2015-24956. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request

AGENCY:

Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

DATES:

Comments on this Information Collection Request must be received no later than December 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to [e-mail] or mail the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 10-29, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, email [e-mail] or call the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

When submitting comments or requesting information, please include the information request collection title for reference.

Information Collection Request Title: HRSA AIDS Education and Training Centers Evaluation Activities (OMB No. 0915-0281)—Revision.

Abstract: The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) Program, under the title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program legislation supports a network of regional and national centers that conduct targeted, multi-disciplinary education and training programs for health care providers treating persons with HIV/AIDS. The AETC Program's purpose is to increase the number of health care providers who are effectively educated and motivated to counsel, diagnose, treat, and medically manage individuals with HIV infection, and to help prevent high risk behaviors that lead to HIV transmission.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: As part of an ongoing effort to evaluate AETC activities, information is needed on AETC training sessions, consultations, and technical assistance activities. Each regional center collects information on AETC training events, and is required to report aggregate data on their activities to HRSA and the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). These data provide information on the number of training events, including clinical trainings and consultations, as well as technical assistance activities conducted by each regional center, the number of health care providers receiving professional training or consultation, and the time and effort expended on different levels of training and consultation activities. In addition, information is obtained on the populations served by AETC trainees and the increase in capacity achieved through training events. Collection of this information allows HRSA and HAB to provide information on training activities and types of education and training provided to Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Grantees; resource allocation; and capacity expansion.

Likely Respondents: Trainees are asked to complete the Participant Information Form (PIF) once a year, and trainers are asked to complete an Event Record (ER) for each training event they conduct during the year. In addition to each regional AETC (8 total), the AETC National Coordinating Resource Center will compile these data into a data set and submit to HAB once a year.

Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide the information requested. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for this Information Collection Request are summarized in the table below.

The estimated annual response burden to trainers, as well as attendees of training programs as follows:

Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Total responses	Average burden per response (in hours)	Total burden hours
Participant Information Form (PIF)	90,193	1	90,193	0.167	15,062
Event Record (ER)	18,070	1	18,070	0.2	3,614
Total	108,263		108,263		18,676

The estimated annual burden to AETCs is as follows:

	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Total responses	Hours per response	Total burden hours
Aggregate Data Set	9	2	18	32	576

The total burden hours are 19,252.

HRSA specifically requests comments on (1) the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

Jackie Painter,

Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.