2020-05274. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer at [phone].

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS) (OMB No. 0930-0106)—Extension

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is requesting an extension of the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment (N-SSATS) data collection (OMB No. 0930-0106), which expires on September 30, 2020. N-SSATS provides both national and state-level data on the numbers and types of patients treated and the characteristics of facilities providing substance abuse treatment services. It is conducted under the authority of Section 505 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa-4) to meet the specific mandates for annual information about public and private substance abuse treatment providers and the clients they serve.

This request includes:

• Collection of N-SSATS, which is an annual survey of substance abuse treatment facilities; and
• Updating of the Inventory of Behavioral Health Services (I-BHS) which is the facility universe for the N-SSATS. I-BHS is also the facility universe for the annual survey of mental health treatment facilities, the National Mental Health Services Survey (N-MHSS). The I-BHS includes all substance abuse treatment and mental health treatment facilities known to SAMHSA. (The N-MHSS data collection is covered under OMB No. 0930-0119.)

The information in I-BHS and N-SSATS is needed to assess the nature and extent of these resources, to identify gaps in services, and to provide a database for treatment referrals. Both I-BHS and N-SSATS are components of the Behavioral Health Services Information System (BHSIS).

The request for OMB approval will include a request to update the I-BHS facility listing on a continuous basis and to conduct the N-SSATS and the between cycle N-SSATS (N-SSATS BC) in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The N-SSATS BC is a procedure for collecting services data from newly identified facilities between main cycles of the survey and will be used to improve the listing of treatment facilities in the online Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.

Estimated annual burden for the BHSIS activities is shown below:

Type of respondent and activity	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Total responses	Hours per response	Total burden hours
States
I-BHS Online 1	56	75	4,200	0.08	336
State Subtotal	56		4,200		336
Facilities
I-BHS application 2	800	1	800	0.08	64
Augmentation screener	1,300	1	1,300	0.08	104
N-SSATS questionnaire	17,000	1	17,000	0.67	11,333
N-SSATS BC	1,000	1	1,000	0.58	580
Facility Subtotal	20,100		20,100		12,081
Total	20,156		24,300		12,417
1 States use the I-BHS Online system to submit information on newly licensed/approved facilities and on changes in facility name, address, status, etc.
2 New facilities complete and submit the online I-BHS application form in order to get listed on the Inventory.

Send comments to Carlos Graham, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 5600 Fisher Lane, Room 15E57A, Rockville, MD 20852 OR email him a copy at [e-mail]. Written comments should be received by May 15, 2020.

Carlos Graham,

Social Science Analyst.