2014-09887. 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 June 30, 2014.

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: National Health Service Corps Site Application and Site Recertification Application.

OMB No. 0915-0230—Revision.

Abstract: The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) of the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRS), Health Resources and Services Administration, is committed to improving the health of the nation's underserved by uniting communities in need with caring health professionals, and by supporting their efforts to build better systems of care. NHSC-approved sites are health care facilities that provide comprehensive outpatient, ambulatory, primary health care services to populations residing in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Related inpatient services may be provided by NHSC-approved Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). In order to become an NHSC-approved site, new sites must submit a Site Application for review and approval. Existing NHSC-approved sites are required to complete a Site Recertification Application in order to maintain their status as an approved site. Both the NHSC Site Application and Site Recertification Application request information on the clinical service site, sponsoring agency, recruitment contact, staffing levels, service users, charges for services, employment policies, and fiscal management capabilities. Assistance in completing these applications may be obtained through the appropriate State Primary Care Offices and the NHSC. The information collected on the applications is used for determining the eligibility of sites for the assignment of NHSC health professionals and to verify the need for NHSC clinicians. Approval as an NHSC service site is valid for 3 years. Sites wishing to remain eligible for the assignment of NHSC providers, must submit a Site Recertification Application every 3 years.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The need and purpose of this information collection is to obtain information for NHSC site applicants. The information obtained from the NHSC Site Application and Site Recertification Application will be utilized to determine the eligibility of sites to participate in the NHSC as an approved service site.

Likely Respondents: Health care facilities interested in participating in the NHSC and becoming an approved service site.

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.

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
NHSC New Site Application	2,000	1	2,000	0.5	1,000
NHSC Site Recertification Application	1,000	1	1,000	0.5	500
Total	3,000		3,000		1,500

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.

Dated: April 23, 2014.

Jackie Painter,

Deputy Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.