Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act-Private Sector

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148, (the Affordable Care Act) was enacted on March 23, 2010 and amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-152 on March 30, 2010. The Affordable Care Act added section 2713 to the Public Health Service (PHS) Act and incorporated this provision into ERISA and the Code. The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury first published interim final rules on July 19, 2010, which implements the requirements of PHS Act section 2713, including the requirement that non-grandfathered group health insurance coverage to provide benefits for certain preventive services without cost sharing, including benefits for certain women's preventive health services as provided for in comprehensive guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The Departments subsequently published regulations establishing an exemption for certain religious objectors with respect to the requirement to cover contraception pursuant to comprehensive guidelines supported by HRSA.

In 2013, the Department issued final rules, which clarified the definition of religious employer for purposes of the religious employer exemption and also provided accommodations for health coverage established or maintained or arranged by certain nonprofit religious organizations with religious objections to contraceptive services (eligible organizations). The 2018 final rules expanded the exemption to include additional entities (any kind of employer) and persons that object based on religious beliefs or moral convictions objecting to contraceptive or sterilization coverage, and by making the accommodation compliance process optional for eligible organizations instead of mandatory. The regulations contain the following collections of information. First, each organization seeking to be treated as an eligible organization for the optional accommodation process offered under the regulation must either notify an issuer or third-party administrator using the EBSA Form 700 method of self-certification or provide notice to HHS of its religious or moral objection to coverage of all or a subset of contraceptive services. Second, a health insurance issuer or third-party administrator providing or arranging separate payments for contraceptive services for participants and beneficiaries in insured plans (or student enrollees and covered dependents in student health insurance coverage) of eligible organizations is required to provide a written notice to plan participants and beneficiaries (or student enrollees and covered dependents) informing them of the availability of such payments. The notice must be separate from but, contemporaneous with (to the extent possible) any application materials distributed in connection with enrollment (or re-enrollment) in group or student coverage of the eligible organization in any plan year to which the accommodation is to apply and will be provided annually. To satisfy the notice requirement, issuers may, but are not required to, use the model language set forth in the 2018 final rules or substantially similar language. Third, an eligible organization may also revoke its use of the accommodation process and must provide participants and beneficiaries written notice of such revocation as soon as possible. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2024 (89 FR 7732).

Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid OMB Control Number. See5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

Agency: DOL-EBSA.

Title of Collection: Coverage of Certain Preventive Services under the Affordable Care Act-Private Sector.

OMB Control Number: 1210-0150.

Affected Public: Private sector, Business or other for profits.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 595,312.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 72 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $181,222.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

[FR Doc. 2024-23196 Filed 10-7-24; 8:45 am]

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