Award of a Single-Source Supplement for the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment, 21742-21743 [2021-08452]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 77 / Friday, April 23, 2021 / Notices
This matching program meets these
requirements.
Barbara Demopulos,
Privacy Advisor, Division of Security, Privacy
Policy and Governance, Office of Information
Technology, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services.
Participating Agencies
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), and the AE in
each state. Each party (CMS and each
AE) is both a source agency, and each
AE is a recipient agency, in this
matching program, as explained in the
Purpose(s) section below.
AEs administer insurance
affordability programs, and include
Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP) agencies, state-based
exchanges (SBEs), and basic health
programs (BHPs). In states that operate
a SBE, the AE would include the
Medicaid/CHIP agency. Additionally,
there are two states—Minnesota and
New York—where the AE operates as
both a SBE and BHP. In states that have
elected to utilize the federally-facilitated
exchange (FFE), the AE would include
only the Medicaid/CHIP agency.
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Authority for Conducting the Matching
Program
The principal authority for
conducting the matching program is 42
U.S.C. 18001, et seq.
Purpose(s)
The matching program will enable
CMS to provide information (including
information CMS receives from other
federal agencies under related matching
agreements) to AEs, to assist AEs in
verifying applicant information as
required by the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) to
determine applicants’ eligibility for
enrollment in applicable state health
subsidy programs, including exemption
from the requirement to maintain
minimum essential coverage (MEC) or
from the individual responsibility
payment. In addition, to avoid dual
enrollment, information will be shared
between CMS and AEs, and among AEs,
for the purpose of verifying whether
applicants and enrollees are currently
eligible for or enrolled in a Medicaid/
CHIP program. All information will be
shared through a data services hub
(Hub) established by CMS to support the
federally-facilitated health insurance
exchange (which CMS operates) and
state-based exchanges.
Categories of Individuals
The individuals whose information
will be used in the matching program
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:15 Apr 22, 2021
Jkt 253001
are consumers who apply for eligibility
to enroll in applicable state health
subsidy programs through an exchange
established under ACA and other
relevant individuals (such as,
applicants’ household members).
Categories of Records
The categories of records that will be
used in the matching program are
identifying records; minimum essential
coverage period records; return
information (household income and
family size information); citizenship
status records; birth and death
information; disability coverage and
income information; and imprisonment
status records.
The data elements CMS will receive
from AEs may include:
1. Social security number (if
applicable).
2. Last name.
3. First name.
4. Date of birth.
The data elements the AEs will
receive from CMS may include:
1. Validation of SSN.
2. Verification of citizenship or
immigration status.
3. Incarceration Status.
4. Eligibility and/or enrollment in
certain types of MEC.
5. Income, based on Federal Tax
Information (FTI), Title II benefits, and
current income sources.
6. Quarters of Coverage.
7. Death Indicator.
System of Records
The records that CMS will disclose to
AEs will be disclosed from the
following system of records, as
authorized by routine use 3 published
in the System of Records Notices
(SORN) cited below:
CMS Health Insurance Exchanges
System (HIX), CMS System No. 09–70–
0560, last published in full at 78 FR
63211 (Oct. 23, 2013), as amended at 83
FR 6591 (Feb. 14, 2018).
[FR Doc. 2021–08044 Filed 4–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–03–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
Award of a Single-Source Supplement
for the National Center for Benefits
Outreach and Enrollment
Announcing the Intent to Award
a Single-Source Supplement for the
National Center for Benefits Outreach
and Enrollment (NCBOE).
ACTION:
The Administration for
Community Living (ACL) announces the
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
intent to award a single-source
supplemental to the current cooperative
agreement held by the National Council
on Aging (NCOA) for the National
Center for Benefits Outreach and
Enrollment (NCBOE). The purpose of
the NCBOE is to provide technical
assistance to states, Area Agencies on
Aging, Aging and Disability Resource
Centers and service providers who
conduct outreach and low-income
benefits enrollment assistance,
particularly to older individuals with
greatest economic need for federal and
state programs. The administrative
supplement for FY 2021 will be for
$3,009,007, bringing the total award for
FY 2021 to $14,509,007.
