Supporting Statement Part A
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program
CMS-10141, OMB 0938-0964
The PRA requirements referenced in this submission, as reflected in the regulations at 42 CFR Part 423, assisted in the implementation of the provisions of the Social Security Act (the Act) to establish and regulate the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and support the continued administration of the program.
The purpose of this submission is to request approval of changes to burden estimates and changes to business continuity requirements and the exceptions process, and to solicit comment for the 30 day period for the revised Part D Explanation of Benefits (EOB). The finalized changes to the revised model EOB would take effect on January 1, 2024 pending OMB approval. This iteration includes comments received from the 60 day comment period and responses.
Part D sponsors must provide enrollees with an EOB no later than the end of the month following any month in which the enrollee utilized their prescription drug benefit. This 2021/2022 information collection request includes revisions to the standardized Part D Explanation of Benefits model documents based on feedback received during the 60 day comment period and published on December 21, 2021. This iteration will reflect model revisions that will provide plans and enrollees with a simpler, more straightforward display of information based on feedback received.
Part D sponsors are required to maintain for 10 years books, records, documents, and other evidence of accounting procedures and practices. We are revising burden and cost estimates for this information collection that are associated with an increase number of Part D sponsors currently operating.
Part D plan sponsor that provides prescription drug benefits managed through a tiered formulary are required establish and maintain reasonable and complete exceptions procedures subject to CMS' approval for this type of coverage determination. We are revising burden and cost estimates for this information collection to reflect increasing current exception request numbers.
A voluntary prescription drug benefit program was enacted into law on December 8, 2003, in section 101 of Title I of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108–173). Section 101 amended Title XVIII of the Act by establishing the new Part D: the Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program. Section 101 of Title I added sections 1860D-1 through D-42 and sections 102, 103, 104 and 109 to the Act. As specified in the MMA, the prescription drug benefit program became available to beneficiaries beginning on January 1, 2006.
On January 28, 2005 (70 FR 4194) CMS published a final rule (CMS-4068-F; RIN 0938-AN08) to implement the provisions of the Act and establish and regulate the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit.
Section 1860D–1(b)(1)(B) of the Act directs us to adopt enrollment rules “similar to (and coordinated with)” those under Part C. Accordingly, in addition to those SEPs described above, we have applied certain SEPs established under the MA program to the Part D program. The SEPs from the MA program that have been codified for Part D include the following:
The Part D plan sponsor's contract is terminated by the plan sponsor or by CMS or the plan is no longer offered in the area where the individual resides (§ 423.38(c)(6)).
The individual is no longer eligible for the Part D plan because of a change in his or her place of residence to a location outside of the Part D plan region(s) in which the plan is offered (§ 423.38(c)(7)).
Section 1860D-1(b)(3)(C) of the Act also grants the Secretary the authority to create SEPs for individuals who meet other exceptional conditions, which is reflected at § 423.38(c)(8)(ii). Pursuant to this authority, we have codified SEPs for the following circumstances:
The individual demonstrates to CMS that the plan sponsor substantially violated a material provision of its contract in relation to the initial coverage limit and the out-ofpocket threshold for the current year.
In line with Section 1860D–4(a)(1)(A)(4), the May 23, 2019 (84 FR 23832) final rule (CMS4180-F) revised § 423.120(d) for Part B Step Therapy and § 423.128(e)(5) for Part D Explanation of Benefits.
Pursuant to § 1860D-4(a)(1), CMS finalized a regulation at 42 CFR § 423.128(b)(11) that requires Part D Sponsors to disclose information on risks associated with prolonged opioid use and coverage of non-pharmacological therapies, devices, and non-opioid medications under their plan (MA-PDs) or under their plan and under Medicare Parts A and B (standalone PDPs). Under 42 CFR § 423.128(b)(11)(ii), sponsors are permitted to disclose this information to a subset of enrollees rather than all enrollees.
Section 1860D-1(c)(3) of the Act requires PDPs and MA-PDs to include the following information for qualified prescription drug coverage provided by PDPs and MA-PD plans as part of our dissemination of Part D information: The benefits provided under the plan, the monthly beneficiary premium under the plan, the quality and performance under the plan, and the costsharing required of part D eligible individuals under the plan.
Under our finalized revisions to § 423.153(d) to implement sections 6064 and 6103 of the
SUPPORT Act, ARBs, as defined in § 423.100 will be targeted for enrollment in a sponsor’s Medication Therapy Management (MTM) programs. Section 6103 of the SUPPORT Act amended MTM requirements in 1860D-4(c)(2)(B) of the Act by creating subsection (ii) which requires Part D plans to provide all MTM targeted individuals with information about the safe disposal of controlled substances, including information on drug takeback programs, in-home disposal, and cost-effective means for disposal. Burden associated with providing safe disposal information as part of the MTM comprehensive medication review/standardized format is discussed in a separate information collection request CMS-10396, OMB 0938-1154. Remaining burden associated with providing safe disposal information that is not part of the MTM comprehensive medication review/standardized format, is described in this package.
Section 704 of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016 included provisions permitting Part D sponsors to establish drug management programs (DMPs) for beneficiaries at-risk for misuse or abuse of frequently abused drugs (FADs). In final rule CMS4182-F published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2018, CMS established the framework under which Part D sponsors could implement a DMP. Pursuant to sections 2004 and 2006 of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, respectively, Part D sponsors are required to implement DMPs and include beneficiaries with a history of opioid-related overdose in DMPs.
As explained below, CMS will use this information from plan sponsors and States to approve contract applications, monitor compliance with contract requirements, make proper payment to plans, and ensure that correct information is disclosed to potential and current enrollees.
Part D sponsors are required to maintain for 10 years books, records, documents, and other evidence of accounting procedures and practices. Evidence of these mechanisms must be submitted to CMS, and must demonstrate the ability to restore business operations in case of a natural disaster, emergency, or any other disruption that would otherwise affect their ability to conduct business.
Additionally, sponsors that have existing business continuity plans that do not meet all the requirements must revise and document this information and changes to CMS.
Those who wish to enroll in a Part D sponsors’ plan must submit an enrollment form and an acknowledgement of disclosure of pertinent information to be shared between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Part D sponsor. The enrollee must also provide information regarding reimbursement for Part D costs through other insurance, group health plan or other third-party payment arrangement.
Medicare beneficiaries will use the information provided by the Part D sponsors to make decisions regarding Part D enrollment as well as grievance and appeal requests. This information comes as written guidance provided to beneficiaries after enrollment, and indicates options available in case a beneficiary wants to appeal a coverage determination or file a grievance.
Dissemination of Plan Information (§ 423.128)
A beneficiary that has utilized their drug benefit receives an explanation of benefits indicating how cost-sharing is applied to their drugs based on their prescription drug benefit.
Part D sponsors will use information from beneficiaries’ history of prescription to provide a list of therapeutic alternatives to drugs they are taking. Specifically, prescription information that is entered into a pharmacy at the point-of-sale shows the sponsor the type of medication is taking. They will use this to provide information on the explanation of benefits (EOB) of therapeutically equivalent medications that may cost less for the beneficiary.
Accreditation Organizations (§ 423.168)
In § 423.168(c), an accreditation organization approved by CMS must provide to CMS in written form and on a monthly basis copies of accreditation surveys, notices of accreditation decisions, notice of all complaints, information about any remedial or adverse action taken, and notice of any finalized changes to accreditation standards, requirements or survey processes.
Drug Management Program Standardized Beneficiary Notices and Sample Letters (§ 423.153(f)(16))
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act requires Part D sponsors that participate in a drug management program to develop notices to be sent to prescribers informing them of any beneficiary believed to be abusing opioids based on clinical criteria, as well as notifying the beneficiary of this.
In order to determine which beneficiaries would be included in their drug management programs, Part D plans will engage in case management of potential at-risk beneficiaries, through contact with their prescribers, when such beneficiary is found to be taking a specific dosage of opioids and/or obtaining them from multiple prescribers and multiple pharmacies who may not know about each other.
The sponsor will provide an initial notice to a potential at-risk beneficiary if the sponsor intends to limit the beneficiary’s access to coverage for frequently abused drugs, and the sponsor will provide a second notice to an at-risk beneficiary when it actually imposes a limit on the beneficiary’s access to coverage for frequently abused drugs. Alternatively, the sponsor will provide an alternate second notice if it decides not to limit the beneficiary’s access to coverage for frequently abused drugs.
Under DMPs, Part D sponsors will use the authority provided under § 423.153(f) to communicate with prescribers in the course of case management and to communicate to enrollees regarding risk status and potential coverage limitations. Information will also be used by for Part D sponsors to convey information about the a prior sponsor’s findings about the beneficiary’s prior opioid and/or benzodiazepine utilization, and to provide the new sponsor with the records and actions generated by the former sponsor’s review of the beneficiary under its
DMP.
States are required to make available application forms for low-income subsidy, information on the nature of, and eligibility requirements for the subsidies under this section, and offer assistance with the completion of the application forms. Individuals or personal representatives applying for the low-income subsidy must complete all required elements, provide documents as necessary, and certify as to the accuracy of the information provided. State agencies are required to inform CMS of LIS eligibility for potential enrollees, and must inform CMS of these cases.
States must provide CMS with this information as specified in order to administer the Part D prescription drug benefit.
To ensure patient protections and safety and to protect the Trust Funds from prescribers and providers identified as bad actors, a Part D plan sponsor must reject, or require its pharmacy benefit manager to reject, a pharmacy claim for a Part D drug if the individual who prescribed the drug is included on the ‘‘preclusion list.’’
CMS will issue an initial email notification to the impacted providers using the email addresses obtained from the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS), the Medicare enrollment system of record, or the National Provider Plan and Enumeration System (NPPES). CMS or a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) will follow up with a written notice through certified mail to the impacted provider in advance of his or her inclusion on the Preclusion List and their applicable appeal rights.
Information collection may involve the use of automated or electronic mechanisms designed to reduce burden and increase efficiency.
Under § 423.505(p), Part D sponsors are required to develop business continuity plans with the goal of better ensuring beneficiary access to health care services and Part D drugs during and after interruptions to regular business operations. These strategies developing contingency plans to maintain the availability and, as applicable, the confidentiality of hard copy and electronic essential records, including a disaster recovery plan for IT and beneficiary communication systems.
Under § 423.153(f)(6)(i), which codified requirements in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, the Part D sponsor will send a mailed written notice to indicate a beneficiary’s atrisk status and whether any restrictions have been imposed on their access to opioids. Where feasible the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques designed to reduce burden and enhance accuracy. It is anticipated that sponsors will upload sample letters into automated computer systems so the content is communicated reliably and a digital record of letters being sent is maintained. Communication between the plan sponsor and CMS is conducted electronically through OMS and MARx allowing for detailed DMP data disclosure and maintenance of records. Although responses to CMS regarding outcomes of case management or coverage limitations require manual input into OMS or MARx, respectively, by sponsors, the electronic format eliminates the need for paper submissions.
For appeals and grievances related to coverage determinations, guidance may be delivered by mail or electronically, depending on the beneficiary’s preference.
Section 423.128(e) requires information on therapeutic alternatives to be included on a beneficiary’s explanation of benefit when their drug benefit is utilized in a given month. This information can be mailed or delivered electronically, depending on the beneficiary’s preferred method of delivery.
4. Duplication of Similar Information
This collection does not contain duplication of similar information.
We are certifying that this PRA package does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. To defend our position, we first describe at a high level the cash flows related to the Medicare program. We then provide more specific details. The high-level underlying idea in creating the non-government-managed Prescription Drug program (PDPs and drug portion of MA-PDs) is to allow beneficiaries to obtain prescription drugs in a competitive market to reduce costs. For MA, MA-PD and Cost plans, enrollees obtain the same Original Medicare Part A and Part B services they would otherwise obtain in the original Medicare program, albeit at reduced cost (however, for the small percentage of plans bidding above the benchmark, enrollees pay more, but this percentage of plans is not “significant” as defined by the RFA and as justified below).
The savings achieved by the MA-PD plans, the amount of reduced cost, can then be used by the private insurers in a variety of ways, including providing benefits supplemental to original Medicare. Some examples of these supplemental benefits include vision, dental, and hearing. The cost for furnishing these supplemental benefits comes from a combination of the Trust Fund and enrollee premiums.
Part D plans submit bids and are paid by the Medicare Trust Fund for their projected costs in the form of direct premium subsidy and reinsurance. For any enrolled low-income beneficiaries, they receive low-income premium subsidy and low-income cost-sharing subsidy in addition. The national average monthly bid amount, or NAMBA, determines the base premium. A plan’s premium is the sum of the base premium and the difference between its bid amount and the
NAMBA.
Thus the cost of providing services by these insurers is met by a variety of government funding and in some cases by enrollee premiums. In order to achieve these goals, the government pays the health plans a portion of the funds that would have been paid had plan enrollees remained in original Medicare. These funds are then used to provide additional benefits on behalf of the health plans’ enrollees. Thus, by the original design of the Medicare health plan programs, the various insurance programs were not expected to suffer burden or losses since, in this very unique insurance relationship, the private companies are being supported by the government who, in turn, is saving money because health plans, by virtue of coordinating care, are furnishing the same services, albeit at reduced cost. This lack of expected burden applies to both large and small health plans.
The unique Part D regulations, such as those in this PRA package, are defined so that small entities are not expected to incur additional burden since the cost of complying with any final rule is passed on to the government.
This information is collected on the least frequent basis necessary to support CMS’ administration of the Part D and MA programs and plan sponsor’s provision of benefits under their contracts with CMS. With less frequent collection, CMS would not have access to the data necessary to administer these programs and plan sponsors.
For example, under the information collection on business continuity plans, existing plan sponsors are required to annually test their plan and update these documents as needed. New plan sponsors without existing business continuity plans must develop and implement such plans. Business continuity plans ensure that plan sponsors are able to restore business operations after disruptions caused by events such as natural or man-made disasters, systems failures and emergencies. In another example information collected from beneficiaries is collected when an enrollment application is filed and when a coverage determination is requested. Other information, such as other payers reimbursing Part D costs on the enrollee’s behalf, is collected from beneficiaries only annually. Information from Part D sponsors related to, for example, drug utilization management or dissemination of plan information, is an annual requirement; although bid information from sponsors is an annual collection, cost information is collected monthly. Information collected from the states pertaining to low-income subsidy determinations and redeterminations is collected monthly.
Conducting testing of business continuity plans less frequently than annually increases the risks associated with a service disruption to beneficiary access to care and coverage. Some other consequences of less frequent collection would be improper or erroneous payment to Part D plans, improper enrollment of beneficiaries in a Part D organization, release of misleading information regarding the health care coverage through a plan to potential members, and inadequate provision of patients’ rights to Medicare-covered services.
There are no special circumstances that would require an information collection to be conducted in a manner that requires respondents to:
Report information to the agency more often than quarterly;
Prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;
Submit more than an original and two copies of any document;
Retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;
Collect data in connection with a statistical survey that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study,
Use a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;
Include a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or
Submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.
We solicited public comments 12/21/2022 during the 60-day comment period (86 FR 72244) on the newly designed Part D Explanation of Benefits (EOB) that was developed based on beneficiary testing and industry feedback. The attached model Explanation of Benefits and crosswalk reflects these revisions. 9 commenters provided feedback on the timing of the release for the new design, the new EOB format, and electronic delivery options. These comments and our responses are included in the attachments under (3i) and listed in the attachments section. Additionally, the crosswalk of changes from the 60 day comment period is included in this iteration.
