2018-27328. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request Information Collection Request Title: HRSA AIDS Education and Training Centers Evaluation Activities, OMB No. 0915-0281-Revision

AGENCY:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 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 ICR should be received no later than February 19, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to [e-mail] or mail the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N136B, 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 Lisa Wright-Solomon, 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, pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A), the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Information Collection Request Title: HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) Evaluation Activities, OMB No. 0915-0281—Revision

Abstract: The RWHAP AETC program, authorized by Title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act, supports a network of regional and national centers that conduct targeted, multi-disciplinary education and training programs for health care providers serving people living with HIV (PLWH). The purpose of the RWHAP Regional AETC program is to increase the size and strengthen the skills of the current and novice HIV clinical workforce in the United States. Through the provision of specialized professional education and training, the RWHAP Regional AETCs aim to improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum including diagnosis, linkage, retention, and viral suppression and to reduce HIV incidence by improving the achievement and maintenance of viral load suppression of PLWH. In addition, the RWHAP AETC program includes the National Coordinating Resource Center (NCRC), which offers a virtual library of online training resources for adaptation by HIV care providers and other healthcare professionals to meet local training needs. The RWHAP AETC NCRC works closely with the HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) to coordinate cross-regional collaborative efforts, manage the NCRC website, plan and execute the national RWHAP Clinical Conference, and develop an online curriculum for clinical learners.

The RWHAP AETC proposes several revisions to the Event Records (ER) and the Participant Information Form (PIF). The ER will have nine new data elements; however, only five data elements will require responses from all respondents. The option to respond to the other four data elements will depend on how participants respond to previous questions. The PIF will have one new data element that asks whether respondents prescribe anti-retroviral therapy to their patients. Three data elements were also deleted. These revisions reflect changes in the National AETC program guidance on reporting sources of funding and multi-session events. With a net increase of seven data elements across both the ER and PIF instruments, respondent burden is anticipated to increase slightly. In addition, HRSA HAB has modified the data instruments not only to improve the logical flow of questions within each instrument but also to improve the overall clarity of each of the questions being asked.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: As part of an ongoing effort to evaluate RWHAP AETC activities, information is needed on AETC training sessions, clinical consultations, and technical assistance activities. Each regional center collects information on RWHAP AETC training events and is required to report aggregate data on their activities to HRSA's HAB. The goal of national data collection efforts is to create a uniform set of data elements that will produce an accurate summary of the national scope of RWHAP AETC professional training, consultation, and events. The elements included in the national database have been selected for their relevance in demonstrating the RWHAP AETCs' efforts in achieving the program's stated goals: To improve care for PLWH by providing education, training, and clinical consultation; and to provide support to clinicians and other providers. HRSA HAB uses the data collected when conducting programmatic assessments and to determine future program needs. The national data elements are intended to be a meaningful core set of elements that individual RWHAP AETCs can use in program and strategic planning. HRSA HAB also uses this information to respond to requests from HHS, Congress, and others.

Likely Respondents: RWHAP AETC trainees are asked to complete the PIF at the start or conclusion of an event. Trainers are asked to complete an ER for each training event they conduct during the year. In addition, each regional RWHAP AETC (eight total) and the RWHAP AETC National Coordinating Resource Center will compile these data into a data set and submit to HRSA 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 trainees of training programs is follows:

Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

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)	61,288	1	61,288	0.167	10,235
Event Record (ER)	10,522	1	10,522	0.200	2,104
Total	71,810		71,810		12,339

The estimated annual burden to RWHAP 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

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.

Amy P. McNulty,

Acting Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.