The Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) is requesting an extension of this currently
approved information collection request. HHS is now seeking a
three-year approval for this collection. On March 23, 2010, the
President signed into law H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act), Public Law 111-148.
Section 1101 of the law establishes a ''temporary high risk health
insurance pool program'' (which has been named the Pre-Existing
Condition Insurance Plan, or PCIP) to provide health insurance
coverage to currently uninsured individuals with pre-existing
conditions. The law authorizes HHS to carry out the program
directly or through contracts with states or private, non-profit
entities. We are requesting an extension for this package because
this information is needed to assure that PCIP programs are
established timely and effectively. This request is being made
based on regulations that have been issued and contracts which have
been executed by HHS with States or an entity on their behalf
participating in the PCIP program. PCIP is also referred to as the
temporary qualified high risk insurance pool program, as it is
called in the Affordable Care Act, but we have adopted the term
PCIP to better describe the program and avoid confusion with the
existing state high risk pool programs.
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.