Based on these comments and subsequent revisions, we are seeking feedback on the revised Part D Explanation of Benefits for the 30 day comment period (87 FR 24308) posted to the Federal Register 4/25/2022.
Respondent receiving payment in any form must be in compliance with the information collection requirements set forth.
CMS recognizes the potential confidential or proprietary nature of the information related to the information collection on business continuity plans. Plans are not required as a matter of course to submit these plans to CMS or to make such plans publicly available. If CMS requests the documents, we do not intend to voluntarily disclose then to any parties outside the government. Although the documents may be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) plan sponsors may seek to protect their information from disclosure by claiming FOIA exemption 4 and taking the appropriate steps, including labeling the information in questions as “confidential” or “proprietary.”
The information collected from organizations for the purposes of disclosing to the potential enrollees their health care coverage choices is public information. The information is being collected for purposes of the National Medicare Education Program, the purpose of which is the broad public dissemination of objective, comparative information on benefits, program rules, and premiums of the contracting with organizations. The information collected from Medicare beneficiaries and contained in medical records and other health and enrollment information must conform to all requirements at 42 CFR Parts 417, 422, and 423 including all Federal and State laws regarding confidentiality and disclosure.
There are no sensitive questions associated with this collection. Specifically, the collection does not solicit questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.
Subsection 12A sets out burden for collection of information requirements that are subject to the PRA. Subsection 12B lists collection of information requirements that are exempt from the PRA. Subsection 12C lists related collection of information requirements that are approved by OMB under a control number other than 0938-0964 (CMS-10141).
This section consists of the following subsections:
Wage Estimates
Requirements and Annual Burden Estimates
12.1 ICRs Regarding Business Continuity Plans under §§ 422.504(o) and 423.505(p) (Revised)
12.2 ICRs Regarding Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Beneficiaries) (Revised)
12.3 ICRs Regarding Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Plans)
12.4 ICRs Regarding State Eligibility Determinations (§423.904(b)) and Reporting
(§423.910(d)) (No Changes)
12.5 ICRs Regarding the Preparation and Issuance of the Precluded Provider Model Notices to the Medicare Beneficiaries and Prescribers
(No Changes)
Summary of Requirements and Annual Burden Estimates
Information Collection Instruments, Instructions and Guidance Documents
WAGE ESTIMATES
To derive average costs, we used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2020
National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for all salary estimates
(https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm). In this regard, the following table presents the mean hourly wage, the cost of fringe benefits and overhead (calculated at 100 percent of salary), and the adjusted hourly wage.
Unlike our private sector adjustment to the respondent hourly wage, we are not adjusting this figure for fringe benefits and overhead since the individuals’ activities would occur outside the scope of their employment.
Table 1. National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
BLS Occupation Title |
Occupation Code |
Mean Hourly Wage ($/hr) |
Fringe Benefits and Overhead ($/hr) |
Adjusted Hourly Wage ($/hr) |
Business Operations Specialist |
13-1198 |
40.53 |
40.53 |
81.06 |
Computer Programmer |
15-1251 |
45.98 |
45.98 |
91.96 |
General Operations Manager |
11-1021 |
60.45 |
60.45 |
120.90 |
All Occupations |
00-0000 |
27.07 |
n/a |
n/a |
Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk |
43-9041 |
21.67 |
21.67 |
43.34 |
Pharmacist |
29-1051 |
60.32 |
60.32 |
120.64 |
Physicians, All Other |
29-1228 |
105.22 |
105.22 |
210.44 |
Software Developers |
15-1256 |
54.94 |
54.94 |
109.88 |
REQUIREMENTS AND ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES
The following Information Collection Requests (ICRs) are being revised: Business Continuity
Plans (section 12.1), Exceptions Process (section 12.2.4), and Dissemination of plan information
(section 12.3.10). Where applicable, the number of Part D sponsors has been updated to reflect
2021 contract information. In 2021, there were 942 contracts offering Part D (66 standalone PDPs and 876 MA-PD plans). The 942 contracts are represented by 742 legal entities and 308 parent organizations.
12.1 ICRs Regarding Business Continuity Plans under §§ 422.504(o) and 423.505(p) (Revised)
Sections 422.504(o) and 423.505(p) require, respectively, MA organizations and Part D sponsors to develop, maintain, and implement business continuity plans that identify potential business disruptions and develop ways to maintain functions or restore them as soon possible thereafter. We believe many entities already have developed and are maintaining plans that meet these requirements for two reasons - 1) creating business continuity plans is a well-established practice across most industries; and 2) CMS finalized a regulation (80 FR 7912) that created flexibility for industry practices related to business continuity. Accordingly, the burden associated with the requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D sponsors and MA organizations without plans to develop and maintain business continuity plans and the time and effort for entities that have existing business continuity plans that do not meet all the requirements to revise them.
We estimate that annually there will be 5 new Part D sponsors and MA organizations that do not already have a business continuity plan based on our experience that most entities that create new plans each year are under parent organizations and already have business continuity plans in place. We estimate a burden of 240 hours for each of these 5 entities. We also estimate for each subsequent year that 94 entities with existing plans will either experience a problem or for some other reason update their plan and it will take each plan 40 hours for these revisions, for a total burden of 3,760 hours (40 hr x 94 plans) at a cost of $304,786 (3,760 hr x $81.06/ hr) for a business operations specialist, for a combined total burden of 4,960 hours..
Table 2. Business Continuity Plans: Burden and Cost Summary (: Subtotal)
CFR Section |
Response Type* |
# Respondents |
Time (hr per response) |
# Responses (per respondent) |
Total Responses (all respondents) |
Total Annual Time (all respondents) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
423.505(p) combined with 422.504(o) |
RK |
5 |
240 |
1 |
5 |
240 |
$ 175,090 |
94 |
40 |
1 |
94 |
3,760 |
$ 304,786 |
||
Subtotal |
99 |
Varies |
1 |
99 |
4,960 |
$ 479,876 |
|
*RK (recordkeeping).
12.2 ICRs Regarding Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Benes) (§§ 423.32 , 423.34, 423.38, 423.56, and 423.578) (Revised)
The following ICRs are related to the enrollment process and creditable coverage.
12.2.1 Enrollment process (§ 423.32) (No change)
The burden for this ICR is now accounted for in CMS-10718 (OMB 0938-1378).
Section 423.34(e) states that a full-benefit dual eligible beneficiary may decline automatic enrollment in a Part D plan or may enroll in a plan different than the plan into which CMS placed them.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort put forth by the individual to actively decline enrollment or to actively enroll in a new, and for plans to process the enrollments and disenrollments. We estimate it will take an individual about 15 minutes (0.25 hours) to, either contact the plan to disenroll or contact the new plan to enroll (resulting in an automatic disenrollment from the plan into which the person was enrolled by CMS). Beneficiaries can contact plans in a number of ways, with varying amounts of time needed for the contact. A beneficiary will need to contact the plan only once. There are, on average, approximately 130,000 individuals who choose their own plan instead of the automatic enrollment each year so we estimate that it takes full dual beneficiaries 32,500 hours each year to decline the automatic enrollment or enroll in a different plan (causing a disenrollment). The total number of hours is 32,500 hours for the full dual beneficiaries (130,000 beneficiaries x 0.25 hr) at an annual cost of $879,775 (32,500 hr x $27.07/hr individual hourly wage).
If an individual establishes to CMS that he or she was not adequately informed that he or she no longer had creditable prescription drug coverage or the coverage is involuntarily reduced, the individual may apply to CMS to have the coverage treated as creditable coverage so as to not be subject to the late enrollment penalty described in § 423.46. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for an individual to apply to CMS to have such coverage treated as creditable coverage. Based on recent experience (i.e., 2012 – 2014, we estimate that on an annual basis it will take 100 individuals 15 minutes (0.25 hours) to apply to
CMS, for a total of 25 hours (100 beneficiaries x 0.25 hr) at an annual cost of $667 (25 hr x $27.07/hr individual hourly wage).
In paragraphs (a) and (b) an enrollee, the enrollee’s representative, or the enrollee’s prescribing physician or other prescriber (on behalf of the enrollee) may file a request for an exception that meets the requirements of this section.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for an individual to submit an exception request. We estimate that that 4,500,000 exception requests will be received annually by Part D plan sponsors. We further estimate it will take an individual an average of 15 minutes (0.25 hours) to provide the request for a total annual burden of 1,125,000 hours (4,500,0004,500,000 requests x 0.25 hr) at an annual cost of $30,453,750 (1,125,000 hr x $27.07/hr individual hourly wage).
Table 3. Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Individuals): Burden and Cost Summary
(Subtotal)
CFR Section |
Response Type* |
# Respondents |
Time (hr per response) |
# Responses (per respondent) |
Total Responses (all respondents) |
Total Annual Time (hr, all respondents) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
423.34(e) |
R |
130,000 |
0.25 |
1 |
130,000 |
32,500 |
$ 879,775 |
423.56(f) |
R |
100 |
0.25 |
1 |
100 |
25 |
$ 677 |
423.578(a) and (b) |
R |
4,500,000 |
0.25 |
1 |
4,500,000 |
1,125,000 |
$ 30,453,750 |
Subtotal |
4,630,100 |
Varies |
1 |
3 |
1,157,525 |
$ 31,334,202 |
|
*R (reporting)
12.3 ICRs Regarding Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Plans) (§§ 423.32 (Removed), 423.34 (No change), 423.36 (No change), § 423.38 (No change), 423.44 (No change), 423.46 (No change), § 423.48 (No change), 423.104 (No change), 423.120 (No change), 423.128 (Revised), 423.153(No change); 423.168, 423.171, and 423.907 (No change),
423.329 (No change), 423.336 (No change), 423.343 (No change), 423.464 (No change),
423.505 (No change), 423.552 (No change), 423.562 (No change), 423.564 (No change), 423.568 (No change), 423.570 (No change), 423.572 (No change), 423.578 (No change), 423.800 (No change), and 423.892 (No change)).
The notification of enrollment status to a beneficiary is a 3rd party disclosure by the Part D sponsor that is reflected in the plan burden.
12.3.1 Enrollment process (§ 423.32) (Removed, see section 15 of this Supporting Statement for details)
The burden for this ICR is now accounted for in CMS-10718 (OMB 0938-1378).
As noted in section 12.2.2, section 423.34(e) states that a full-benefit dual eligible beneficiary may decline automatic enrollment in a Part D plan or may enroll in a plan different than the plan into which CMS placed them.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort put forth by the individual to actively decline automatic enrollment or to actively enroll in a new, and for plans to process the enrollments and disenrollments. We estimate it will take an individual about 15 minutes (0.25 hours) to, either contact the plan to decline the automatic enrollment or contact a different plan to enroll (resulting in an automatic disenrollment from the plan into which the person was enrolled by CMS). Beneficiaries can contact plans in a number of ways, with varying amounts of time needed for the contact. A beneficiary will need to contact the plan only once. There are on average approximately 130,000 individuals who choose their own plan instead of the automatic enrollment each year so we estimate that it takes full dual beneficiaries 32,500 hours a year to decline the automatic enrollment or enroll in a different plan (causing a disenrollment) each year. We further estimate the same amount of time for plans to receive and process these declinations/enrollments. The total annual burden is 32,500 hours for a business operations specialist for 942 Part D plan sponsors. The estimated annual cost is $2,634,450 ($81.06 /hr x 32,500 hr).
Section (b) requires the Part D plan sponsor to submit a disenrollment transaction to CMS within timeframes CMS specifies; provide the enrollee with a notice of disenrollment as CMS determines and approves; and file and retain disenrollment requests for the period specified in CMS instructions.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a Part D plan sponsor to provide an individual a notice of disenrollment, whether it is the result of the individual leaving the Part D program or switching plans during a valid enrollment period. Based on disenrollment data for January through August 2017, we estimate that on an annual basis it will require a total of 1,903,752 notices, affecting each Part D plan sponsors to some degree, as described below. There are 942 Part D plan sponsors in 2021. Each Part D plan creates the disenrollment notice, and most plans continue to use the same notice year-after-year, with some minor adjustments. Therefore, we estimate that it will take each Part D plan sponsor approximately 1 hour for a business operations specialist to produce the notice. 942 plan sponsors x 1 hour = 942 hours. We further estimate that on average, it will take each Part D plan sponsor 1 minute (0.017 hours) for a business operations specialist to assemble and disseminate the notice for each disenrollment. 1,903,752 notices x 0.017 hours (1 minute each) = 32,364 hours. The total number of hours is 33,306 hours (942 + 32,364). The estimated annual cost is $2,699,767 ($81.06/hr x 33,306 hr).
We codified (at § 423.38(c)(11) through (32)) certain Part D SEPs for exceptional circumstances currently set out in sub-regulatory guidance that MA organizations and Part D plan sponsors have implemented and are currently following. We are also establishing two new additional
SEPs for exceptional circumstances: The SEP for Individuals Enrolled in a Plan Placed in Receivership and the SEP for Individuals Enrolled in a Plan that has been identified by CMS as a Consistent Poor Performer.
We estimate it would take approximately 5 minutes (0.083 hr) at $81.06/hr for a business operations specialist to determine an applicant’s eligibility for an election period.
The burden for Part D parent organizations associated with standalone PDPs is estimated at 155,627 hours (1,867,519 beneficiary SEP elections * 0.083) at a cost of $12,615,091 (155,627 hours * $81.06/hr).
Burden for MA organizations was submitted to OMB for approval under control number 09380753 (CMS-R-267).
Table 4. Burden Summary for Enrollment Periods (§ 423.38)
Regulatory Citation |
Subject |
Response Type* |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses |
Time per Response (hr) |
Total Time (hr) |
Labor Cost ($/hr) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
§ 423.38(c) |
SEP Enrollment |
R |
50 |
1,867,519 |
0.083 |
155,627 |
81.06 |
12,615,091 |
*R (reporting)
If the disenrollment is for any of the reasons specified in paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2)(i) or (b)(2)(iv) of § 423.44, the Part D plan sponsor must give the individual timely notice of the disenrollment with an explanation of why the Part D plan is seeking to disenroll the individual. Notices for these reasons must be provided to the individual before submission of the disenrollment notice to CMS; and include an explanation of the individual's right to a hearing under the Part D plan’s grievance procedures.
A Part D plan sponsor may disenroll an individual from the Part D plan for failure to pay plan premiums following a minimum 2-month grace period and if the Part D plan sponsor can demonstrate to CMS that it made reasonable efforts to collect the unpaid premium amount.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a Part D plan sponsor to effectuate the disenrollment and provide an individual the notice of disenrollment. There were approximately 942 Part D plan sponsors in 2021. Each Part D plan creates the disenrollment notice, and most plans continue to use the same notice year-after-year, with some minor adjustments. Therefore, we estimate that it will take each Part D plan approximately 1 hour to produce the notice. 942 plan sponsors x 1 hour = 942 hours. We estimate that it will take a Part D plan 5 minutes (0.083 hours) to submit the required transaction to CMS for each occurrence and 1 minute (0.017 hours) for a business operations specialist to assemble and disseminate the notice for each disenrollment. Based on disenrollment data for January through June 2017, we estimate that on an annual basis 496,344 individuals will be disenrolled for failure to pay premiums. Total burden is 496,344 notices * 0.083 hr (5 minutes each) = 41,197 hours to submit the required transaction to CMS and 496,344 notices x 0.017 hours (1 minute each) = 8,438 hours to disseminate the notice. The total number of hours is 50,576 (942 + 41,197 + 8,438). The estimated annual cost is $4,099,723 ($81.06 /hr x 50,576 hr).
Following the enactment of section 3308 of the Affordable Care Act in 2011 which required additional premium amounts to be paid directly to the government by higher-income individuals when enrolled in Part D, CMS may disenroll individuals who do not pay their additional premium amounts, also known as Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (Part DIRMAA), to the government within a 3-month grace period. If payment is not received timely, CMS processes the disenrollment and notifies Part D plans of the involuntary disenrollment, and the plan is required to notify their member of the disenrollment from their plan.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort for the Part D plan sponsor to disclose to an individual the notice of disenrollment. There were approximately 942 Part D plan sponsors in 2021. Each Part D plan creates the disenrollment notices, and most plans continue to use the same notice year-after-year, with some minor adjustments. Therefore, we estimate that it will take each Part D plan approximately 1 hour to produce the notice. 942 plan sponsors x 1 hour = 942 hours. We estimate that it will take a Part D plan 1 minute (0.017 hours) to assemble and disseminate the notice for each disenrollment. Based on data from January 1 through September 23, 2017, we estimate that on an annual basis 1,100 individuals will be disenrolled for failure to pay Part D-IRMAA. 1,100 notices x 0.017 hours = 18.7 hours. The total number of hours is 960.7 (942 + 18.7). The estimated annual cost is $77,784 ($81.06 /hr x 960.7 hr).
An individual who is disenrolled for non-payment of plan premiums or non-payment Part DIRMAA may be reinstated by the Part D sponsor or by CMS, respectively, if the individual shows good cause for not paying premiums timely. In this process, the plan or CMS determines if good cause is met based on the individual’s request for review and his or her attestation of the unexpected and unforeseen event. Should an individual receive a favorable determination, the payment of all overdue premiums must be paid to the plan and CMS as applicable. Individuals are notified by the plan sponsor of the plan premium amount owed for reinstatement. CMS notifies individuals of any Part D-IRMAA amounts owed to the government.
The Part D plan sponsor burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort for the Part D plan sponsor to provide an individual the notice of the owed plan premium amount required for reinstatement. There were approximately 942 Part D plan sponsors in 2021. Each Part D plan creates the notice of the plan premium amount owed, and most plans continue to use the same notice year-after-year, with some minor adjustments. Therefore, we estimate that it will take each Part D plan approximately 1 hour to produce the notice. 942 plan sponsors x 1 hour = 942 hours. We estimate that it will take a Part D plan 5 minutes (0.083 hours) to compile the arrearage information and 1 minute (0.017 hours) for a business operations specialist to assemble and disseminate the notice for each favorable determination. We estimate that on an annual basis 17,772 individuals will request and receive favorable good cause determinations. 17,772 notices x 0.1 hours (6 minutes) = 1,777 hours. The total number of hours is 2,719 (942+ 1,777). The estimated annual cost is $220,402 ($81.06 /hr x 2,719 hr).
A Part D plan may disenroll an individual whose behavior is disruptive, only after it meets the requirements described in guidance and after CMS has reviewed and approved the request. To disenroll an individual from its Part D plan, based on an individual’s behavior, the Part D plan sponsor must document the enrollee’s behavior, its own efforts to resolve any problems and any extenuating circumstances. The Part D plan must submit this information and any documentation received by the beneficiary to CMS. The Part D plan sponsor may request from CMS the ability to decline future enrollment by the individual.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a Part D plan to document and retain the documentation that meets the requirements set forth in guidance. We estimate that it will take a Part D plan 3 hours to capture and retain the required documentation for each occurrence. Based on actual experience, CMS receives approximately 1-2 total requests for involuntary disenrollment due to disruptive behavior annually. Thus, the burden to Part D plan sponsors is negligible.
In addition, the Part D plan must inform the individual of the right to use the Part D plan’s grievance procedures. The burden associated with this requirement is captured under § 423.128.
When a Part D plan contract terminates as stipulated under §§ 423.507 and 423.510 the Part D plan sponsor must send a notice to the enrollee before the effective date of the plan termination. The notice must give provide an effective date of the plan termination and a description of alternatives for obtaining benefits under Part D. The burden associated with these requirements is exempt from PRA requirements as discussed in section 12B.
Section 423.46(b) states that Part D sponsors must obtain information on prior creditable coverage from all enrolled or enrolling beneficiaries and report this information to CMS in a form and manner determined by CMS. Individuals enrolling in Part D with 63 days or more without creditable coverage will be assessed a Part D late enrollment penalty.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort put forth by the Part D sponsor to obtain the required information. There were approximately 942 Part D plan sponsors in 2021.
To comply with this requirement, Part D sponsors will expend 15 minutes (0.25 hours) per new Part D enrollee to obtain the information and report it to CMS for calculation of the late enrollment penalty, if one is required. We estimate that a total of 3.954 million individuals may newly enroll in or change their Part D plans annually and, as such, approximately 3.954 million new Part D enrollees will need to provide this information on an annual basis. Therefore the total annual burden associated with this requirement will be 3.954 million new enrollees x 0.25 hours (15 minutes) = 988,500 hours. The estimated annual cost is $80,127,810 ($81.06 /hr x 988,500 hr).
Section 423.46(d) requires the Part D plan sponsor to retain all information collected concerning a credible coverage period determination in accordance with the enrollment records retention requirements described in subpart K, § 423.505(e)(1)(iii). The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort put forth by the Part D plan sponsor to retain the required information. To comply with this requirement, Part D sponsors will expend 5 minutes (0.083 hours) per new Part D enrollee. We estimate that a total of 3.954 million individuals may newly enroll in or change their Part D plan annually. We estimate the total annual burden associated with this requirement will be 328,182 hours for all new Part D enrollees. The estimated annual cost is $26,602,433 ($81.06 /hr x 328,182 hr).
Each Part D plan must provide, on an annual basis, and in a format and using standard terminology that CMS may specify in guidance, the information necessary to enable CMS to provide to current and potential Part D eligible individuals the information they need to make informed decisions among the available choices for Part D coverage.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a Part D sponsor to submit the required materials to CMS. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take 942 Part D sponsors 2 hours for a business operations specialist to submit the required documentation to CMS for a total annual burden of 1,884 hours. The estimated annual cost is $152,717 ($81.06 /hr x 1,884 hr).
(g) A Part D plan sponsor is required to disclose to CMS data on aggregate negotiated price concessions obtained from pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as data on aggregate negotiated price concessions obtained from pharmaceutical manufacturers that are passed through to beneficiaries, via pharmacies and other dispensers, in the form of lower subsidies, prices, and/or monthly beneficiary prescription drug premiums, in the manner and frequency specified by CMS.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a Part D plan sponsor to disclose to CMS the aggregate negotiated price data on concessions. Given the complexity of this reporting, we estimate the time and effort required will be similar to that associated with the payment-related reporting requirements. Therefore, we estimate that on an annual basis it will take each of the 942 respondents 10 hours for a business operations specialist to submit the required documentation to CMS for total annual burden of 9,420 hours. The estimated annual cost is $763,585 ($81.06 /hr x 9,420 hr).
(b) A Part D plan sponsor’s formulary must be reviewed by a pharmacy and therapeutic committee that must maintain written documentation of its decisions regarding formulary development and revision.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a Part D sponsor’s pharmacy and therapeutic committee to document and retain the documentation that meets the requirements set forth in this section. We estimate that it will take 942 respondents 2 hours each for a business operations specialist to capture and retain the required documentation on an annual basis for total annual burden of 1,884 hours. The estimated annual cost is $152,717 ($81.06 /hr x1,884 hr).
Prior to removing a covered Part D drug from its plan’s formulary, or making any change in the preferred or tiered cost-sharing status of a covered Part D drug, a Part D plan sponsor must provide at least 30 days’ notice to CMS, State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs, entities providing other prescription drug coverage (as described in § 423.464(f)(1)), authorized prescribers, network pharmacies, and pharmacists.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a Part D sponsor to provide notice of at least 30 days to CMS, State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs, entities providing other prescription drug coverage, authorized prescribers, network pharmacies, and pharmacists of the removal of a covered Part D drug from its formulary.
Given that each entity has already created disclosure notices for mass mailings, we estimate that on an annual basis it will take on average, each of the 942 respondents 40 hours for a business operations specialist to disclose the required notice for a total annual burden of 37,680 hours. The decrease in total annual burden from the estimate previously reported is due to the decreased number of respondents. The estimated annual cost is $3,054,341 ($81.06 /hr x 37,680 hr).
Paragraph (b)(3)(iv) requires sponsors to provide enrollees with appropriate notice regarding their transition process within three business days after providing a temporary supply of nonformulary Part D drugs (including Part D drugs that are on a sponsor’s formulary but require prior authorization or step therapy under a sponsor’s utilization management rules). The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a Part D plan sponsor to provide a notice to beneficiaries regarding the transition process. We estimate this will result in 19 million notices that will take an average of 5 minutes (0.083 hours) for a business operations specialist to prepare. Thus, we estimate the total burden to be 1,577,000 hours. The estimated annual cost is $127,831,620 ($81.06/hr x 1,577,000 hr).
Under paragraph (c)(1), a Part D sponsor must issue and reissue, as necessary, a card or other type of technology to its enrollees to use to access negotiated prices for covered Part D drugs.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for an entity to provide each enrollee a card. The burden associated with this requirement is reflected in § 423.128.
Paragraph (d) provides protections to help ensure that beneficiaries maintain access to medically necessary Part B drugs while permitting MA plans to implement step therapy protocols that support stronger price negotiation and cost and utilization controls. In order to implement a step therapy program for one or more Part B drugs, this rule requires that an MA plan establish and use a P&T Committee to review and approve step therapy programs used in connection with Part
B drugs. The P&T Committee requirements are very similar to the requirements applicable to
Part D plans under § 423.120(b). This rule allows MA-PD plans to use the Part D P&T Committee to satisfy the new requirements related to MA plans and Part B drugs. For MA plans that do not cover Part D benefits already, they may use the Part D P&T Committee of another plan under the same contract. Under § 422.4(c), every MA contract must have at least one plan offering Part D. Because of the small amount of work needed annually, we believe it is reasonable to assume that no new committees will be formed and that the added work will be performed by the existing P&T Committees.
Paragraphs (b)(4) and (9) require that the P&T Committee “clearly articulate and document processes,” We estimate it would take 1 hour at $81.06/hr for a P&T Committee business specialist to perform certain tasks and review and retain documentation and information The 1 hour estimate reflects half of the Part D P&T Committee burden (or 2 hours). We believe that the added hour is reasonable since the P&T Committee requires significantly less work for Part B than for Part D. In aggregate, we estimate an annual burden of 876 hours for 876 MA-PD plans (1 hr x [942 total Part D plans minus 66 standalone PDPs which do not offer Part B]) at a cost of $71,009 (876 hr x $81.06/hr).
Table 5. Burden for Part B Step Therapy Use of Part D P&T Committee
Regulatory Reference |
Provision Brief Title |
Respondents |
Response Type* |
Total Responses |
Hours per Respondent |
Total Hours |
Labor Cost ($/hr) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
§ §423.120, 422.136, 422.568, 422.570, 422.572, |
Part B Step Therapy (use of PT Committee) |
876 |
RK |
876 |
1 |
876 |
81.06 |
71,009 |
422.584, 422.590, 422.618, and 422.619 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*RK (recordkeeping)
423.128(a): Dissemination of Part D plan information (No change)
Under paragraph (a), part D sponsors must disclose information about its Part D plan(s) as required by this section to each enrollee of a Part D plan offered by the Part D sponsor under this part and to Part D eligible individuals. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a Part D sponsor to disclose information and materials about its Part D plan(s). We estimate that it will require 942 respondents 80 hours on an annual basis for a business operations specialist to prepare the plan materials for a total annual burden of 75,360 hours (942 x 80 hours) and an estimated annual cost of $6,108,682 ($81.06/hr x 75,360 hr). We further estimate that, on average, it will require each contract 120 hours for a business operations specialist to disseminate the required materials to enrollees and eligible individuals for a total annual burden of 113,040 hours * (942 x 120 hr) and an estimated annual cost of $9,163,022 ($81.06 /hr x 113,040 hr).
423.128(b)(11): Educating Part D Beneficiaries on Opioid Risks and Alternative Treatments (No change)
Part D and MA-PD parent organizations have to create and upload materials into their internal systems. We estimate that 308 Part D and MA-PD parent organizations would be subject to this proposal, based on 2021 data. This is an increase in the burden estimates associated with final rule 4190-F2 as the ICR in that rule was based off of 2019 data (288 parent organizations).
We estimate a one-time burden of 2 hours at $120.64/hr for a pharmacist to develop the materials to be sent to the beneficiaries. In aggregate we estimate a one-time burden of 616 hours (308 parent organizations x 2 hr) at a cost of $74,314 (616 hr x $120.64/hr). Although there might be the need for updates in future years (if opioid risk and/or coverage information changes), these will be minor and may only occur in some future years. Hence, the more accurate approach adopted by us here is that we are scoring this as a one-time update). The total hours and cost for this one-time burden is annualized over 3 years (205 hours and $24,771, respectively) for the purposes of the summary table in section 12.3.27 of this package.
We estimate that it will take on average 2 hours at $91.96/hr for a computer programmer to upload the information into the systems. This would result in a one-time burden of 616 hours (2 hr x 308 parent organizations) at a cost of $56,647 (616 hours x $91.96/hr). Once the information is uploaded into the parent organization’s database, we anticipate no further cost associated with this task, as the process will be automated after the initial upload with the same information on subsequent materials that are sent. The automation would include the sending of information to those enrollees who wish to receive an electronic copy. The automation would also cover updates in future years as the plan enrollment changes. The total hours for this one-time burden
is annualized over 3 years (205 hours and $18,882, respectively) for the purposes of the summary table in section 12.3.27 of this package.
Parent organizations may disclose the opioid and coverage information in electronic form, but only so long as the enrollee has consented to receiving plan information in electronic form. Some enrollees prefer electronic notification and some prefer paper mailing. We have no way of estimating the proportions for each preference, but our experience suggests that most enrollees expect a paper mailing. Therefore, we assume 75 percent (the average of 50 percent and 100 percent) would prefer a paper mailing, while the remaining 25 percent would prefer electronic mailing.
Part D sponsors are permitted to send this information to all or a subset of their enrollees, however for the purposes of estimating burden, it was assumed that Part D parent organizations will send the required information to all enrollees so as to not underestimate burden. The total number of Part D enrollees was calculated to be 48,595,217 based on 2021 enrollment. This is an increase from the enrollment included in the ICR for final rule 4190-F2 which was based off of 2019 enrollment.
In making estimates on the burden of sending out notices, we assumed that the IT systems of the plan would generate and mail the documents once a template is produced. Thus, the only costs are paper, toner, and postage for 36,446,413 enrollees (48,595,217 x 75 percent of enrollees who are assumed to prefer paper). We also assumed one page per notice. We therefore estimate:
Cost of paper: Typical wholesale costs of paper are approximately $2.50 for a ream of 500 sheets. The cost for one page is $0.005 ($2.50/500).
Cost of toner: Toner costs can range from $50 to $200 and each toner cartridge can last from 4,000 to 10,000 sheets of paper. In this rule, we assume a cost of $50 for 10,000 pages. In that regard, the cost per page is $0.005 ($50/ 10,000 pages).
Cost of postage: Currently, the bulk postage rates are $0.19 per 200 pages. The cost per page is $0.00095 ($0.19/ 200 pages).
Thus, the aggregate cost per page is $0.01095 ($0.005 for paper + $0.005 for toner + $0.00095 for postage). The total annual mailing costs are $399,088 ($0.01095 per notice x 36,446,413 enrollees).
423.128(e): Furnishing EOB to Enrollees (Revised)
Part D sponsors must furnish directly to enrollees an explanation of benefits (EOB) when prescription drug benefits are provided under qualified prescription drug coverage that meets the requirements set forth in this section.
CMS provides model EOB templates to Part D sponsors that reflect recent policy changes (if any). CMS issues a yearly HPMS memo to Part D sponsors to announce the release of the EOB materials. CMS highlights the changes, if applicable, and posts the model materials, including instructions, on the Part Model Materials website, located at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovContra/PartD-Model-Materials. All documents used by Part D sponsors must be compliant with CMS requirements. EOB model materials are included in this package as attachments 3a-3h. A revised package was not submitted for 2021 EOB materials, so crosswalks indicate changes from the approved 2020 EOB materials to the 2022 EOB materials. For this iteration, we are including revisions to EOB Exhibit G, which includes all required elements of a sample EOB based on stakeholder feedback.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for 942 respondents to provide an explanation of benefits when prescription drug benefits are provided to enrollees. We are including a one-time burden associated with revisions and programming to the updated EOB form. This includes 1 hour to read CMS’ accompanying memo and instructions to plans in the standardized document, 6 hours to generate the standardized document and 1 hour to submit the materials. We also estimate that it will require each contract 160 hours for a business operations specialist to disseminate the required materials for total annual burden of 158,256 hours. The estimated annual cost is $12,828,231 ($81.06/hr x 158,256 hr).
In accordance with § 423.128(e)(5) as codified through CMS-4180-F, sponsors are required to include the cumulative percentage change in the negotiated price since the first day of the current benefit year for each prescription drug claim in the EOB. Sponsors are also required to include information about drugs that are therapeutic alternatives with lower cost-sharing.
EOBs containing additional information about alternatives require more printed pages per EOB. There are currently 48,595,217 Part D enrollees in 2021. For our estimates of paper, toner, and postage we are adopting the same estimates that we used on April 16, 2018 (83 FR 16440) for our CY 2019 MA (Part C)/Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) final rule (CMS-4182-F, RIN 0938-AT08) found on page 16695. However, we are revising the postage rate to the updated 2021 bulk mailing rates.
Although our regulations allow electronic submission of Part D EOBs upon request, informal communication from stakeholders indicates small usage. We are therefore assuming mailings to all enrollees. Since we do not require first class postage for Part D EOBs, we are assuming that Part D sponsors will use the least expensive option, namely, the use of bulk mailing rates. Bulk mailing rates vary by vendor; an informal survey on the web suggests $0.19 for 2021 rates for 50 pounds (envelope weight is normally considered negligible when citing these rates). Other assumptions are possible but the main drivers of our added cost are paper and toner as opposed to postage. The following breaks down those costs:
Paper costs $0.005 per sheet ($2.50 for a ream of paper with 500 sheets).
Toner costs $0.005 per sheet ($50 for a toner cartridge lasting 10,000 sheets).
Postage costs are $0.000038 per page since--
++ A sheet of paper weights 0.16 ounces (5 pounds/500 sheets x 16 ounces/pound).
++ Commercial bulk postage rates for 2021 are $0.19 for 200 pieces (50 pounds).
++ There are 16 ounces in one pound.
++ Postage cost per page is therefore $0.000038 ([$0.19 x 0.16 ounces per page] / [50 pounds x 16 ounces/pound]).
Thus, the total cost per page is $0.010038 ($0.005 for paper + $0.005 for toner + $0.000038 for postage). Finally, we note that Part D EOBs are sent out once per month to each enrollee summarizing drug transactions for the previous month. We expect the redesigned Part D EOB to have less pages and will therefore reduce printing costs by half. Thus we are revising our estimate to assume 1-2 pages, or 1.5 pages on average which would require 1 extra printed page (since the remaining half a page would go on the blank half of the average Part D EOB which on average ends mid page.) However, since Part D EOBs are assumed to be printed double sided (to save on printing costs) we assume half the Part D EOBs will have one blank page left over. Thus on average per sponsor we are requiring 1/2 page. We revise this estimate to be an annual cost of $2,926,793 (48,595,217million enrollees x 12 months x 1/2 page x $0.010038 per page). We believe that after appropriate programming (as discussed previously) the 583,142,604 million annual mailings (48,595,217 x 12 per year) will be performed automatically and will not require extra staff time.
Table 6. Burden Summary for Dissemination of Plan Information (§ 423.128)
Regulatory Reference |
Provision Brief Title |
Respondents |
Respons e Type** |
Total Responses |
Hours per Respondent |
Total Hours |
Labor Cost ($/hr) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
§ 423.128(a) |
Developing Plan Information and Materials |
942 |
RK |
942 |
80 |
75,360 |
81.06 |
6,108,682 |
§ 423.128(a) |
Developing Plan Information and Materials |
942 |
TPD |
942 |
120 |
113,040 |
81.06 |
9,163,022 |
§ 423.128(b)( 11) |
Educating MA and Part D beneficiaries on opioid risks and alternative treatments (Programming Updates) |
308 |
RK |
308 |
2 |
205*** |
91.96 |
18,882 *** |
§ 423.128(b)( 11) |
Educating MA and Part D beneficiaries on opioid risks and alternative treatments (Developing Materials) |
308 |
RK |
308 |
2 |
205*** |
120.64 |
24,771 *** |
§ 423.128(b)( 11) |
Educating MA and Part D beneficiaries on opioid risks and alternative treatments (Sending Materials Out by Mail) |
308
|
TPD |
36,446,413 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
399,088 * |
§ 423.128(e) |
Part D EOB redesign formatting |
942 |
RK |
942 |
160 |
158,256 |
81.06 |
12,828,231 |
§ 423.128(e)(5 ) |
Part D EOB redesign and mailings ()* |
308 |
TPD |
583,142,604 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
2,926,793* |
TOTAL |
|
Varies |
NA |
619,592,459 |
varies |
347,066 |
Varies |
31,469,469 |
*Non-labor requirements and costs
**R (reporting), RK (recordkeeping), and TPD (third party disclosure). ***Annualized burden
12.3.11 Drug Utilization Management, Quality Assurance, Medication Therapy Management
§ 423.153(b) (No change):
A Part D plan sponsor or MA organization offering an MA-PD plan must provide CMS with information concerning the procedures and performance of its drug utilization management program, according to guidelines specified by CMS.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for the Part D plan sponsor or MA organization offering an MA-PD plan to provide CMS with information concerning its drug utilization management program, according to guidelines specified by CMS. We estimate that it will require 942 respondents 30 minutes (0.5 hours) for a business operations specialist to provide the required material to CMS for consideration for a total annual burden of 471 hours. The estimated annual cost is $ 38,179 ($81.06 /hr x 471 hr).
§ 423.153(c) (No Change):
A Part D plan sponsor or MA organization offering an MA-PD plan must provide CMS with information concerning its quality assurance measures and systems, according to guidelines specified by CMS.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for the Part D plan sponsor or MA organization offering a MA-PD plan to provide CMS with information concerning its quality assurance measures and systems, according to guidelines specified by CMS. We estimate that it will require 942 respondents 30 minutes (0.5 hours) for a business operations specialist to provide the required material to CMS for consideration for a total annual burden of 471 hours. The estimated annual cost is $ 38,179 ($81.06 /hr x 471 hr).
§ 423.153(d)(1)(vii)(E) Safe Disposal of Controlled Substances for MTM Program Enrollees (No Change):
Under § 423.153(d), all MTM enrollees must be offered a Comprehensive Medication Review
(CMR) at least annually and Targeted Medication Reviews (TMRs) no less than quarterly. A CMR is an interactive, person-to-person, or telehealth consultation performed by a pharmacist or other qualified provider that includes a review of the individual’s medications and may result in the creation of a recommended medication action plan. An individualized, written summary in CMS’s Standardized Format must be provided following each CMR. As previously stated, the burden estimates for providing CMR summaries in the Standardized Format are in the Supporting Statement for CMS-10396. The SUPPORT Act expanded the population of beneficiaries that must be targeted for Part D MTM, and added a requirement that information on the safe disposal of prescription drugs that are controlled substances be furnished to all MTM program enrollees.
We estimate that in 2022 there will be 50,684,424 Part D enrollees and 10,366 of those will meet the new MTM targeting criteria as ARBs, leaving 50,674,058 Part D enrollees (50,684,424 Part D enrollees minus 10,366 enrollees meeting the ARB criteria) that must be targeted for MTM if they meet the existing criteria. Our internal data shows that 6.54 percent of Part D enrollees will be targeted for MTM programs under the existing criteria. Hence, this leaves 3,314,083 Part D enrollees (0.0654 * 50,674,058) who will be targeted for MTM under the existing criteria. Of the 3,314,083 targeted enrollees, as stated previously, based on internal CMS data, we estimate 71.8 percent will accept the annual CMR offer.
All targeted beneficiaries who have not opted out of the MTM program must receive TMRs at least quarterly, and we are allowing Part D sponsors the flexibility of choosing whether to include safe disposal information in the CMR, through a TMR or other MTM correspondence or service at least once annually. Since we assume that 71.8 percent of targeted enrollees accept an offer of a CMR, it follows that 28.2 percent (100 percent minus 71.8 percent) of Part D enrollees who are targeted for enrollment in an MTM program refuse the CMR offer but do not opt out of the MTM program completely. As discussed previously, 10,366 ARBs under the new criteria and
3,314,083 enrollees under the existing criteria, for a total of 3,324,449 enrollees (3,314,083 + 10,366) will be targeted to receive a CMR. Therefore 937,495 enrollees (3,324,449 total enrollees x 0.282 who refuse a CMR) would need to be mailed the safe disposal information as part of a TMR or other MTM correspondence or service.
We estimate a one-time burden of 2 hours at $120.64/hr for a pharmacist to develop the materials to be sent to the beneficiaries. In aggregate we estimate a one-time burden of 1,884 hours (942 contracts x 2 hr) at a cost of $227,286 (1,884 hr x $120.64/hr). Although there might be the need for updates in future years, these will be minor and may only occur in some future years. Hence, we are scoring this as a one-time update. The total hours and cost for this one-time burden is annualized over 3 years (628 hours and $75,762, respectively) and for the purposes of the summary table in section 12.3.27 of this package.
We estimate that it will take on average 2 hours at $91.96/hr for a computer programmer to upload the information into the systems. This would result in a one-time burden of 1,884 hours (2 hr x 942 contracts) at a cost of $173,253 (1,884 hours x $91.96/hr). Once the information is uploaded into the contract’s database, we anticipate no further cost associated with this task, as the process will be automated after the initial upload with the same information on subsequent materials that are sent. The total hours and cost for this one-time burden is annualized over 3 years (628 hours and $57,751, respectively) for the purposes of the summary table in section 12.3.27 of this package.
The burden associated with preparing and uploading these materials had not been included in the proposed or final rules (4190-P and 4190-F2, respectively), however we include it based on estimates for other similar provisions in those rules for which no comments were received. Thus, we believe the estimates to be an accurate assessment of burden.
We are assuming that any safe disposal information that is not included in a CMR is either i) being mailed in a TMR, which may be as short as one page and may contain private health information or ii) is mailed as a stand-alone document which does not contain any private health information. For purposes of impact, i) if one additional page is included in the TMR, then there is no additional postage; ii) if the safe disposal information is mailed separately, there would be no private health information, and the burden would be the cost of one page plus bulk postage. Due to a lack of data in regard to what percentage of safe disposal information will be mailed as a CMR, TMR, or other MTM correspondence or service, we are assuming the maximum amount, which is that all safe disposal information not sent with a CMR will be one page that is mailed separately using bulk postage. The cost to mail one page of safe disposal information is $0.01095 per enrollee if the letter does not contain private health information and thus bulk mailing is used (line 28) [1 page x $2.50 per ream of paper / 500 sheets] + [1 page x $50 per toner / 10,000 pages] + [$0.19 / 200 items]). Therefore, we estimate that the cost of mailing safe disposal information to those MTM enrollees who do not receive it in a CMR summary is $10,266 (937,495 enrollees x $0.01095 mailing cost per page).
Table 7. Burden Summary for Safe Disposal of Controlled Substances for MTM Program Enrollees
Regulatory Citation |
Subject |
Response Type* |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses |
Time per Response (hr) |
Total Time (hr) |
Labor Cost ($/hr) |
Total Cost in 1st Year ($) |
Total Cost in Subsequent Years ($) |
§ 423.153(d)( 1)(vii)(E) |
Developing safe disposal materials |
RK |
942 |
942 |
2 |
1884 |
120.64 |
227,286 |
0 |
§ 423.153(d)( 1)(vii)(E) |
Programming updates for safe disposal materials |
RK |
942 |
942 |
2 |
1884 |
91.96 |
173,253 |
0 |
§ 423.153(d)( 1)(vii)(E) |
Mailing of safe disposal information (via TMR or other correspondenc e, not via CMR Standardized Format)** |
TPD |
942 |
937,495 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
10,266 |
10,266 |
Totals |
Varies |
942 |
939,379 |
Varies |
3,768 |
Varies |
410,805 |
10,266 |
|
*R (reporting), RK (recordkeeping), and TPD (third party disclosure) **Non-labor requirements and costs
§ 423.153(f) Drug Management Programs (No Change)
The initial DMP framework, codified in final rule 4182-F, permitted Part D plan sponsors to voluntarily establish a drug management program (DMP). Burden associated with DMPs is estimated at the parent organization level. A CMS analysis found that in 2020, 231 parent organizations included a DMP.
The requirements for DMPs are codified at § 423.153(f). The estimated reporting burden has five aspects: (1) designing a DMP, which must include written policies and procedures; (2) conducting case management, which includes sending written information about PARBs to prescribers; (3) programming and issuing written notices to PARBs and ARBs; (4) disclosing data to CMS about the outcome of case management via OMS and about any coverage limitation information into MARx; and (5) transferring case management information upon the request of a new sponsor when a PARB or ARB switches plans.
For one-time initial development, we estimate it takes each parent organization 80 hours for a team of four clinical and non-clinical staff to design its DMP. Thus the burden for one parent organization is 320 hours (80 hr x 4 staff). The aggregate burden for the 231 parent organizations to develop DMPs consistent with the requirements of §423.153(f) is 73,920 hours (231 parent organizations x 320 hr). We estimate that the one-time development requires two pharmacists (working at $120.64/hr) and two general operation managers (working at
$120.90/hr) per organization. The average hourly wage for the organization’s development team is $120.77/hr [(2 pharmacists * $120.64/hr) + (2 managers * $120.90/hr) = $483.08/4 staff =
$120.77/hr]. Consequently, the aggregate one-time cost to develop the DMP is $8,927,318 ($120.77/hr * 73,920 hr).
