E9-30711. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, DoD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs announces the proposed extension of a public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by March 1, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1160.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to: TRICARE Management Activity, TRICARE Overseas Program Branch, ATTN: Ms. Kimberly Stakes, 5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810, Falls Church, VA 22041-3206, or call 703-681-0039.

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Women, Infants, and Children Overseas Program (WIC Overseas) Eligibility Application; OMB Control Number 0720-0030.

Needs and Uses: The proposed information collection requirement is necessary for individuals to apply for certification and periodic recertification to receive WIC Overseas benefits.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Annual Burden Hours: 187.5.

Number of Respondents: 375.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.

Frequency: Initially and Every Six Months.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

The purpose of the program is to provide supplemental foods and nutrition education to serve as an adjunct to good health care during critical times of growth and development, in order to prevent the occurrence of health problems, including drug and other substance abuse, and to improve the health status of program participants. The benefit is similar to the benefit provided under the domestic WIC program.

Respondents are individuals who are members of the armed forces on duty at stations outside the United States (and its territories and possessions) and to eligible civilians serving with, employed by, or accompanying the armed forces at these locations who desire to receive supplemental food and nutrition education services. To be eligible for the DoD special supplemental food program, a person must be a member of the armed forces on duty at stations outside the U.S. (and its territories and possessions) or an eligible civilian serving with, employed by, or accompanying the armed forces outside the U.S. (and its territories and possessions). Additionally, the person must be found to be at nutritional risk. Specifically, to be certified as eligible to receive benefits under the program, a person must:

• Meet specific program income guidelines published by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and
• Meet one of the criteria listed determined to be indicative of nutritional risk.

Determinations of income eligibility and nutritional risk will be made to the extent practicable using applicable standards used by the USDA in determining eligibility for the domestic WIC program. In determining income eligibility, the Department will use the Department of Health and Human Services income poverty table for the State of Alaska.

Dated: December 22, 2009.

Mitchell S. Bryman,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.