Section 4507 of BBA 1997 amended section 1802 of the Social Security Act to permit certain physicians and practitioners to opt-out of Medicare and to provide through private contracts services that would otherwise be covered by Medicare. Under such contracts the mandatory claims submission and limiting charge rules of section 1848(g) of the Act would not apply. Subpart D and the Supporting Regulations contained in 42 CFR 405.410, 405.430, 405.435, 405.440, 405.445, and 405.455, counters the effect of certain provisions of Medicare law that, absent section 4507 of BBA 1997, preclude physicians and practitioners from contracting privately with Medicare beneficiaries to pay without regard to Medicare limits.
We updated the burden estimate in section A.12 from the last burden estimate to reflect changes in the number of physicians and practitioners who have opted out and refinements to our methodology for estimating the burden associated with contracts. We have also updated the cost estimate to account for the current BLS wage estimates and to include the estimated costs for Medicare Advantage plans.
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.
CMS-R-234 - Supporting Statement A-Final.docx
Subpart D-Private Contracts and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 405.410 (a)