2021-06138. Agency Information Collection Request (ICR); 60-Day Public Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is publishing the following summary of a proposed collection for public comment.

DATES:

Comments on the ICR must be received on or before May 24, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments with the document identifier 0990-0313-60D to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the survey instrument or information collection plan, send your request to Sherrette Funn, Reports Clearance Officer, at [e-mail], or call 202-795-7714. Please reference the document identifier 0990-0313-60D and project title.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (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.

Title of the Collection: National Blood Collection & Utilization Survey (NBCUS).

Type of Collection: Revision.

OMB No. 0990-0313 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health OASH/HHS.

Abstract

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) is requesting approval for a three-year revised information collection request (ICR) titled “National Blood Collection & Utilization Survey (NBCUS).” The NBCUS is a biennial survey that includes a core of standard questions on blood collection, processing, and utilization practices. Questions on transfusion transmitted infections, transfusion associated circulatory overload, acute hemolysis, delayed hemolysis, and severe allergic reactions are also included in the survey. The rapidly changing environment in blood supply and demand makes it important to have regular, periodic data describing the state of U.S. blood collections and transfusions for understanding the dynamics of blood safety and availability. Two sections were added to the survey to capture information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the blood supply during the course of 2020 only. These data will be valuable, when compared to previous years, for understanding the effects of a major pandemic on the health system.

Survey respondents will consist of blood collection centers, cord blood banks and hospitals that perform blood transfusions, except those reporting fewer than 100 inpatient surgeries per year. For the purposes of this ICR, federal burden is only being placed on facilities located within the fifty states and the District of Columbia. Total estimated burden is 9,064 hours.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Type of respondent	Number of respondents	Number responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hours)	Total burden hours
Transfusing Hospitals	2,140	1	4	8,560
Hospital Blood Banks	76	1	4	304
Community-based blood center	50	1	4	200
Total	2,266			9,064

Dated: March 19, 2021.

Sherrette A. Funn,

Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer.