The Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act, Pub. L. 111-148, was signed into law on March 23, 2010,
and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Pub.
L. 111-152, was signed into law on March 30, 2010 (these are
collectively known as the "Affordable Care Act"). The Affordable
Care Act amends the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) by adding
section 2715 "Development and Utilization of Uniform Explanation of
Coverage Documents and Standardized Definitions." Section 2715
directs the Secretary, in consultation with the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners and a working group
comprised of stakeholders, to develop standards for use by a group
health plan and a health insurance issuer in compiling and
providing to applicants, enrollees, and policyholders and
certificate holders a summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) that
accurately describes the benefits and coverage under the applicable
plan or coverage. Section 2715 also directs the Secretary to
provide for the development of standards for the defintions of
terms used in health insuance. Finally, section 2715 requires
60-days advance notice of any material modification in any of the
terms of the plan or coverage that is not reflected in the most
recently provided SBC. To implement these disclosure requirements,
the final rule would require a collection of information by health
insurance issuers in the group and individual markets and
third-party administrators. Collection of information requirements
relate to the provision of the following: 1. Summary of benefits
and coverage (SBC) 2. Coverage examples (as a component of each
SBC) 3. A uniform glossary of health coverage and medical terms
(uniform glossary) 4. Notice of modifications Keywords: Health
care, Health insurance, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
and State regulation of health insurance.
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.