The Part D parent organizations with DMPs have to upload beneficiary notices into their internal claims systems before they can issue them. The notices include initial notice, second notice, and alternate second notice (already submitted under the PRA package with revisions associated with the finalized rule CMS 4190-F (RIN 0938-AT97), as applicable, and submitted to OMB for approval under this collection of information request’s control number or 0938-0964). We estimate that it will take each organization, on average, 5 hours at $91.96/hr for a computer programmer to upload all of the notices into their claims systems (note, this is an estimate to upload all of the documents in total, not per document). In aggregate, we estimated a one-time burden of 1,155 hours (5 hr * 231 sponsors) at a cost of $106,214 (1055 hr * $91.96/hr). This burden estimate is revised from the last approved package to reflect the number of parent organizations for which DMP data is available (increased from 219 to 231).
Once the DMP is developed and in place, case management is conducted. The provisions codified at § 423.153(f) require Part D sponsors to conduct case management of potentially atrisk beneficiaries (PARBs) identified by the CMS overutilization management system (OMS) through contact with their prescribers to determine if a beneficiary is at-risk for abuse or misuse of opioids and benzodiazepines. The case management requirement includes a requirement that sponsors send written information to prescribers about PARBs. Written information does not require a standardized form and may be sent electronically or faxed. Accordingly, burden for sending this information is not accounted for separately and is assumed to be part of the overall case management burden. We estimated it would take an average of 5 hours for a sponsor to case-manage a PARB. We assume certain components of case management can be completed by staff of differing specialization and credentialing. We assume that 2 of the 5 hours on average would be conducted by a pharmacist (such as initial review of medication profiles, utilization, etc.) at $120.64/hr, 2 hours would be conducted by a health technician (“Technician, All other”) at $54.64/hr, and 1 hour would be conducted by a physician at $210.44/hr to work directly with providers on discussing available options and determining the best course of action. The case management team would require 5 hours at a cost of $561.00 per PARB case managed ([2 hr x $120.64/hr] + [2 hr * $54.64/hr] + [1 hr * $210.44/hr]). Therefore, the case management team’s average hourly wage is $112.20/hr ($561.00 / 5 hr). CMS data from 2020 estimates that annually 21,207 PARBs will be identified based on minimum OMS criteria. In aggregate, we estimate annual burden for an estimated 21,207 enrollees annually subject to case management to be 106,035 hours at a cost of cost $ 11,897,127 per year (21,207 enrollees * 5 hours * 112.20/hr for the case management team).
As a result of case management, a proportion of PARBs receive notice from the plan sponsor, informing the beneficiary of the sponsor’s intention to limit their access to coverage of opioids and/or benzodiazepines. Approximately 5 percent of PARBs identified by minimum OMS criteria receive an initial and second notice (or alternate second notice). Therefore, it follows that approximately 1,060 (21,207 * 0.05) PARBs overall will receive initial and second notice (or alternate second notice) annually. We estimate it takes 5 minutes (0.0833 hr) at $54.64/hr for a health technician to send each notice for a total burden of 0.1667 hr per enrollee. In aggregate, we estimate an annual burden of 177 hours (1,060 enrollees * 0.1667 hr) at a cost of $9,655 (177 hr * $54.64/hr) to be attributed to notice requirements. This is a reduction in burden estimated in the currently-approved version of this package based on more current data on rates of notice being sent to PARBs. The initial notice, second notice, and alternate second notice have been submitted as attachments to this PRA package, with revisions associated with finalized rule CMS 4190-F (RIN 0938-AT97) for OMB approval under this collection of information request’s control number or 0938-0964.
With respect to the burden of disclosure of DMP data to CMS based on the outcome of case management of PARBs, we estimate it takes sponsors on average 1 minute (0.0167 hr) at $54.64/hr for a health technician to document the outcome of case management and any applicable coverage limitations in OMS and/or MARx. In aggregate, we estimate an annual burden of 354 hours (21,207 PARBs * 0.0167 hr) at a cost of $19,351 (354 hr * $54.64/hr).
Consistent with § 423.153(f)(15)(ii)(E), plan sponsors are required to transfer case management information upon the request of a new sponsor when a PARB or ARB switches plans. CMS provides a sample transfer memo that sponsors may use to transfer such information (see attachment 6f). According to internal CMS data for the first quarter of 2020, 11 beneficiaries switched plans. We estimate it takes sponsors on average 1 hour at $54.64/hr for a health technician to assemble and send the requested documents for each beneficiary identified in the DMP who transfers plans. Therefore, we estimate an annual burden of $601 (11 beneficiaries * 1 hr * $54.64/hr) to complete information transfer requests.
For the purposes of the summary table in section 12.3.27, one-time burden is annualized over the 3 year period of approval.
Table 8. Burden Summary for DMP
Regulatory Citation |
Subject |
Response Type* |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses |
Time per Response (hr) |
Total Time (hr) |
Labor Cost ($/hr) |
Total Cost in 1st Year ($) |
Total Cost in Subsequent Years ($) |
§ 423.153 |
Create DMP (new, nonrule) |
RK |
231 |
231 |
320 |
73,920 |
120.77 |
8,927,318 |
0 |
§ 423.153 |
Upload Notices (revised) |
RK |
231 |
231 |
5 |
1155 |
91.96 |
106,214 |
0 |
§ 423.153 |
Conduct Case Management (new, nonrule) |
RK |
231 |
21,207 |
5 |
106,035 |
112.2 |
11,897,127 |
11,897,127 |
§ 423.153 |
Send Notices (revised) |
TPD |
231 |
1,060 |
0.1667 |
177 |
54.64 |
9,655 |
9,655 |
§ 423.153 |
Report to CMS (new, nonrule) |
R |
231 |
21,207 |
0.0167 |
354 |
54.64 |
19,351 |
19,351 |
§ 423.153 |
Transfer of Case Management (new, nonrule) |
TPD |
11 |
11 |
1 |
11 |
54.64 |
601 |
601 |
Subtotal |
N/A |
231 |
43,947 |
varies |
181,652 |
varies |
20,960,226 |
11,926,734 |
|
*R (reporting), TPD (third-party disclosure), RK (recordkeeping)
Mandatory Drug Management Programs (No Change)
Although voluntary under section 704 of CARA, as described in the background and justification sections of this document, a CMS analysis found that in 2019 a majority of Part D contracts (669 of 779, or 85.9 percent) included a DMP. As of January 1, 2022, DMPs will be mandatory. Therefore, this section outlines the burden for with Part D sponsors who did not voluntarily establish DMPs. Final rule 4190-F2 included burden based on 2019 DMP data. As of this package revision, 2020 data is available. Thus, burden estimates in this package are being updated to reflect 2020 data rather than the 2019 data which was included in the final rule. We estimate burden at the parent organization level, because we believe that is a closer reflection of the number of systems to be updated versus the contract level. The 2020 contracts without DMPs are run by 78 parent organizations.
For one-time initial development, we estimate it would take each parent organization without a DMP 80 hours for a team of four clinical and non-clinical staff to design its DMP. Thus the burden for one parent organization is 320 hours (80 hr x 4 staff). Therefore, the aggregate burden for the 79 remaining parent organizations to develop DMPs consistent with the requirements of §423.153(f) is 24,960 hours (78 parent organizations x 320 hr).
With regard to costs, we estimate that development, will require a development team consisting of four staff, two pharmacists (working at $120.64/hr) and two general operation managers (working at $120.90/hr) per organization. The average hourly wage for the organization’s development team is $120.77/hr [(2 pharmacists * $120.64/hr) + (2 managers * $120.90/hr) = $483.08/4 staff = $120.77/hr]. Consequently, the aggregate cost to develop the DMPs is $3,014,419 ($120.77/hr * 24,960 hr).
The contracts run by the parent organizations that did not voluntarily establish a DMP are generally smaller plans that in some cases offered alternative means of managing comprehensive beneficiary care, such as through PACE. Accordingly, based on 2020 OMS report data, we found that only 157beneficiaries who met the minimum OMS criteria were not reported in 2020 by CMS to the sponsors, because the sponsors did not have a DMP. This represents the additional number of PARBs that will be added to the total burden when DMPs become mandatory.
Once required DMP policies are developed and operational, sponsors would have to casemanage their PARBs (as outlined in § 423.153(f)(2)). The case management requirement includes a requirement that sponsors send written information to prescribers about PARBs. Written information does not require a standardized form and may be sent electronically or faxed. Accordingly, burden for sending this information is not accounted for separately and is assumed to be part of the overall case management burden. We estimated it would take an average of 5 hours for a sponsor to case-manage a PARB. We assume certain components of case management can be completed by staff of differing specialization and credentialing. We assume that 2 of the 5 hours on average would be conducted by a pharmacist (such as initial review of medication profiles, utilization, etc.) at $120.64/hr, 2 hours would be conducted by a health technician (“Technician, All other”) at $52.64/hr, and 1 hour would be conducted by a physician at $210.44/hr to work directly with providers on discussing available options and determining the best course of action. The case management team would require 5 hours at a cost of $561.00 per PARB case managed ([2 hr x $120.64/hr] + [2 hr * $54.64/hr] + [1 hr * $210.44/hr]). Therefore, the case management team’s wage is $112.20/hr ($561.00 / 5 hr). In aggregate, we estimate an annual burden of 785 hours (5 hr x 157 beneficiaries at a cost of $88,077 per year (785 hr x $112.20/hr).
The 78 Part D parent organizations affected by this requirement also will have to upload beneficiary notices into their internal claims systems before they can issue them. We estimate that it will take each organization, on average, 5 hours at $91.96/hr for a computer programmer to upload all of the notices into their claims systems (note, this is an estimate to upload all of the documents in total, not per document). In aggregate, we estimated a one-time burden of 390 hours (5 hr * 78 sponsors) at a cost of $35,864 (390 hr * $91.96/hr).
Since currently 5 percent of PARBs receive an initial and second notice (or alternate second notice), we estimate that 8 beneficiaries (157 beneficiaries * 0.05) would receive an initial notice and 8 would receive a second notice (or alternate second notice). At most, 8 parent organizations would be responsible for sending the notices to these 8 beneficiaries. CMS estimates it will take 10 minutes (0.1667 hr) at $54.64/hr for a health technician to send two notices (each notice would require 5 minutes). In aggregate, CMS estimates an annual burden for sending notices to beneficiaries of 1.3336 hours (8 beneficiaries x 0.1667 hr) at a cost of $73 (1.3336 hr x $54.64/hr).
As to disclosure of DMP case management outcomes data to CMS pursuant to § 423.153(f)(15), the parent organizations newly impacted by a mandatory DMP policy will be required to report to CMS the outcome of case management via OMS and any associated coverage limitation information into MARx. We estimate that it would take parent organizations on average 1 minute (0.0167 hr) to report this information to OMS and MARx. In aggregate, we estimate an annual burden of 2.6219 hours (157 newly identified PARBs annually * 0.0167 hr) at a cost of $143 (2.6219 hr * $54.64/hr).
Consistent with § 423.153(f)(15)(ii)(E), plan sponsors are required to transfer case management information upon the request of a new sponsor when a PARB or ARB switches plans. Burden associated with the transfer of information is located in the prior section titled “Drug Management Programs” as a non-rule related burden addition. As the number of beneficiaries switching plans was 11 beneficiaries out of 21,207 for 2020, the relative proportion of the 158 beneficiaries within parent organizations without DMPs who may switch plans is negligible.
For the purposes of the summary table in section 12.3.27, one-time burden is annualized over the 3 year period of approval.
Table 9. Burden Summary for Mandatory DMPs
Regulatory Citation |
Subject |
Response Type* |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses |
Time per Response (hr) |
Total Time (hr) |
Labor Cost ($/hr) |
Total Cost in 1st Year ($) |
Total Cost in Subsequent Years ($) |
§ 423.153 |
Create DMP (rule, 4190-F2) |
RK |
78 |
78 |
320 |
24,960 |
120.77 |
3,014,419 |
0 |
§ 423.153 |
Upload Notices (rule, 4190-F2) |
RK |
78 |
78 |
5 |
390 |
91.96 |
35,864 |
0 |
§ 423.153 |
Conduct Case Management (rule, 4190-F2) |
RK |
78 |
157 |
5 |
785 |
112.2 |
88,077 |
88,077 |
§ 423.153 |
Send Notices (rule, 4190-F2) |
TPD |
8 |
8 |
0.1667 |
1.3336 |
54.64 |
73 |
73 |
§ 423.153 |
Report to CMS (rule, 4190-F2) |
R |
78 |
157 |
0.0167 |
2.6219 |
54.64 |
143 |
143 |
|
Subtotal |
N/A |
78 |
478 |
varies |
26,138 |
varies |
3,138,576 |
88,293 |
*R (reporting), TPD (third-party disclosure), RK (recordkeeping)
Beneficiaries with History of Opioid-Related Overdose Included in Drug Management Programs (No Change)
The updated clinical guideline criteria to incorporate history of opioid-related overdose increase the total number of beneficiaries identified and included in DMPs. The estimates that follow outline the burden associated with these additional PARBs. Final rule 4190-F2 included burden based on 2019 DMP data. As of this package revision, 2020 data is available. Thus, burden estimates in this package are being updated to reflect 2020 data rather than the 2019 data which was included in the final rule. We estimate burden at the parent organization level, because we believe that is a closer reflection of the number of systems to be updated versus the contract level. In 2020, Part D contracts were represented by a total of 309 parent organizations. The estimates are inclusive of the 78 parent organizations who have not yet developed DMPs because when the requirement to include beneficiaries with a history of opioid-related overdose in DMPs takes effect January 1, 2022, DMPs will be mandatory for all Part D sponsors.
In producing the estimates below, the burden per affected enrollee for case management (5 hr/response), notification of enrollees (10 min/response), and report to CMS (1 min/response) are identical with those estimated in the previous section (Mandatory Drug Management Programs).
Model beneficiary notices provided by CMS, as well as the required written information sent by sponsors to prescribers of PARBs as part of the case management process, will need to be revised to incorporate language specific to a PARB having a history of opioid-related overdose. The changes needed to align the model beneficiary notices and the written communication are expected to be minimal. CMS estimates it will take no more than 1 hour at $54.64/hr for a pharmacy technician to draft and implement such changes. In aggregate, CMS estimates a onetime burden of 309 hours (309 parent organizations x 1 hr/response) at a cost of $16,884 (309 hr x $54.64/hr).
CMS’s internal analysis based on methodology in final rule 4190-F2, estimates that in 2020,
14,407 enrollees met the criteria of an opioid-related overdose and would be PARBs. All of these PARBs will require case management. Using the wage and cost data outlined for the case management team in aggregate, CMS estimates an annual burden of 72,035 hours (5 hr x 14,407 PARBs) at a cost of $8,082,327 (72,035 hr x $112.20/hr).
CMS estimates that about 47.5 percent or 6,843 beneficiaries (14,407 beneficiaries x 0.475) of this population will receive an initial notice from the plan sponsor, informing the beneficiary of the sponsor’s intention to limit their access to coverage of opioids and/or benzodiazepines. Thus, the beneficiary will also receive a second or alternate second notice informing them whether the limitation was in fact implemented. CMS estimates it will take 10 minutes (0.1667 hr) at $54.64/hr for a pharmacy technician to send two notices (each notice would require 5 minutes). In aggregate, CMS estimates an annual burden of 1,141 hours (6,843 enrollees x 0.1667 hr) at a cost of $ 62,329 (hr x $54.64/hr).
