Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

DATES:

Comments must be received by March 27, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

When commenting, please reference the document identifier or OMB control number. To be assured consideration, comments and recommendations must be submitted in any one of the following ways:

1. Electronically. You may send your comments electronically to http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for “Comment or Submission” or “More Search Options” to find the information collection document(s) that are accepting comments.

2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following address: CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Regulations Development, Attention: Document Identifier/OMB Control Number: __ , Room C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

To obtain copies of a supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed collection(s) summarized in this notice, please access the CMS PRA website by copying and pasting the following web address into your web browser: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William N. Parham at (410) 786-4669.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Contents

This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated with the following information collections. More detailed information can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see ADDRESSES ).

CMS-10844 Small Biotech Exception

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. The term “collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires federal agencies to publish a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this notice.

Information Collection

1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection (Request for a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Small Biotech Exception; Use: Under the authority in sections 11001 and 11002 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-169), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, codified in sections 1191 through 1198 of the Social Security Act (the Act). In accordance with section 1192(d)(2) of the Act, the term “negotiation-eligible drug” excludes, with respect to the initial price applicability years 2026, 2027, and 2028, a qualifying single source drug that meets the requirements for the exception for small biotech drugs (the “Small Biotech Exception”).

This information is required in order for CMS to accurately identify whether a given drug meets the criteria for the Small Biotech Exception in accordance with section 1192(d)(2) of the Act. To ensure that only covered Part D drugs that meet the requirements for the Small Biotech Exception are excluded from the term “negotiation-eligible drug,” a manufacturer that seeks the Small Biotech Exception for its covered Part D drug (“Submitting Manufacturer”) must submit information to CMS about the company and its products in order for the drug to be considered for the exception. If the Submitting Manufacturer seeks the Small Biotech Exception for a covered Part D drug it acquired after December 31, 2021, the Submitting Manufacturer must also submit information related to the separate entity that had the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program agreement for the drug on December 31, 2021. The Information Collection Request Form for the Small Biotech Exception must be submitted to CMS before CMS establishes the selected drug list for initial price applicability year 2026. Form Number: CMS-10844 (OMB control number: 0938-New); Frequency: Once; Affected Public: Private sector, Business or other for-profit; Number of Respondents: 10; Total Annual Responses: 10; Total Annual Hours: 68.5. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Corey Rosenberg at 410-786-9763.)