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Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicare Program; Part A Premium for Calendar Year 2006 for the Uninsured Aged and for Certain Disabled Individuals Who Have Exhausted Other Entitlement

GAO-06-130R Oct 07, 2005
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Highlights

GAO reviewed Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) new rule on the Part A premium for calendar year 2006 for the uninsured aged and for certain disabled individuals who have exhausted other entitlement. GAO found that (1) the rule announces the Hospital Insurance premium for calendar year 2006 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance program (Part A) for the uninsured, not otherwise eligible aged and for certain disabled individuals who have exhausted other entitlement; and (2) CMS complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.

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Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicare Program; Part A Premium for Calendar Year 2006 for the Uninsured Aged and for Certain Disabled Individuals Who Have Exhausted Other Entitlement, GAO-06-130R, October 7, 2005

B-297290

October 7, 2005

The Honorable Charles E. Grassley
Chairman
The Honorable Max Baucus
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Finance
United States Senate

The Honorable William M. Thomas
Chairman
The Honorable Charles B. Rangel
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Ways and Means
House of Representatives

Subject: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicare Program; Part A Premium for Calendar Year 2006 for the Uninsured Aged and for Certain Disabled Individuals Who Have Exhausted Other Entitlement

Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), entitled –Medicare Program; Part A Premium for Calendar Year 2006 for the Uninsured Aged and for Certain Disabled Individuals Who Have Exhausted Other Entitlement— (RIN: 0938-AO01). We received the rule on September 23, 2005. It was published in the Federal Register as a notice on September 23, 2005. 70 Fed. Reg. 55896.

The notice announces the Hospital Insurance premium for calendar year 2006 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance program (Part A) for the uninsured, not otherwise eligible aged and for certain disabled individuals who have exhausted other entitlement.

The monthly Medicare Part A premium for the 12 months beginning January 1, 2006, for these individuals is $393. The reduced premium for certain other individuals described in the notice is $216.

Enclosed is our assessment of the CMS's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that CMS complied with the applicable requirements.

If you have any questions about this report, please contact James W. Vickers, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8210. The official responsible for GAO evaluation work relating to the subject matter of the rule is Marjorie Kanof, Managing Director, Health Care. Ms. Kanof can be reached at (202) 512-7101.

signed

Kathleen E. Wannisky
Managing Associate General Counsel

Enclosure

cc: Ann Stallion
Regulations Coordinator
Department of Health and
Human Services


ENCLOSURE

ANALYSIS UNDER 5 U.S.C. sect. 801(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iv) OF A MAJOR RULE
ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES
ENTITLED
"MEDICARE PROGRAM; PART A PREMIUM FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2006
FOR THE UNINSURED AGED AND FOR CERTAIN DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED OTHER ENTITLEMENT"
(RIN: 0938-AO01)

(i) Cost-benefit analysis

CMS estimates that 523,000 enrollees will voluntarily enroll in Medicare Part A by paying the full premium, and an additional 1,000 enrollees will pay the reduced premium. CMS also estimates that the 2006 aggregate cost to enrollees will be $113 million over the 2005 aggregate cost.

(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 603-605, 607, and 609

CMS has certified that the notice will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. sections 1532-1535

As defined in title II, the notice does not contain either an intergovernmental or private sector mandate of more than $110 million in any one year.

(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 551 et seq.

CMS states that since the premiums are calculated based on a statutory formula and CMS has no discretion, the waivers of proposed rulemaking and public comment are proper.

Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. sections 3501-3520

The notice does not contain any information collections that are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Statutory authorization for the rule

The notice is issued under the authority contained in sections 1818(d)(2) and 1818A(d)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-2(d)(2) and 1395i-2a(d)(2)).

Executive Order No. 12866

The notice was reviewed by OMB and found to be an –economically significant— regulatory action under the order.

Executive Order No. 13132 (Federalism)

CMS has determined that the notice does not have federalism implications.

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