The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) established the Medicare Part D program for voluntary prescription drug coverage of premium, deductible, and co-payment costs for certain low-income individuals. The MMA also mandated the provision of subsidies for those individuals who qualify for the program and who meet eligibility criteria for help with premium, deductible, and/or co-payment costs. This law required SSA to make eligibility redeterminations and to provide a process for appealing SSAÂs determinations. Regulation sections 418.325(c), 418.3645, 418.3665(a), and 418.3670 contain public reporting requirements that are not covered by existing OMB-approved forms. This ICR is for these four sections. Respondents are applicants for the Medicare Part D subsidies who request an administrative review hearing.
NOTE: There was no actual increase or decrease to the public reporting burden for the Medicare Part D regulations. Rather, we removed those sections which are now covered by OMB-approved forms from this ICR (since they are cleared under the ICRs for their forms).
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:
(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;
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.