Section 2718 of the Public Health
Service Act (PHS Act) requires health insurance issuers offering
group or individual health insurance coverage to submit an annual
report to the Secretary beginning in 2012. The reported data will
allow for the calculation of an issuer's medical lass ratio (MLR)
by market (individual, small group, and large group) within each
State in which the issuer conducts business. Section 2718 sets out
a minimum MLR standard for each market segment that issuers must
meet. If an issuer doed not meet the MLR standard, it must provide
rebates to enrollees. Section 2718 allows for the Secretary to
lower the 80% MLR standard in the individual market on a
state-by-state basis if there is a risk of destabilization caused
by the requirement to meet the MLR standard. States requesting that
HHS lower the MLR standard must submit information supporting their
assertion that the individual market in their State would
destabilize absent an adjustment to the MLR standard. HHS must
obtain such information in order to ascertain whether
destabillization has a high likelihood of occuring within the
respective State.
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.