Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans, and Standards Related to Reinsurance, Risk Corridors and Risk Adjustment; Extension of Comment Period, 60788-60789 [2011-25202]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
60788
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2011 / Proposed Rules
delete a chemical to or from the list
described in subsection (c) of section
313 of Title III on the basis of the
criteria in subparagraph (A) or (B) of
subsection (d)(2) and (d)(3) of section
313 of Title III. Within 180 days after
receipt of a petition, the Administrator
shall take one of the following actions:
(i) Initiate a rulemaking to add or
delete the chemical to or from the list,
in accordance with subsection (d)(2) or
(d)(3) of section 313 of Title III.
(ii) Publish an explanation of why the
petition is denied.
(2) State and Tribal petitions. A State
Governor, or a Tribal chairperson or
equivalent elected official, may petition
the Administrator to add or delete a
chemical to or from the list described in
subsection (c) of section 313 of Title III
on the basis of the criteria in
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of
subsection (d)(2) of section 313 of Title
III. In the case of such a petition from
a State Governor, or a Tribal
Chairperson or equivalent elected
official, to delete a chemical, the
petition shall be treated in the same
manner as a petition received under
paragraph (b)(1) of this section. In the
case of such a petition from a State
Governor, or a Tribal Chairperson or
equivalent elected official, to add a
chemical, the chemical will be added to
the list within 180 days after receipt of
the petition, unless the Administrator:
(i) Initiates a rulemaking to add the
chemical to the list, in accordance with
section (d)(2) of section 313 of Title III,
or
(ii) Publishes an explanation of why
the Administrator believes the petition
does not meet the requirement of
subsection (d)(2) of section 313 of Title
III for adding a chemical to the list.
4. In § 372.27, paragraph (d) is revised
to read as follows:
§ 372.27, Alternate threshold and
certification.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
*
*
*
*
*
(d) Each certification statement under
this section for activities involving a
toxic chemical that occurred during a
calendar year at a facility must be
submitted to EPA and to the State in
which the facility is located on or before
July 1 of the next year. If the covered
facility is located in Indian country, the
facility shall submit the certification
statement as described above to EPA
and to the official designated by the
Tribal Chairperson or equivalent elected
official of the relevant Indian Tribe,
instead of to the State.
*
*
*
*
*
5. In § 372.30(a), paragraph (a) is
revised to read as follows:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:26 Sep 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
§ 372.30 Reporting requirements and
schedule for reporting.
(a) For each toxic chemical known by
the owner or operator to be
manufactured (including imported),
processed, or otherwise used in excess
of an applicable threshold quantity in
§ 372.25, § 372.27, or § 372.28 at its
covered facility described in § 372.22 for
a calendar year, the owner or operator
must submit to EPA and to the State in
which the facility is located a completed
EPA Form R (EPA Form 9350–1), EPA
Form A (EPA Form 9350–2), and, for the
dioxin and dioxin-like compounds
category, EPA Form R Schedule 1 (EPA
Form 9350–3) in accordance with the
instructions referred to in subpart E of
this part. If the covered facility is
located in Indian country, the facility
shall submit (to the extent applicable) a
completed EPA Form R, Form A, and
Form R Schedule 1 as described above
to EPA and to the official designated by
the Tribal Chairperson or equivalent
elected official of the relevant Indian
Tribe, instead of to the State.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2011–24821 Filed 9–29–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
45 CFR Parts 153, 155 and 156
[CMS–9989–N2]
Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act; Establishment of Exchanges and
Qualified Health Plans, and Standards
Related to Reinsurance, Risk Corridors
and Risk Adjustment; Extension of
Comment Period
Department of Health and
Human Services.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of
comment period.