With respect to the reporting of DMP data to CMS for PARBs identified based on history of opioid-related overdose, CMS estimates it will take sponsors (on average) 1 minute (0.0167 hr) at $54.64/ hr for a pharmacy technician to report in OMS and/or MARx the outcome of case management and any applicable coverage limitations. In aggregate, CMS estimates an annual burden of 241 hours (14,407 PARBs × 0.0167 hr) at a cost of $13,146 (241 hr × $54.64/hr).
For the purposes of the summary table in section 12.3.27, one-time burden is annualized over the 3 year period of approval.
Table 10. Burden Summary for Beneficiaries with History of Opioid-Related Overdose Included in DMPs
Regulatory Citation |
Provision Brief Title |
Response Type * |
# of Respondents
|
# of Response s |
Time per Response (hr) |
Total Time (hr) |
Labor Cost ($/hr) |
Total Cost in 1st Year ($) |
Total Cost in Subseque nt Years ($) |
§423.153 |
Revise Notices (rule, 4190-F2) |
RK |
309 |
309 |
1 |
309 |
54.64 |
16,884 |
0 |
§ 423.153 |
Conduct Case Managem ent (rule, 4190-F2) |
RK |
309 |
14,407 |
5 |
72,035 |
112.2 |
8,082,327 |
8,082,327 |
§ 423.153 |
Send Notices (rule, 4190-F2) |
TPD |
309 |
6,843 |
0.1667 |
1,141 |
54.64 |
62,329 |
62,329 |
§ 423.153 |
Report to CMS (rule, 4190-F2) |
R |
309 |
14,407 |
0.0167 |
241 |
54.64 |
13,146 |
13,146 |
|
Subtotal |
N/A |
309 |
35,966 |
varies |
73,726 |
varies |
8,174,686 |
8,157,802 |
*R (reporting), TPD (third-party disclosure), RK (recordkeeping)
Drug Management Program Burden Summary (Rule and Non-Rule Related Revisions)
In summary, the total burden and cost for DMPs associated with both non-rule-related changes and 4190-F2-related changes (from Tables 8, 9, and 10) is totaled in the following table. Onetime burden has been annualized over the 3 year approval period of this package.
Table 11. DMP Burden and Cost Summary (§423.153(f))
Regulatory Citation |
Subject |
Response Type* |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses |
Time per Response (hr) |
Total Time (hr) |
Labor Cost ($/hr) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
§ 423.153 |
Create DMP ** |
RK |
309 |
103** |
320 |
32,960* * |
120.77 |
3,980,579** |
§ 423.153 |
Revise Notices** |
RK |
309 |
103** |
1 |
103** |
54.64 |
5,628** |
§ 423.153 |
Upload Notices** |
RK |
309 |
103** |
5 |
515** |
91.96 |
47,359** |
Regulatory Citation |
Subject |
Response Type* |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses |
Time per Response (hr) |
Total Time (hr) |
Labor Cost ($/hr) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
§ 423.153 |
Conduct Case Management |
RK |
309 |
35,771 |
5 |
178,855 |
112.20 |
20,067,531 |
§ 423.153 |
Send Notices |
TPD |
309 |
7,911 |
0.1667 |
1,319 |
54.64 |
72,057 |
§ 423.153 |
Transfer of Case Management |
TPD |
11 |
11 |
1 |
11 |
54.64 |
601 |
§ 423.153 |
Report to CMS |
R |
309 |
35,771 |
0.0167 |
597 |
54.64 |
32,641 |
|
Subtotal |
N/A |
309 |
79,773 |
varies |
214,360 |
Varies |
24,206,396 |
*R (reporting), TPD (third-party disclosure), RK (recordkeeping)
**One-time burden and cost annualized over 3 years
In § 423.168(c), an accreditation organization approved by CMS must provide to CMS in written form and on a monthly basis copies of accreditation surveys, notices of accreditation decisions, notice of all complaints, information about any remedial or adverse action taken, and notice of any finalized changes to accreditation standards, requirements or survey processes. Under 423.171 any organization applying for approval must furnish to CMS all of the information and materials set forth in this part.
Section 423.907(a) discusses the requirements on territories to submit plans for approval by the Secretary to receive increased grants. This paragraph states that a territory may submit a plan to the Secretary under which medical assistance is to be provided to low-income individuals for the provision of covered Part D drugs. Paragraph (b) describes what a plan must include. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort of territories to prepare and submit a plan for approval. We estimate that this requirement will affect 5 territories.
The burden associated with these requirements is the time and effort necessary for a sponsoring entity to submit the required information to CMS. On an annual basis it will take 7 accreditation organizations and 5 territories about 1 hour per month each for a business operations specialist to submit the required notification to CMS, for a total of approximately 144 hours (144 total hours x12 responses/yr x (7 accreditation organizations + 5 territories)). The estimated annual cost is $11,673 ($81.06 /hr x 144 hrs).
(b) Part D plan contracts must submit data regarding drug claims to CMS that can be linked at the individual level to Part A and Part B data in a form and manner similar to the process provided under § 422.310 and other information as CMS determines necessary.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D plan sponsors submit the required claims data to CMS. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take 66 stand-alone Part D plan contracts and 139 PACE contracts (for a total of 205 respondents) 52 hours for a business operations specialist to submit the required documentation to CMS for total annual burden of 10,660 hours. The estimated annual cost is $864,100 ($81.06 /hr x 10,660 hr).
(b)(ii) MA organizations that offer MA-PD plans to submit data regarding drug claims that can be linked at the individual level to other data that the organizations are required to submit to CMS in a form and manner similar to the process provided under § 422.310 and other information as CMS determines necessary.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for MA organizations submit the required claims data to CMS. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take 876 MA-PD contracts 15 hours for a business operations specialist to submit the required documentation to CMS for total annual burden of 13,140 hours. The estimated annual cost is $1,065,128 ($81.06 /hr x 13,140 hr).
(a) A Part D plan sponsor may submit a bid that requests a decrease in the applicable first or second threshold risk percentages or an increase in the percent applied under paragraph (b) of this section.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D plan sponsors submit the required bid materials to CMS. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take 5 Part D plan sponsors 20 hours for a business operations specialist to submit the required documentation to CMS for total annual burden of 100 hours. The estimated annual cost is $8,106 ($81.06 /hr x 100 hr).
(c) Within 6 months of the end of a coverage year, the Part D plan must provide the information that CMS requires.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D plan sponsors submit the required cost data to CMS. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take each of the 942 Part D plan sponsors 10 hours per month for a business operations specialist to submit the required documentation to CMS for total annual burden of 113,040 hours (942 sponsors x 10 hours x 12 submissions per year). The estimated annual cost is $9,163,022 ($81.06 /hr x 113,040hr).
Within 6 months of the end of a coverage year, the Part D plan must provide the information that CMS requires.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D only sponsors to submit the required data to CMS. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take each of the 942 Part D plan sponsors 10 hours for a business operations specialist to submit the required documentation to CMS for total annual burden of 9,420 hours. The estimated annual cost is $763,585 ($81.06 /hr x 9,420hr).
Within 6 months of the end of a coverage year, the Part D plan must provide the information that CMS requires.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part only sponsors to submit the required cost data to CMS. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take each of the 942 Part D plan sponsors 10 hours for a business operations specialist to submit the required documentation to CMS for total annual burden of 9,420 hours. The estimated annual cost is $763,585 ($81.06/hr x 9,420 hr).
§ 423.464(f). A Part D sponsor must exclude expenditures for covered Part D drugs made by insurance or otherwise, a group health plan, or other third-party payment arrangements, including expenditures by plans offering other prescription drug coverage for purposes of determining whether a Part D plan enrollee has satisfied the out-of-pocket threshold provided under §423.104(d)(5)(iii). To ensure that this requirement is met, A Part D enrollee must disclose all these expenditures to a Part D plan in accordance with requirements under § 423.32(b)(ii).
The burden associated with this requirement is captured and discussed in PRA package CMS10718.
(d) The Part D sponsor agrees must maintain for 10 years books, records, documents, and other evidence of accounting procedures and practices that are sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in this section.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D sponsors and MA organizations to maintain the required documentation outlined in this section. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take 942 respondents 52 hours for a business operations specialist to maintain the required documentation on an annual basis, for total annual burden of 48,984 hours. The estimated annual cost is $3,970,643 ($81.06 /hr x 48,9846 hr).
(f) The Part D sponsor must submit to CMS certified financial information that must include the requirements set forth in this section.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D sponsors and MA organizations to submit the required certified data to CMS. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take 942 respondents 8 hours for a business operations specialist to submit the required documentation to CMS for total annual burden of 7,536 hours. The estimated annual cost is $610,868 ($81.06 /hr x 7,536hr).
§ 423.552(a) Discusses the conditions for CMS approval of a novation agreement. This paragraph requires the Part D plan sponsor to notify CMS at least 60 days before the date of the proposed change of ownership and requires them to provide CMS with updated financial information and a discussion of the financial solvency impact of the change of ownership on the surviving organization.
The burden associated with this requirement is inclusive of burden associated with § 423.551, which is exempt from PRA requirements as it affects fewer than 10 respondents, as discussed in section 12B.
(a) A Part D plan sponsor must ensure that all enrollees receive written information about the grievance, coverage determination, and appeals procedures that are available to and the information must satisfy the requirements set forth in this section.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for each of the 608 Part D plan sponsors to disclose the necessary information to enrollees. We estimate that it will require each of the 942 Part D plan sponsors 8 hours for a business operations specialist to disclose the information for a total annual burden of 7,536 hours. The estimated annual cost is $610,868 ($81.06 /hr x 7,536 hr).
(e) A Part D plan sponsor must notify the enrollee of its decision as expeditiously as the case requires, based on the enrollee's health status, but no later than 30 days after the date the plan sponsor receives the oral or written grievance.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D plan sponsors to notify an enrollee of its decision as expeditiously as the case requires, based on the enrollee's health status, but no later than 30 days after the date the plan receives the oral or written grievance. We estimate that 942 Part D plan sponsors will provide notification of a total of 132,000 grievance decisions annually. The Part D plan must provide written notification of the decision if the grievance was submitted in writing, if the enrollee requests a written response, or if the grievance relates to a quality of care issue. We estimate that the plan sponsors will have to provide written notification to enrollees in 13,200 grievances and oral notification in 118,800 grievances. We estimate it will take 30 minutes (0.5 hours) to provide written notification for a total annual burden of 6,600 hours. We estimate it will take 15 minutes (0.25 hours) for a business operations specialist to provide oral notification to enrollees for a total annual burden of 29,700 hours. The total number of hours is 36,300 (6,600 + 29,700) annually. The estimated annual cost is $2,942,478 ($81.06 /hr x 36,300 hr).
(g) The Part D plan must maintain records on all grievances received both orally and in writing, including, at a minimum, the date of receipt, final disposition of the grievance, and the date that the Part D plan notified the enrollee of the disposition.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D plans to maintain the required documentation outlined in this section. We estimate that on an annual basis it will take 942 Part D plan sponsors 52 hours for a business operations specialist to maintain the required documentation on an annual basis, for a total annual burden of 48,984 hours. The estimated annual cost is $3,970,643 ($81.06 /hr x 48,984 hr).
(a)(3) A Part D plan sponsor must accept requests for benefits orally or in writing and must establish and maintain a method of documenting all oral requests for standard coverage determinations and retain the documentation in the case file.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D plan sponsors to document oral requests and retain the documentation in the case file. We estimate that Part D plan sponsors will receive about 3,675,000 standard coverage determination requests annually and, of that number, 1,837,500 will be oral requests. We estimate that it will take a Part D plan sponsor 3 minutes (0.05 hours) for a business operations specialist to document and retain the required documentation in the case file. Thus, we estimate that it will take 942 Part D plan sponsors a total of 91,875 hours to perform this function on an annual basis. The estimated annual cost is $ 7,447,388 ($81.06 /hr x 91,875 hr).
(b), (c), (d) and (f) When a party makes a request for a drug benefit, a Part D plan sponsor must notify the enrollee in writing of favorable and unfavorable decisions. Enrollees (and the enrollee’s prescriber, as appropriate) must be notified of a coverage decision as expeditiously as the enrollee’s health condition requires, but no later than 72 hours after receipt of the request, or, for an exceptions request, the physician's or other prescriber’s supporting statement. For payment requests, the plan sponsor must notify the enrollee of its decision and make any applicable payment no later than 14 calendar days after receiving the request.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for the 942 Part D plan sponsors to provide written notice to the enrollee. We estimate it will take a plan sponsor
15 minutes (0.25 hours) to issue a written denial notice in 1,139,250 cases for a total estimate of 284,813 hours. We estimate it will take a plan sponsor 15 minutes (0.25 hours) to issue a written notice for 2,535,750 favorable decisions for a total estimate of 633,938 hours.
The total number of hours is 918,751 (284,813 + 633,938) annually. The estimated annual cost is $74,473,956 ($81.06 /hr x 918,751 hr).
(c)(2) A Part D plan sponsor must document all oral requests in writing and maintain the documentation in the case file. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for Part D plans to maintain the required documentation outlined in this section. We estimate that on an annual basis Part D plan sponsors will receive 1,225,000 expedited coverage determination requests, of which 1,163,750 will be received orally. We estimate it will take 3 minutes (0.05 hours) for a plan sponsor’s business operations specialist to document an oral request for an expedited coverage determination. Thus, it will take 942 Part D plan sponsors
58,188 hours to perform this function on an annual basis. The estimated annual cost is $4,716,679 ($81.06 / hr x 58,188 hr).
(d) If a Part D plan denies a request for expedited determination, it must give the enrollee prompt oral notice of the denial and subsequently deliver, within 3 calendar days, a written letter that explains the notice requirements set forth in this section.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for each of the 942 Part D plan sponsors to disclose the necessary information to an enrollee. We estimate that 12,250 expedited requests will be transferred to the standard adjudication process. We estimate that it will take plan sponsors 15 minutes (0.25 hours) for a business operations specialist to provide this notice, for a total annual burden of 3,063 hours. The estimated annual cost is $248,287 ($81.06 /hr x 3,063 hr).
(a) and (c) A Part D plan sponsor must notify the enrollee (and the prescribing physician or other prescriber involved, as appropriate) of its decision, whether adverse or favorable, as expeditiously as the enrollee’s health condition requires, but no later than 24 hours after receiving the request, or, for an exceptions request, the physician's or other prescriber’s supporting statement. Plan sponsors must notify enrollees in writing of favorable and unfavorable expedited coverage determinations.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for each of the 942 Part D plan sponsors to disclose the necessary information to an enrollee and prescribing physician or other prescriber involved. We estimate it will take 15 minutes (0.25 hours) for a business operations specialist to provide notice of 1,212,750 expedited coverage determination decisions for a total estimated annual burden of 303,188 hours. The estimated annual cost is $24,576,419 ($81.06 /hr x 303,188 hr).
Exception requests must be supported by a statement from the enrollee’s prescriber and if the supporting statement is provided orally, a Part D plan sponsor may require a written follow-up. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a prescribing physician or other prescriber to submit the written supporting statement or other medical documentation to the Part D plan sponsor. We estimate 2,388,750 requests will require written documentation and that it will take the physician or other prescriber 15 minutes (0.25 hours) to provide the supporting documentation. Therefore, we estimate a total annual burden of 597,188 hours. The estimated annual cost is $125,672,243 ($210.44/hr x 597,188 hr).
Paragraph (b) of this section requires the Part D plan sponsor offering the Part D plan, or the MA organization offering the MA-PD plan, to reduce the individual’s premiums and cost-sharing as applicable and provide information to CMS on the amount of such reductions, in a manner determined by CMS. This paragraph also requires the Part D plan sponsor offering the Part D plan to maintain documentation to track the application of the low-income cost-sharing subsidies to be applied to the out-of-pocket threshold.
