CMS is requesting that an information
collection request to support the development of federal payment
rates for the Basic Health Program (BHP) be processed under the
emergency clearance process associated with Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (PRA), specifically 5 CFR 1320.13(a)(2)(i). In accordance
with Section 1331 of ACA, the BHP is federally funded by
determining the amount of payments that the federal government
would have made through premium tax credits (PTCs) and cost sharing
reductions (CSRs) for people enrolled in BHP had they instead been
enrolled in an Exchange. In order to calculate these amounts for
each state, CMS needs the reference premiums for the second lowest
cost silver plans (SLCSPs) in each geographic area in a state, as
SLCSPs are a basic unit in the calculation of PTCs and CSRs under
the Exchanges. Relatedly, the reference premiums for these SLCSPs
are critical components in the BHP payment methodology in order to
estimate what PTCs and CSRs would have been paid. Similarly, CMS
also needs to collect reference premiums for the lowest cost bronze
plans to appropriately account for CSR calculations for American
Indians and Alaskan Natives. CMS recently determined that it does
not have sufficient data from State Based Exchanges (SBEs) to
determine the reference premiums for their SLCSPs and lowest cost
bronze plans. Reference premiums are foundational inputs into the
BHP payment methodology.
The emergency
justification is attached to this package.
PL: Pub.L. 111 - 148 1331 Name of Law:
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
PL: Pub.L. 111 - 152 1331 Name of Law: Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010
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.