AGENCY:
This document extends the
comment period for two proposed rules
published in the Federal Register on
July 15, 2011. One proposed rule would
implement the new Affordable
Insurance Exchanges (‘‘Exchanges’’),
consistent with Title I of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act of
2010 as amended by the Health Care
and Education Reconciliation Act of
2010, referred to collectively as the
Affordable Care Act. The other proposed
rule would implement standards for
States related to reinsurance and risk
adjustment, and for health insurance
issuers related to reinsurance, risk
corridors, and risk adjustment
consistent with Title I of the Affordable
Care Act. The comment period for both
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
proposed rules, which would have
ended on September 28, 2011, is
extended to October 31, 2011.
DATES: The comment period for two
proposed rules published in the Federal
Register on July 15, 2011 (76 FR 41866
and 76 FR 41930, respectively), is
extended from 5 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time on September 28, 2011, to 5 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time on October 31,
2011.
In commenting, please refer
to file code CMS–9989–N2. Because of
staff and resource limitations, we cannot
accept comments by facsimile (FAX)
transmission.
You may submit comments in one of
four ways (please choose only one of the
ways listed):
1. Electronically. You may submit
electronic comments on this regulation
to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions under the ‘‘More Search
Options’’ tab.
2. By regular mail. You may mail
written comments to the following
address ONLY: Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, Department of
Health and Human Services, Attention:
CMS–9989–N2, P.O. Box 8010,
Baltimore, MD 21244–8010.
Please allow sufficient time for mailed
comments to be received before the
close of the comment period.
3. By express or overnight mail. You
may send written comments to the
following address ONLY: Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services,
Department of Health and Human
Services, Attention: CMS–9989–N2,
Mail Stop C4–26–05, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.
4. By hand or courier. If you prefer,
you may deliver (by hand or courier)
your written comments before the close
of the comment period to either of the
following addresses:
a. For delivery in Washington, DC—
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and
Human Services, Room 445–G, Hubert
H. Humphrey Building, 200
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20201.
(Because access to the interior of the
Hubert H. Humphrey Building is not
readily available to persons without
Federal government identification,
commenters are encouraged to leave
their comments in the CMS drop slots
located in the main lobby of the
building. A stamp-in clock is available
for persons wishing to retain a proof of
filing by stamping in and retaining an
extra copy of the comments being filed.)
b. For delivery in Baltimore, MD—
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\30SEP1.SGM
30SEP1
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2011 / Proposed Rules
Services, Department of Health and
Human Services, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.
If you intend to deliver your
comments to the Baltimore address,
please call telephone number (410) 786–
9994 in advance to schedule your
arrival with one of our staff members.
Comments mailed to the addresses
indicated as appropriate for hand or
courier delivery may be delayed and
received after the comment period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharon Arnold, (301) 492–4415 for
general information and matters
related to reinsurance, risk
adjustment, and risk corridors.
Laurie McWright, (301) 492–4372 for
general information and matters
related to Exchanges and qualified
health plans.
Alissa DeBoy, (301) 492–4428 for
general information and matters
related to Exchanges and qualified
health plans.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July
15, 2011, we published two proposed
rules in the Federal Register (76 FR
41866 through 41927 and 76 FR 41930
through 41956, respectively).
The first rule would implement the
new Affordable Insurance Exchanges
(‘‘Exchanges’’), consistent with Title I of
the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111–148) as
amended by the Health Care and
Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
(Pub. L. 111–152), referred to
collectively as the Affordable Care Act.
The Exchanges would provide
competitive marketplaces for
individuals and small employers to
directly compare available private
health insurance options on the basis of
price, quality, and other factors. The
Exchanges, which would become
operational by January 1, 2014, would
help enhance competition in the health
insurance market, improve choice of
affordable health insurance, and give
small businesses the same purchasing
clout as large businesses. This proposed
rule, ‘‘Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act; Establishment of Exchanges
and Qualified Health Plans,’’ is
significant in that it proposes—(1)
Federal requirements that States must
meet if they elect to establish and
operate an Exchange; (2) minimum
requirements that health insurance
issuers must meet to participate in an
Exchange and offer qualified health
plans (QHPs); and (3) basic standards
that employers must meet to participate
in the Small Business Health Options
Program (SHOP).
The second proposed rule would
implement standards for States related
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:26 Sep 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
to reinsurance and risk adjustment, and
for health insurance issuers related to
reinsurance, risk adjustment, and risk
corridors consistent with Title I of the
Affordable Care Act. Collectively, these
programs would mitigate the impact of
potential adverse selection and stabilize
premiums in the individual and small
group markets as insurance reforms and
the Exchanges are implemented. These
programs are significant in that—(1) The
transitional reinsurance program would
serve to reduce uncertainty of insurance
risk in the individual market by making
payments to health plan issuers for
high-cost cases; (2) the temporary risk
corridor program would serve to protect
against uncertainty by limiting the
extent of health plan issuer losses and
gains; and (3) the permanent risk
adjustment program, on an on-going
basis, is intended to provide adequate
payments to health insurance issuers
that attract high-risk populations, such
as individuals with chronic conditions.
We believe that rules proposed by
HHS and the Treasury on August 17,
2011 (76 FR 51148, 76 FR 51202, and 76
FR 50931, respectively), about eligibility
determinations by an Exchange,
generate additional insight on the issues
raised by the July 15, 2011 proposed
rules. Based on this reason, we are
extending the comment period for the
July 15, 2011 proposed rules to October
31, 2011.
Dated: September 26, 2011.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services.
Dated: September 26, 2011.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–25202 Filed 9–27–11; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 52
[WC Docket No. 07–244, CC Docket No. 95–
116; DA 11–1558]
Local Number Portability Porting
Interval and Validation Requirements;
Telephone Number Portability
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; comments
requested.
AGENCY:
In this document, the
Commission seeks comment on a
submission by the North American
Numbering Council (NANC)
recommending a set of standard
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
60789
thresholds and intervals for non-simple
ports and ‘‘projects’’—port requests that
involve a large quantity of telephone
numbers. Specifically, the Commission
seeks comment on whether the
thresholds and processing timelines for
non-simple ports and projects are
appropriate and whether the
Commission should adopt the
recommendation as a rule.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or
before October 31, 2011 and reply
comments on or before November 29,
2011.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may
submit comments, identified by WC
Docket No. 07–244 and CC Docket No.
95–116, by any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Federal Communications
Commission’s Web Site: https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: ecfs@fcc.gov, and include
the following words in the body of the
message, ‘‘get form.’’ A sample form and
directions will be sent in response.
Include the docket number(s) in the
subject line of the message.
• Mail: Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: FCC
Headquarters building located at 445
12th Street, SW., Room TW–A325,
Washington, DC 20554.
• People with Disabilities: Contact the
FCC to request reasonable
accommodations (accessible format
documents, sign language interpreters,
CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov
or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202–
418–0432.
All submissions received must
include the agency name and WC
Docket No. 07–244 and CC Docket No.
95–116. All comments received will be
posted without change to https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs. For detailed
instructions for submitting comments
and additional information on the
rulemaking process, see the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marilyn Jones, marilyn.jones@fcc.gov or
Melissa Kirkel, melissa.kirkel@fcc.gov,
of the Competition Policy Division,
Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202)
418–1580.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Public
Notice, DA 11–1558, released
September 15, 2011. The full text of this
document is available for public
E:\FR\FM\30SEP1.SGM
30SEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60788-60789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25202]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
45 CFR Parts 153, 155 and 156
[CMS-9989-N2]
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of
Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans, and Standards Related to
Reinsurance, Risk Corridors and Risk Adjustment; Extension of Comment
Period
AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period for two proposed
rules published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2011. One proposed
rule would implement the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges
(``Exchanges''), consistent with Title I of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act of 2010 as amended by the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010, referred to collectively as the Affordable
Care Act. The other proposed rule would implement standards for States
related to reinsurance and risk adjustment, and for health insurance
issuers related to reinsurance, risk corridors, and risk adjustment
consistent with Title I of the Affordable Care Act. The comment period
for both proposed rules, which would have ended on September 28, 2011,
is extended to October 31, 2011.
DATES: The comment period for two proposed rules published in the
Federal Register on July 15, 2011 (76 FR 41866 and 76 FR 41930,
respectively), is extended from 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on
September 28, 2011, to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on October 31,
2011.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-9989-N2.
Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
You may submit comments in one of four ways (please choose only one
of the ways listed):
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on this
regulation to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions under
the ``More Search Options'' tab.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following
address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of
Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-9989-N2, P.O. Box 8010,
Baltimore, MD 21244-8010.
Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received
before the close of the comment period.
3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to
the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-9989-N2, Mail
Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
4. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver (by hand or
courier) your written comments before the close of the comment period
to either of the following addresses:
a. For delivery in Washington, DC--Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 445-G, Hubert
H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20201.
(Because access to the interior of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building
is not readily available to persons without Federal government
identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in
the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-
in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing
by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being
filed.)
b. For delivery in Baltimore, MD--Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
[[Page 60789]]
Services, Department of Health and Human Services, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address,
please call telephone number (410) 786-9994 in advance to schedule your
arrival with one of our staff members.
Comments mailed to the addresses indicated as appropriate for hand
or courier delivery may be delayed and received after the comment
period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharon Arnold, (301) 492-4415 for general information and matters
related to reinsurance, risk adjustment, and risk corridors.
Laurie McWright, (301) 492-4372 for general information and matters
related to Exchanges and qualified health plans.
Alissa DeBoy, (301) 492-4428 for general information and matters
related to Exchanges and qualified health plans.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 15, 2011, we published two proposed
rules in the Federal Register (76 FR 41866 through 41927 and 76 FR
41930 through 41956, respectively).
The first rule would implement the new Affordable Insurance
Exchanges (``Exchanges''), consistent with Title I of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-148) as amended
by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L.
111-152), referred to collectively as the Affordable Care Act. The
Exchanges would provide competitive marketplaces for individuals and
small employers to directly compare available private health insurance
options on the basis of price, quality, and other factors. The
Exchanges, which would become operational by January 1, 2014, would
help enhance competition in the health insurance market, improve choice
of affordable health insurance, and give small businesses the same
purchasing clout as large businesses. This proposed rule, ``Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of Exchanges and
Qualified Health Plans,'' is significant in that it proposes--(1)
Federal requirements that States must meet if they elect to establish
and operate an Exchange; (2) minimum requirements that health insurance
issuers must meet to participate in an Exchange and offer qualified
health plans (QHPs); and (3) basic standards that employers must meet
to participate in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).
The second proposed rule would implement standards for States
related to reinsurance and risk adjustment, and for health insurance
issuers related to reinsurance, risk adjustment, and risk corridors
consistent with Title I of the Affordable Care Act. Collectively, these
programs would mitigate the impact of potential adverse selection and
stabilize premiums in the individual and small group markets as
insurance reforms and the Exchanges are implemented. These programs are
significant in that--(1) The transitional reinsurance program would
serve to reduce uncertainty of insurance risk in the individual market
by making payments to health plan issuers for high-cost cases; (2) the
temporary risk corridor program would serve to protect against
uncertainty by limiting the extent of health plan issuer losses and
gains; and (3) the permanent risk adjustment program, on an on-going
basis, is intended to provide adequate payments to health insurance
issuers that attract high-risk populations, such as individuals with
chronic conditions.
We believe that rules proposed by HHS and the Treasury on August
17, 2011 (76 FR 51148, 76 FR 51202, and 76 FR 50931, respectively),
about eligibility determinations by an Exchange, generate additional
insight on the issues raised by the July 15, 2011 proposed rules. Based
on this reason, we are extending the comment period for the July 15,
2011 proposed rules to October 31, 2011.
Dated: September 26, 2011.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Dated: September 26, 2011.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-25202 Filed 9-27-11; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