For
further information or comments
regarding this program supplement,
contact Margaret Flowers, U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for
Community Living, Center for Integrated
Programs, Office of Healthcare
Information and Counseling; telephone
(202) 795–7315; email
Margaret.flowers@acl.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
This
supplemental funding will expand the
NCBOE’s outreach and education efforts
targeting older adults with the greatest
economic need, especially people from
underserved communities. The NCBOE
will build on current efforts to reach
and assist beneficiaries, including
expanding the work of the Benefits
Enrollment Centers, making
enhancements to the benefits eligibility
and screening tool, and expanding the
capacity of the benefits call center. As
part of this work, the NCBOE should
consider specific strategies to reach and
enroll beneficiaries in rural
communities, who are under 65, with
limited English proficiency, from tribal
communities, from communities of
color, and/or from other historically
underserved and marginalized
communities. In its role as the Medicare
Improvements for Patients and
Providers Act (MIPPA) Resource Center,
the NCBOE should expand their support
for the MIPPA grantees to develop
technical assistance materials for the
Older Americans Act Title VI Tribal
grantees. Materials may include
educational content on Medicare and
the Indian Health Service, and training
on enrollment assistance for low income
beneficiaries. Additionally, the NCBOE
should build on the work previously
done to support the aging and disability
networks (including the Area Agencies
on Aging, Centers for Independent
Living, and Aging and Disability
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
23APN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 77 / Friday, April 23, 2021 / Notices
Resource Centers) in their efforts to help
low income beneficiaries.
The NCBOE works to utilize costeffective strategies to find older
individuals and people with disabilities
with greatest economic need and
facilitate their enrollment in the
individuals in the programs for which
they are qualified. As part of this effort,
the NCBOE should support state and
federal efforts to streamline benefits
eligibility systems. This should include
conducting a feasibility assessment to
determine best ways to streamline the
application process and centralize the
eligibility guidelines for key benefits,
including the automation of enrollment
through a rules engine. The study
should explore the governance structure
and technical expertise necessary to
create and maintain such a process.
Additionally, it should explore what a
realistic scope is for the project how the
current benefits screening tools could
evolve to benefit from further
automation of eligibility. NCBOE should
collaborate with ACL and the
administration in conducting the
feasibility assessment to coordinate with
planned and emerging efforts to
streamline eligibility benefits for low
income individuals.
Program Name: The National Center
for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment
(NCBOE).
Recipient: National Council on Aging
(NCOA).
Period of Performance: The award
will be issued for the current project
period of September 1, 2021 through
August 31, 2022.
Total Award Amount: $14,509,007 in
FY 2021.
Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
Supplement.
Statutory Authority: The statutory
authority is contained in the 2006
Reauthorization of the Older Americans
Act and the Medicare Improvements for
Patients and Providers Act of 2008, as
amended by the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act of 2010, and
reauthorized by the American Taxpayer
Relief Act of 2012, Protecting Access to
Medicare Act of 2014, Bipartisan Budget
Act of 2018, and Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)
Act of 2020, and Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2021.
Basis for Award: The National
Council on Aging (NCOA) is currently
funded to carry out the NCBOE Project
for the period of September 1, 2020
through August 31, 2025. Much work
has already been completed and further
tasks are currently being accomplished.
It would be unnecessarily time
consuming and disruptive to the
NCBOE project and the beneficiaries
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:15 Apr 22, 2021
Jkt 253001
being served for the ACL to establish a
new grantee at this time when critical
services are presently being provided in
an efficient manner.
NCOA is uniquely placed to complete
the work under the NCBOE grant. Since
2001, NCOA has been the national
leader in improving benefits access to
vulnerable older adults. They have an
unparalleled history of working with
community-based organizations to
develop and replicate outreach and
enrollment solutions, while maintaining
and enhancing technology to make it
easier and more efficient to find
benefits. NCOA through NCBOE
accomplishes its mission by developing
and sharing tools, resources, best
practices, and strategies for benefits
outreach and enrollment via its online
clearinghouse, electronic and print
publications, webinars, and training and
technical assistance.
