies to publish a 60-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.

Information Collection

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Machine Readable Data for Provider Network and Prescription Formulary Content for FFM QHPs; Use: Under 45 CFR 156.122(d)(1)(2), 156.230(b), and 156.230(c), as finalized in the rule, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2018 (CMS–9934–F), established standards for qualified health plan (QHP) issuers for the submission of provider and formulary data in a machine-readable format to the Department of Health and Human Services. (HHS) and for posting the data on issuer websites. These standards provide greater transparency for consumers, including by allowing software developers to access formulary and provider data to create innovative and informative tools. On September 30, 2015, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) granted approval to the data collection Information Collection for Machine Readable Data for Provider Network and Prescription Formulary Content for FFE QHPs under OMB control number 0938–1284. OMB approval was granted again on November 3, 2017 and March 22, 2021. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is continuing that information collection request (ICR) in connection with these machine-readable standards. This ICR serves as a formal request for the renewal of the data collection clearance. The burden estimate for the ICR included in this package reflects the time and effort for QHP and SADP issuers to update and publish the appropriate data and submit it to CMS. Form Number: CMS–10558 (OMB control number: 0938–1284); Frequency: Annually; Affected Public: Private Sector, State, Business, and Not-for Profits; Number of Respondents: 434; Number of Responses: 434; Total Annual Hours: 39,126. (For questions regarding this collection, contact Ana Alza at (667) 290–8569, ext. 70008569).