The burden associated with these requirements is the time and effort for the Part D plan sponsor offering the Part D plan to provide information to CMS and to maintain documentation. We estimate that it will take each of the 942 respondents approximately 52 hours for a business operations specialist to provide the information to CMS for a total of 48,984 hours annually. The estimated annual cost is $3,970,643 ($81.06/hr x 48,984 hr).
We also estimate that it will take approximately 26 hours for each of the 942 respondents to maintain the information for tracking purposes for a total of 24,294 hours annually. The estimated annual cost is $1,985,322 ($81.06/hr x 24,294 hr).
(c) A sponsor who is contemplating or negotiating a change of ownership must notify CMS. We estimate that approximately 1 percent of sponsors will fall into this category in a given year.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for a sponsoring entity to submit the required notification to CMS. On an annual basis it will take 9 entities (1 percent of 942) about 1 hour for a business operations specialist to submit the required notification to CMS, for a total of approximately 9 hours. The estimated annual cost is $730 ($81.06 /hr x 9 hr).
Table 12. Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Private Sector/Plans): Burden Summary (Subtotal)
CFR Section |
Response Type* |
# Respond ents |
Time (hr per response) |
# Responses (per respondent) |
Total Responses (all respondents) |
Total Annual Time (hr, all respondents) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
423.36(b) |
R |
942 |
0.017 |
2,021 |
1,903,752 |
32,364 |
2,623,408 |
1 |
1 |
942 |
942 |
76,359 |
|||
423.38(c) |
R |
50 |
0.083 |
37,350 |
1,867,519 |
155,627 |
12,615,091 |
423.44(b) |
R |
942 |
0.083 |
527 |
496,344 |
41,197 |
3,339,393 |
423.46(b) |
R |
942 |
0.25 |
4,197 |
3,954,000 |
988,500 |
80,127,810 |
423.48 |
R |
942 |
2 |
1 |
942 |
1,884 |
152,717 |
423.104(g) |
R |
942 |
10 |
1 |
942 |
9,420 |
763,585 |
423.153(b) |
R |
942 |
0.5 |
1 |
942 |
471 |
38,179 |
423.153(c) |
R |
942 |
0.5 |
1 |
942 |
471 |
38,179 |
423.153(f) |
R |
309 |
0.0167 |
116 |
35,771 |
597 |
32,641 |
423.168(c) 423.171(a) 423.904(a) |
R |
12 |
1 |
12 |
144 |
144 |
11,673 |
423.329(b) |
R |
205 |
52 |
1 |
205 |
10,660 |
864,100 |
876 |
15 |
1 |
876 |
13,140 |
1,065,128 |
||
423.336(a) |
R |
5 |
20 |
1 |
5 |
100 |
8,106 |
423.336(c) |
R |
942 |
10 |
12 |
11,304 |
113,040 |
9,163,022 |
423.343(c) |
R |
942 |
10 |
1 |
942 |
9,420 |
763,585 |
423.343(d) |
R |
942 |
10 |
1 |
942 |
9,420 |
763,585 |
423.505(f) |
R |
942 |
8 |
1 |
942 |
7,536 |
610,868 |
423.800(b) |
R |
942 |
52 |
1 |
942 |
48,984 |
3,970,643 |
423.892(c) |
R |
9 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
9 |
730 |
Subtotal (Reporting) |
942 |
varies |
varies |
8,278,407 |
1,443,926 |
117,028,802 |
|
423.46(d) |
RK |
942 |
0.083 |
4,197 |
3,954,000 |
328,182 |
26,602,433 |
423.120(b) |
RK |
942 |
2 |
1 |
942 |
1,884 |
152,717 |
423.120(d) |
RK |
876 |
1 |
1 |
876 |
876 |
71,009 |
423.128(a) |
RK |
942 |
80 |
1 |
942 |
75,360 |
6,108,682 |
423.128(e) |
RK |
942 |
168 |
1 |
942 |
158,256 |
12,828,231 |
2 |
1 |
103** |
205 ** |
18,882 |
|||
423.153(d)(1)( vii)(E) |
RK |
942 |
2 |
1 |
314** |
628 ** |
75,762 |
2 |
1 |
314** |
628 ** |
57,751 |
|||
423.153(f) |
RK |
309 |
320 |
1 |
103** |
32,960 ** |
3,980,579 |
1 |
1 |
103** |
103 ** |
5,628 |
|||
5 |
1 |
103** |
515 ** |
47,359 |
|||
5 |
116 |
35,771 |
178,855 |
20,067,531 |
|||
423.505(d) |
RK |
942 |
52 |
1 |
942 |
48,984 |
3,970,643 |
423.564(g) |
RK |
942 |
52 |
1 |
942 |
48,984 |
3,970,643 |
423.568(a)(3) |
RK |
942 |
0.05 |
1,951 |
1,837,500 |
91,875 |
7,447,388 |
423.570(c)(2) |
RK |
942 |
0.05 |
1,235 |
1,163,750 |
58,188 |
4,716,679 |
423.570(d) |
RK |
942 |
0.25 |
13 |
12,250 |
3,063 |
248,246 |
423.800(b) |
RK |
942 |
26 |
1 |
942 |
24,492 |
1,985,322 |
Subtotal (Record keeping) |
942 |
Varies |
Varies |
7,010,839 |
1,054,038 |
92,355,485 |
|
423.34(e) |
TPD |
942 |
0.25 |
138 |
130,000 |
152,717 |
2,634,450 |
423.44(b) |
TPD |
942 |
1 |
1 |
942 |
71,009 |
76,359 |
0.017 |
527 |
496,344 |
6,108,682 |
683,972 |
|||
1 |
1 |
942 |
24,771 |
76,359 |
|||
0.017 |
1 |
1,100 |
18,882 |
1,516 |
|||
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
942 |
75,762 |
76,359 |
0.1 |
19 |
17,772 |
57,751 |
144,044 |
|||
423.120(b) |
TPD |
942 |
40 |
1 |
942 |
3,980,579 |
3,054,341 |
0.083 |
20,170 |
19,000,000 |
5,628 |
127,831,620 |
|||
423.128(a) |
TPD |
942 |
120 |
1 |
942 |
47,359 |
9,163,022 |
423.128(b)(11) |
TPD |
308 |
n/a |
118,333 |
36,446,413 |
20,067,531 |
399,088 |
423.128(e)(5) |
TPD |
308 |
n/a |
1,893,320 |
583,142,604 |
3,970,643 |
2,926,793 |
423.153(d)(1)( vii)(E) |
TPD |
942 |
n/a |
995 |
937,495 |
7,447,388 |
10,266 |
423.153(f) |
TPD |
309 |
0.1667 |
4.3 |
7,911 |
4,716,679 |
72,057 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
248,246 |
601 |
|||
423.562(a) |
TPD |
942 |
8 |
1 |
942 |
1,985,322 |
610,868 |
423.564(e) |
TPD |
942 |
0.5 |
14 |
13,200 |
6,600 |
534,996 |
0.25 |
126 |
118,800 |
29,700 |
2,407,482 |
|||
423.568(b), (c), (d), and (f) |
TPD |
942 |
0.25 |
1,209 |
1,139,250 |
284,813 |
23,086,942 |
0.25 |
2,692 |
2,535,750 |
633,938 |
51,387,014 |
|||
423.572(a) and (c) |
TPD |
942 |
0.25 |
1,287 |
1,212,750 |
303,188 |
24,576,419 |
423.578 |
TPD |
n/a |
0.25 |
n/a |
2,388,750 |
597,188 |
125,672,243 |
Subtotal (Third Party Disclosure) |
942 |
Varies |
Varies |
647,593,802 |
50,834,376 |
375,426,811 |
|
TOTAL (R, RK, and TPD) |
942 |
Varies |
Varies |
662,883,048 |
53,332,340 |
584,811,068 |
|
*R (reporting), RK (recordkeeping), and TPD (third party disclosure). **Annualized burden and cost
12.4 ICRs Regarding State Eligibility Determinations (423.904(b)) and Reporting (423.910(d)) (No change)
Paragraph (b) of this section states the State agency must inform CMS of cases where eligibility is established or redetermined.
The burden associated with the requirement on State agencies to inform CMS of cases where eligibility is established or redetermined is estimated to total approximately 6,120 annual hours at a cost of $472,097 (6,120 hr x $77.14 /hr for a business operations specialist). We estimate that there will be approximately 600,000 of these cases on an annual basis. We also estimate that it will take approximately 10 hours per month for the State agency to inform CMS of these cases.
The burden associated with the requirement on States to provide CMS with other information as specified by CMS is estimated to total approximately 1,020 annual hours at a cost of $78,683 (1,020 hr x $77.14 /hr for a business operations specialist). Based on the experience to date, it will take on average 20 hours per State on an annual basis to provide CMS with the specified information.
(d) The subpart also requires States to submit an electronic file, in a manner specified by the Secretary, identifying each full benefit dual eligible beneficiary enrolled in the State for each month with Part D drug coverage who is also determined to be full benefit eligible by the State for full Medicaid benefits.
The burden associated with the requirement on States to submit an electronic file identifying each full benefit dual eligible enrolled in the State for each month with Part D drug coverage is estimated to total approximately 120 hours per State on an annual basis. We estimate that it will take approximately 10 hours for each State’s business operations specialist to submit an electronic file on a monthly basis. Therefore, we estimate a total burden of 6,120 hours on an annual basis. The estimated annual cost is $472,097 ($77.14 /hr x 6,120 hr).
Table 13. State Eligibility Determinations Burden and Cost Summary (States: Subtotal)
CFR Section |
Response Type* |
# Respondents |
Time (hr per response) |
# Responses (per respondent) |
Total Responses (all respondents) |
Total Annual Time (hr, all respondents) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
423.904(b)
|
R R |
51
|
10/month |
12,000 |
600,000 |
6,120 |
472,097 |
20 |
1 |
51 |
1,020 |
78,683 |
|||
423.910(d) |
R |
51 |
10/month |
12 |
51 |
6,120 |
472,097 |
Subtotal |
51 |
Varies |
varies |
600,102 |
13,260 |
1,022,876 |
|
*R (reporting).
12.5 ICRs Regarding the Preparation and Issuance of the Precluded Provider Model Notices to the Medicare Beneficiaries and Prescribers (§ 423.120(c)(6)) (No change)
For this provision we estimate that it will take an average of 5 minutes (0.083 hr) at $43.34/hour for an insurance claim and policy processing clerk to generate and disseminate the aforementioned notice.
In 2020 and 2021, we estimated that roughly 150 prescribers will be added to the Preclusion List, though this will be largely offset by the same number of prescribers being updated to reflect a change in their preclusion status (for example, based on reenrollment after the expiration of a reenrollment bar) with 15,000 affected beneficiaries. In aggregate, we estimate an annual burden of 1,245 hours (15,000 beneficiaries x 0.083 hr) at a cost of $53,958 (1,245 hr x $43.34 /hr) or $360 per prescriber ($53,958/150 prescribers).
Table 14. Precluded Provider Model Notices Burden and Cost Summary (Private Sector:
Subtotal)
CFR Section |
Response Type* |
# Respondents |
Time (hr per response) |
# Responses (per respondent) |
Total Responses (all respondents) |
Total Annual Time (hr, all respondents) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
423.120(c)(6) |
TPD |
150 |
0.083 (5 min) |
Varies |
15,000 |
1,245 |
53,958 |
Subtotal |
150 |
0.083 (5 min) |
Varies |
15,000 |
1,245 |
53,958 |
|
*TPD (third party disclosure).
SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS AND ANNUAL BURDEN AND COST ESTIMATES
Table 15 Burden and Cost Estimates
ICR Section |
# Respondents |
Time (hr per response) |
# Responses (per respondent) |
Total Responses (all respondents) |
Total Annual Time (hr, all respondents) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
12.1. Business Continuity Plans (Revised), from Table 2 |
99 |
Varies |
1 |
99 |
4,960 |
479,876 |
12.3. Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program: Plans (Revised), from Table 12 |
942
|
Varies |
Varies |
662,883,048 |
53,332,340 |
584,811,068 |
12.5 Preparation and issuance of Precluded Provider model notices (No Change), from Table 14 |
150 |
0.083 |
Varies |
15,000 |
1,245 |
53,958 |
Subtotal (Private Sector) |
1191 |
Varies |
Varies |
662,898,147 |
53,338,545 |
585,344,902 |
12.2. Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program: Bene (Revised), from Table 3 |
4,630,100 |
Varies |
1 |
4,630,100 |
1,157,525 |
31,334,202 |
Subtotal (Individuals and Households) |
4,630,100 |
Varies |
1 |
4,630,100 |
1,157,525 |
31,334,202 |
12.4. State Eligibility Determinations (No Change), from Table 13 |
51 |
Varies |
Varies |
600,102 |
13,260 |
1,022,876 |
Subtotal (States) |
51 |
Varies |
Varies |
600,102 |
13,260 |
1,022,876 |
TOTAL |
3,316,342 |
Varies |
Varies |
666,813,349 |
54,180,580 |
608,802,717 |
INFORMATION COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS, INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS
Attachments 1a – 1f – Drug Management Program Standardized Notices and Model Letters (No change)
(See section 12.3.11 Drug Utilization Management, Quality Assurance, Medication Therapy
Management (MTM), and Drug Management Programs)
1a – Instructions for Drug Management Program Notices (No change)
1b – Initial Notice Sent to Potentially At-Risk Beneficiaries (No change)
1c – Second Notice Sent to Beneficiary Designating At-Risk Status (No change)
1d – Alternate Second Notice Sent to Beneficiary Not Considered At-Risk (No change)
1e – Model Prescriber Inquiry Letter (No change)
1f – Model Sponsor Information Transfer Memo (No change)
Attachment 2 – Model Precluded Provider Letter (No change)
(See section 12.7, Preparation and Issuance of Model Notices)
Attachment 3a-h) – Part D Explanation of Benefits (Revised: see Crosswalk and Attachments 3h-i)
(See section 12.3.10, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program: Plans, Dissemination of Plan
Information)
3 - Crosswalk for EOB 30 day Comment Period
3a - 2022 Model Part D Explanation of Benefits (All Sections Included)
3b - Exhibit A: Example Cover Page of the Model Part D EOB
3c - Exhibit B: Examples of Section 1 (the List of Prescriptions)
3d - Exhibit C: Example of Section 2 (Drug Payment Stages)
3e - Exhibit D: Example of Section 3 (Amounts and Definitions for TrOOP and Total Drug Costs)
3f - Exhibit E: Example of Section 4 (Changes to the Formulary)
3g - Exhibit F: Example of Sections 5 and 6 (Information for Reference)
3h - Exhibit G: Example of a Part D EOB (All Sections Included) 3i – EOB 60 day comments and responses
Crosswalks reflect additional minor revisions based on comments received during the 60-day comment period. None of these revisions change burden estimates in section 15.
(No Change)
Exemptions Pertaining to Nine or Fewer Respondents
Since we estimate fewer than ten annual respondents for the following information collections, the requirements and burden are exempt (see 5 CFR 1320.3(c)) from the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
In paragraph § 423.38 (b), under the Special Enrollment Period provisions, an individual is eligible to enroll in a Part D plan or disenroll from a Part D plan and enroll in another Part D plan, if the individual demonstrates to CMS, in accordance with guidelines CMS issues, that the Part D plan sponsor offering the Part D plan substantially violated a material provision of its contract under this part that meets the requirements set forth in this section.
