This information collection request is approved as amended by HHS on 7/13/2010. HHS will submit a change worksheet to update this approval with the final version.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
01/31/2011
6 Months From Approved
204
0
0
11,271
0
0
422,433
0
0
In accordance with Pursuant to section 2793(d) of the PHSA, as amended by Section 1002 of ACA, as a condition for receiving the consumer assistance program grant, programs must collect and report data to the Secretary on the types of problems and inquiries encountered by consumers. Accordingly, program staff will need a system to maintain case files that will track these types of problems and inquiries. Problems and inquiries will be summarized and will be reported to HHS. By law, the user of the summary data is the Secretary of HHS and she will use it for oversight. Further, ACA dictates that the Secretary will share these reports with the Departments of Labor and Treasury, and with State insurance regulators for use in enforcement.
Section 1002 of the Affordable Care Act provides for the establishment of consumer assistance (or ombudsman) programs, starting in FY 2010. Federal grants will support these programs. For FY 2010, $30 million is appropriated; such sums authorized - but not yet appropriated - for FY 2011 and thereafter. These programs will assist consumers with filing complaints and appeals, assist consumers with enrollment into health coverage, collect data on consumer inquiries and complaints to identify problems in the marketplace, educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities, and starting in 2014, resolve problems with premium credits for Exchange coverage.
Importantly, these programs must provide detailed reporting on the types of problems and questions consumers may experience with health coverage, and how these are resolved. The law requires programs to report data to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in order to strengthen oversight:
As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection (d), an office of health insurance consumer assistance or ombudsman program shall be required to collect and report data to the Secretary on the types of problems and inquiries encountered by consumers.
Analysis of this data reporting will help identity patterns of practice in the insurance marketplaces and uncover suspected patterns of noncompliance. HHS must share program data reports with the Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Services, and State regulators. Program data also can offer the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight one indication of the effectiveness of State enforcement, affording opportunities to provide technical assistance and support to State insurance regulators and, in extreme cases, inform the need to trigger federal enforcement.
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.
Data Collection Report (1st and 2nd Quarterly Submissions)