In addition, NCOA has
BenefitsCheckUp which is, by far, the
nation’s most comprehensive and
widely-used web-based service that
screens older and disabled adults with
limited incomes and resources and
informs them about public and private
benefits for which they are very likely
to be eligible. Since the
BenefitsCheckUp was launched in 2001,
nearly 9.5 million people have
discovered $39.5 billion in benefits. In
addition to the focus on Low-Income
Subsidy and Medicare Savings
Programs, BenefitsCheckUp also
includes more than 2,500 benefits
programs from all 50 states and DC,
including over 50,000 local offices for
people to apply for benefits; and more
than 1,500 application forms in every
language in which they are available.
NCOA is successfully meeting all
programmatic goals under the current
NCBOE grant.
Dated: April 19, 2021.
Alison Barkoff,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging and
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021–08452 Filed 4–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
Single-Source Supplement for the
Amputee Coalition of America, Inc. for
the National Limb Loss Resource
Center Cooperative Agreement
Announcing the Intent to Award
a Single-Source Supplement for the
Amputee Coalition of America, Inc. for
ACTION:
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
21743
the National Limb Loss Resource Center
cooperative agreement.
The Administration for
Community Living (ACL) announces the
intent to award a single-source
supplement to the current cooperative
agreement held by the Amputee
Coalition of America, Inc. for the
National Limb Loss Resource Center
(NLLRC). The purpose of this project is
to expand on current grant activities
occurring across communities. These
activities include programs that promote
independence, community living, and
the adoption of healthy behaviors that
promote wellness and prevent and/or
reduce chronic conditions associated
with limb loss and increase partnerships
and collaborations with ACL programs
that will benefit all people living with
limb loss or limb differences. The
administrative supplement for FY 2021
will be for $487,857 bringing the total
award for FY 2021 to $3,883,387.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information or comments
regarding this program supplement,
contact Elizabeth Leef, U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Community Living,
Administration on Disabilities, Office of
Disability Services Innovation:
telephone (202)–475–2486 email:
Elizabeth.leef@acl.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
additional funding will not be used to
begin new projects. The funding will be
used to enhance and expand existing
programs that can serve an increased
number of veterans and people living
with limb loss and limb differences by
providing increased technical assistance
activities; promoting health and
wellness programs; addressing
healthcare access issues, including
maternity care; promoting the adoption
of healthy behaviors with the objective
of preventing and/or reducing chronic
conditions associated with limb loss;
increasing partnerships and
collaborations with ACL programs that
will benefit all people living with limb
loss or limb differences; enhancing and
expanding the evaluation activities
currently under way; and enhancing
website capacities for improved
information dissemination.
Program Name: National Limb Loss
Resource Center.
Recipient: The Amputee Coalition of
America, Inc.
Period of Performance: The
supplement award will be issued for the
third year of the five-year project period
of April 1, 2019, through March 29,
2024.
Total Supplement Award Amount:
$487,857 in FY 2021.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
23APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 77 (Friday, April 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21742-21743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08452]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
Award of a Single-Source Supplement for the National Center for
Benefits Outreach and Enrollment
ACTION: Announcing the Intent to Award a Single-Source Supplement for
the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment (NCBOE).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announces the
intent to award a single-source supplemental to the current cooperative
agreement held by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) for the National
Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment (NCBOE). The purpose of the
NCBOE is to provide technical assistance to states, Area Agencies on
Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers and service providers who
conduct outreach and low-income benefits enrollment assistance,
particularly to older individuals with greatest economic need for
federal and state programs. The administrative supplement for FY 2021
will be for $3,009,007, bringing the total award for FY 2021 to
$14,509,007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or comments
regarding this program supplement, contact Margaret Flowers, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community
Living, Center for Integrated Programs, Office of Healthcare
Information and Counseling; telephone (202) 795-7315; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This supplemental funding will expand the
NCBOE's outreach and education efforts targeting older adults with the
greatest economic need, especially people from underserved communities.