The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for an individual to submit the required materials to CMS demonstrating that a Part D plan substantially violated a material provision of its contract. Based on our experience with the current Medicare Advantage program, we expect that fewer than 10 individuals, if any, will avail themselves of this option. Generally, in those instances where CMS has found that an MA organization has substantially violated a material provision of its contract, CMS has taken the necessary action on behalf of these individuals. Thus, we do not estimate any burden on individuals under this provision.
In § 423.507(a), if a Part D sponsor does not intend to renew its contract, it must notify CMS in writing by the first Monday of June in the year in which the contract ends and notify, in a manner that meets the requirements of this section, each Medicare enrollee, at least 90 days before the date on which the nonrenewal is effective.
In § 423.508(b), if the contract is terminated by mutual consent, the Part D sponsor must provide notice to its Medicare enrollees and the general public as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.
In § 423.509(b), if CMS notifies the Part D sponsor in writing 90 days before the intended date of their termination the Part D plan sponsor must notify its Medicare enrollees of the termination by mail at least 30 days before the effective date of the termination. The Part D sponsor must also notify the general public of the termination at least 30 days before the effective date of the termination by publishing a notice in one or more newspapers of general circulation in each community or county located in the Part D sponsor's service area.
In § 423.510(a), if a Part D sponsor terminates its contract because CMS fails to substantially carry out the terms of the contract the Part D sponsor must give advance notice to CMS, its Medicare enrollees, and the general public in a manner that meets the requirements set forth in the section.
There were 0 to 2 nonrenewals for standalone PDP contracts annually between 2019 and 2021.
Nonrenewals for MA-PD contracts are accounted for in CMS-R-267 Nonrenewal of contract (§ 422.506). There were 0 to 2 terminations for standalone PDP contracts annually between 2019 and 2021. There were 1-4 terminations for MA-PD contracts annually between 2019 and 2021. Terminations for MA-PD contracts are accounted for in CMS-R-267 noting that provisions § 422.508, § 422.510, § 422.512 are exempt from PRA requirements.
In § 423.551(c), states that a Part D plan sponsor that has a Medicare contract in effect under § 423.502 of this part and is considering or negotiating a change in ownership must notify CMS at least 60 days before the anticipated effective date of the change. The Part D plan sponsor must also provide updated financial information and a discussion of the financial and solvency impact of the change of ownership on the surviving organization.
In § 423.552(a), Part D plan sponsors are required to submit to CMS, at least 30 days before the proposed change of ownership date, 3 signed copies of the novation agreement containing the provisions specified in this section, and 1 copy of other relevant documents required by CMS.
There were 4-6 changes in ownership (novations) annually between 2019 and 2021 for MA-PD contracts. No changes of ownership took place for standalone PDP contracts between 2019 and 2021.
In § 423.859(c), states that CMS may waive or modify the requirements of this part if an entity seeking to become a prescription drug plan in an area such, as a territory, other than the 50 States or the District of Columbia requests waiver or modification of any Part D in order to provide qualified prescription drug. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort for the Part D plan to make a request of waiver or modification to CMS. We estimate that approximately 2 Part D plans will request a waiver or modification on an annual basis.
Section 423.863(a) discusses the process CMS uses for the solicitation and approval of bids. CMS solicits bids from eligible fallback entities for the offering in all fallback service areas in one or more Part D plan regions of a fallback prescription drug plan. CMS specifies the form and manner in which fallback bids are submitted in separate guidance to bidders. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort for the fallback entities to prepare and submit a bid that meets the requirements of the section and related sections. We estimate fewer than 10 fallback entities will submit a bid every three years.
Section 423.863(b) discusses the procedures CMS uses to enter into contracts. CMS solicits bids from eligible fallback entities and uses competitive procedures to enter into contracts. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort for the fallback entities to enter into a contract with CMS that meets the requirements of this section and related sections. We estimate, as an upper limit, that approximately 5 fallback entities will enter into a contract with CMS on an annual basis.
Section 423.871(f) states that each contract for a fallback prescription drug plan requires an eligible fallback entity offering a fallback prescription drug plan to provide CMS with the information CMS determines is necessary to carry out the requirements of this section. The burden associated with this requirement is the time required of the fallback prescription drug plan to provide CMS with the information CMS determines necessary. We estimate that approximately 5 fallback prescription drug plans will enter into a contract with CMS.
Section 423.907(a) discusses the requirements on territories to submit plans for approval by the Secretary to receive increased grants. This paragraph states that a territory may submit a plan to the Secretary under which medical assistance is to be provided to low-income individuals for the provision of covered Part D drugs. Paragraph (b) describes what a plan must include. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort of territories to prepare and submit a plan for approval. We estimate that this requirement will affect 5 territories.
Exemptions Pertaining to Administrative Actions
The following information collection requirements are associated with an administrative action (see 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2) and (c)). Consequently, they are exempt from the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
In § 423.580, the requirements under Right to a Redetermination.
In § 423.582, the requirements under Request for a Standard Redetermination.
In § 423.584, the requirements under Expediting Certain Redeterminations.
In § 423.590, the requirements under Timeframes and Responsibility for Making redeterminations.
In Part 423, the requirements under subpart N (Medicare Contract Determinations and Appeals).
In § 423.756(a), CMS will allow the Part D plan sponsor to provide evidence that it has not committed an act or failed to comply with the requirements as described. In addition, CMS may allow additional time for the Part D plan sponsor to provide the evidence if the Part D plan sponsor sends a written request providing a credible explanation of why additional time is necessary.
Exemptions Pertaining to Usual and Customary Business Practices
We believe the burden associated with the following requirements is exempt from the PRA in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.3(b)(2). Specifically, we believe that the time, effort, and financial resources necessary to comply with the aforementioned requirements will be incurred by pharmacies during the normal course of their activities and, therefore, should be considered usual and customary business practices.
In § 423.132(a), a Part D sponsor must require a pharmacy that dispenses a covered Part D drug to inform an enrollee of any differential between the price of that drug and the price of the lowest priced generic version of that covered Part D drug that is therapeutically equivalent and bioequivalent and available at that pharmacy, unless the particular covered Part D drug being purchased is the lowest-priced therapeutically equivalent and bioequivalent version of that drug available at that pharmacy. Since the information must be provided after the requirements will be incurred by pharmacies when the drug is dispensed in the normal course of their business practices, or, in the case of dispensing by mail order, at the time of delivery of the drug we believe they are exempt from PRA. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary for the Part D sponsor to notify the pharmacy of the disclosure requirement referenced in this section and the burden on a pharmacy to provide the necessary disclosure to the enrollee.
PRA.
In § 423.136(c) and (d), for any medical records or other health and enrollment information it maintains with respect to enrollees, a Part D plan sponsor must maintain the records and information in an accurate and timely manner and provide timely access by enrollees to the records and information that pertain to them. The burden associated with this requirement is the time and effort necessary to maintain and disclose enrollee records.
Section 423.904(d) requires States to make available low-income subsidy application forms, information on the nature of, and eligibility requirements for the subsidies under this section, and offer assistance with the completion of the application forms. States must require an individual or personal representative applying for the low-income subsidy to complete all required elements, provide documents as necessary, and certify as to the accuracy of the information provided. In addition, States must provide CMS with other information as specified by CMS that may be needed to carry out the requirements of the Part D prescription drug benefit.
Exemptions Pertaining to Affirmation and Certification
Since the following requirements are associated with an affirmation and certification, the requirements and burden are exempt (5 CFR 1320.3(h)(1)) from the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Neither entail burden other than that necessary to identify the respondent, the date, the respondent’s address, and the nature of the instrument.
Section 423.505(k)(5) states that the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or an individual delegated the authority to sign on behalf of one of these officers, and who reports directly to the officer, must certify that the information provided is accurate, complete, and truthful and fully conforms to the requirements in §§ 423.336 and 423.343 and acknowledge that this information will be used for the purposes of obtaining Federal reimbursement.
Enrollment Process (§ 423.32). ICRs related to the Enrollment Process requirements at § 423.32 are accounted for in CMS-10718 (OMB 0938-1378).
Enrollment Periods (§ 423.38). ICRs related to burden for MA organizations were submitted to OMB for approval in CMS-R-267 (OMB 0938-0753).
Nonrenewal of Contracts (§ 423.507(a), § 423.508(b), § 423.509(b), and § 423.510(a). ICR related to burden for MA organizations are accounted for in CMS-R-267 (OMB 0938-0753) in ICR for § 422.506. This package also affirms the number of respondents for contract terminations consistent with § 422.508, § 422.510, § 422.512 is less than 10 for MA organizations and therefore exempt from PRA requirements.
Safe disposal of Controlled Substances for MTM Program Enrollees (§ 423.153(d)(1)(vii)(E). The burden associated with operationalizing the requirements for MTM programs is discussed in CMS-10396 (OMB 0938-1154).
Coordination of benefits with other providers of prescription drug coverage (§ 423.464). The burden associated with this requirement is captured and discussed in CMS-10718 (OMB 09381378).
Business Continuity Plans (§§ 422.504(o) and 423.505 (p)). Burden associated with these requirements is submitted under CMS-10260 (OMB 0938-1051).
All states and Part D plan sponsors are fully operational and equipped to fulfill these requirements. Therefore, no additional capital or equipment costs will result from the collection of information.
We estimate that on an annual basis 200 individuals will be required to pay arrearages for Part D-IRMAA to CMS in order to be reinstated. We estimate that it will take a CMS staff person 5 minutes (0.083) to compile the arrearage information and 1 minute (0.017 hours) to assemble and disseminate the notice for each Part D-IRMAA favorable determination. 200 notices x 0.1 hours
(6 minutes) = 20 hours. The estimated annual cost is $778. This is based upon the 2021
Washington-Baltimore-Northern VA Locality Pay Area hourly rate for a GS-11/step 6 of $38.90/hr (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salarytables/pdf/2021/DCB_h.pdf) multiplied by the number of burden hours (20).
There is no change in to the original cost estimated in the 60 day comment iteration of $5,619.81. All changes were minimal enough to negate any additional cost.
This section notes several non-rule revisions using more current beneficiary and plan information, as well as adjustments to burden hours for dissemination of Part D plan information.
15.1.1 Dissemination of Part D Plan Information
The purpose of this revision is to adjust burden for the revised Part D EOB based on the time it would take to implement changes to formatting and associated mailings. We are including additional time it would take for Part D plans to read the accompanying memo and instructions in the standardized document, 6 hours to generate the standardized document and 1 hour to submit the materials
Table 16. Burden Summary for Dissemination of Part D Plan Information (Plans)
CFR Section |
Response Type* |
# Respondents |
Time (hr per response) |
# Responses (per respondent) |
Total Respons es (all respond ents) |
Total Annual Time (all responde nts) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
§ 423.128(e) |
RK |
942 |
168 |
942 |
158,256 |
81.06 |
12,828,231 |
* RK (record keeping)
15.1.2 Business Continuity Plans
The purpose of this revision is to adjust burden based on more recent estimates for plans without business continuity measures.
Revised ICRs related to Part D sponsors and MA organizations who had established business continuity plans included burden associated with new plans required annually to create these reflected a increased in number of new Part D sponsors in 2021 needing to create contingency plans. The number of sponsors without business continuity plans has decreased since being established in 2014 (9 vs. 5 annually), and hourly wage associated with implementation and identification of potential business disruptions by a business operations specialist has increased in that time.
Table 17. Burden Summary for Sponsors’ Business Continuity Plans (Plans)
CFR Section |
Response Type* |
# Respondents |
Time (hr per response) |
# Responses (per respondent) |
Total Responses (all respondents) |
Total Annual Time (all respondents) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
423.505(p) combined with 422.504(o) |
RK |
5 |
240 |
1 |
5 |
240 |
$ 175,090 |
94 |
40 |
1 |
94 |
3,760 |
$ 304,786 |
||
Subtotal |
99 |
Varies |
1 |
99 |
4,960 |
$ 479,876 |
|
**RK (record keeping)
15.1.3 Exceptions Request
The purpose of this revision is to adjust burden based on expected number of annual exceptions requests submitted by individuals. The last approved iteration estimated 3,185,000 anticipated requests yearly, while more current information increased this estimate to 4,500,000 requests. Because of the increase in expected requests, the total annual burden has also been revised from 796,000 hours to 1,125,000 hours.
Table 18 Burden Summary for Exceptions Request (Individuals)
CFR Section |
Response Type** |
# Respondents |
Time (hr per response) |
# Responses (per respondent) |
Total Responses (all respondents) |
Total Annual Time (hr, all respondents) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
423.578(a) and (b) |
R |
4,500,000 |
0.25 |
1 |
4,500,000 |
1,125,000 |
30,453,750 |
|
Subtotal |
4,500,000 |
0.25 |
1 |
4,500,000 |
1,125,000 |
30,453,750 |
**R (reporting)
Table 18. Summary of Burden Changes
Subject (Regulatory Citation) |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses |
Total Annual Time (hr) |
Total Annual Cost ($) |
|
Added Burden |
|
|
|
Non-Rule Changes Associated with Dissemination of Part D Plan Information (§ 423.128 |
942 |
942 |
158,256 |
12,828,231 |
Non-Rule Changes Associated with Business Continuity (§§ 422.504(o) and 423.505(p)), from Table 2 |
99 |
99 |
4,960 |
79,876 |
Non-Rule Changes Associated with Exceptions Process (§423.578), from Table 17 |
4,500,000 |
4,500,000 |
1,125,000 |
30,453,750 |
SUBTOTAL: ADDITIONS |
4,501,041 |
4,501,041 |
1,288,216 |
43,361,857 |
*One-time estimates that were not annualized in the last-approved version of this package, therefore not annualizing for this summary
The previously approved supporting statement contained 666,813,366 responses and 6,973,844 burden hours. We are revising this estimate to 666,813,349 responses and 54,180,580 burden hours (see Table 15). Total responses increased by 983, and the annual burden hours increased by 47,206,376. The net change in burden reflects revisions to Part D EOB revision of burden hours necessary for plans to read accompanying memo and instructions in the standardized document, 6 hours to generate the standardized document and 1 hour to submit the materials; an increase in number of sponsors required to create business continuity plans; an increase in annual exceptions received, as summarized in this section (see Table 18); and a clerical oversight when calculating total burden (see Table 12).
There was a net increase of 328,689 responses to account for new Part D and MA plans as a proportion of those required to develop business continuity strategies (10 percent of 942 Part D plans plus estimated 5 MA plans), and because of the increased number of expected exception requests by 1,315,000 (4,500,000 minus 3,185,000). Thus, there was an additional 1,125,000 hours (4,500,000 x 0.25 hours) of burden, for a combined addition of 1,129,960 hours.
Several comments received during the 60 day comment period for revision of the Part D EOB indicated they would need additional time to implement these changes. Thus, we included a one time burden adjustment of an additional 7,536 hours (158,256 minus 150,920) (see Table 16).
Publication and Tabulation Dates
There are no publication or tabulation dates.
Expiration Date
The expiration date is displayed on the collection instruments (see section 12, above).
Certification Statement
There are no exceptions to the certification statement.
Not applicable.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | Supporting Statement For Collection Requirements pertaining to the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program |
| Author | CMS |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2022-04-28 |