Notice2021-16797
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 6, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 149 (Friday, August 6, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 149 (Friday, August 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43255-43256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16797]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[Document Identifier: CMS-10653]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human
Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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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 October 5, 2021.
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
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. 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, you may make
your request using one of following:
1. Access CMS' website address at <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html">https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing.html</a>.
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-10653 Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable
Care Act
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
[[Page 43256]]
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 self-certification 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 self-insured group
health plan, the self-certification 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
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