On March 23, 2010, the President
signed into law H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act, Public Law 111-148, as amended by the Health Care and
Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111-152, collectively
referred to as "The Affordable Care Act." The Affordable Care Act
expands access to health insurance coverage through improvements to
the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance (CHIP) programs, the
establishment of Affordable Insurance Exchanges (Exchanges), and
the assurance of coordination between Medicaid, CHIP, and
Exchanges. Through the Small Business Health Options Program
(SHOP), the new Exchanges will assist qualified small employers in
facilitating the enrollment of their employees in Qualified Health
Plans (QHPs) offered in the small group market. The Exchanges,
which will offer these QHPs, will become operational on January 1,
2014. Employers will be able to begin applying for coverage through
the SHOP October 1, 2013, for coverage beginning as early as
January 1, 2014. The employer's application for the SHOP will be a
single, streamlined form that will be used to determine employer
eligibility for the SHOP. The submission seeks OMB approval of the
data collection elements needed to support eligibility
determinations for small businesses in the SHOP.
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.