The NCBOE will build on current efforts to reach and assist
beneficiaries, including expanding the work of the Benefits Enrollment
Centers, making enhancements to the benefits eligibility and screening
tool, and expanding the capacity of the benefits call center. As part
of this work, the NCBOE should consider specific strategies to reach
and enroll beneficiaries in rural communities, who are under 65, with
limited English proficiency, from tribal communities, from communities
of color, and/or from other historically underserved and marginalized
communities. In its role as the Medicare Improvements for Patients and
Providers Act (MIPPA) Resource Center, the NCBOE should expand their
support for the MIPPA grantees to develop technical assistance
materials for the Older Americans Act Title VI Tribal grantees.
Materials may include educational content on Medicare and the Indian
Health Service, and training on enrollment assistance for low income
beneficiaries. Additionally, the NCBOE should build on the work
previously done to support the aging and disability networks (including
the Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, and Aging
and Disability
[[Page 21743]]
Resource Centers) in their efforts to help low income beneficiaries.
The NCBOE works to utilize cost-effective strategies to find older
individuals and people with disabilities with greatest economic need
and facilitate their enrollment in the individuals in the programs for
which they are qualified. As part of this effort, the NCBOE should
support state and federal efforts to streamline benefits eligibility
systems. This should include conducting a feasibility assessment to
determine best ways to streamline the application process and
centralize the eligibility guidelines for key benefits, including the
automation of enrollment through a rules engine. The study should
explore the governance structure and technical expertise necessary to
create and maintain such a process. Additionally, it should explore
what a realistic scope is for the project how the current benefits
screening tools could evolve to benefit from further automation of
eligibility. NCBOE should collaborate with ACL and the administration
in conducting the feasibility assessment to coordinate with planned and
emerging efforts to streamline eligibility benefits for low income
individuals.
Program Name: The National Center for Benefits Outreach and
Enrollment (NCBOE).
Recipient: National Council on Aging (NCOA).
Period of Performance: The award will be issued for the current
project period of September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022.
Total Award Amount: $14,509,007 in FY 2021.
Award Type: Cooperative Agreement Supplement.
Statutory Authority: The statutory authority is contained in the
2006 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and the Medicare
Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, as amended by the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, and reauthorized by
the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, Protecting Access to Medicare
Act of 2014, Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, and Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020, and Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2021.
Basis for Award: The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is currently
funded to carry out the NCBOE Project for the period of September 1,
2020 through August 31, 2025. Much work has already been completed and
further tasks are currently being accomplished. It would be
unnecessarily time consuming and disruptive to the NCBOE project and
the beneficiaries being served for the ACL to establish a new grantee
at this time when critical services are presently being provided in an
efficient manner.
NCOA is uniquely placed to complete the work under the NCBOE grant.
Since 2001, NCOA has been the national leader in improving benefits
access to vulnerable older adults. They have an unparalleled history of
working with community-based organizations to develop and replicate
outreach and enrollment solutions, while maintaining and enhancing
technology to make it easier and more efficient to find benefits. NCOA
through NCBOE accomplishes its mission by developing and sharing tools,
resources, best practices, and strategies for benefits outreach and
enrollment via its online clearinghouse, electronic and print
publications, webinars, and training and technical assistance.
In addition, NCOA has BenefitsCheckUp which is, by far, the
nation's most comprehensive and widely-used web-based service that
screens older and disabled adults with limited incomes and resources
and informs them about public and private benefits for which they are
very likely to be eligible. Since the BenefitsCheckUp was launched in
2001, nearly 9.5 million people have discovered $39.5 billion in
benefits. In addition to the focus on Low-Income Subsidy and Medicare
Savings Programs, BenefitsCheckUp also includes more than 2,500
benefits programs from all 50 states and DC, including over 50,000
local offices for people to apply for benefits; and more than 1,500
application forms in every language in which they are available. NCOA
is successfully meeting all programmatic goals under the current NCBOE
grant.
Dated: April 19, 2021.
Alison Barkoff,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging and Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-08452 Filed 4-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P
