2021-10087. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request; Information Collection Request Title: Black Lung Clinics Program, OMB No. 0915-0292-Revision

AGENCY:

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

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 July 12, 2021.

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 ICR title for reference.

Information Collection Request Title: Black Lung Clinics Program Performance Measures, OMB No. 0915-0292—Revision.

Abstract: HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy conducts an annual data collection of user information for the Black Lung Clinics Program (BLCP), which has been ongoing with OMB approval since 2004. The BLCP is authorized by Sec. 427(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended (30 U.S.C. 937), and accompanying regulations at 42 CFR part 55a, to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with occupationally-related coal mine dust lung disease through the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of active, inactive, retired, and/or disabled coal miners. Collecting this data provides HRSA with information on how well each grantee is meeting the needs of these miners in their communities.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Data from the annual performance measures report provides quantitative information about the clinics, specifically: (a) The characteristics of the patients they serve (age, diagnoses, occupation type); (b) the characteristics of services provided (clinical services and benefits counseling); and (c) the number of patients served. This programmatic performance measure enables HRSA to provide data required by Congress under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. It also ensures that funds are effectively used to provide services that meet the target population needs.

The proposed changes to the BLCP measures are a result of the accumulation of grantee and stakeholder feedback and information gathered from the previously approved BLCP measures. The proposed changes include revisions of current measures for better usability and additional questions about screening program participation, smoking, pulmonary function testing, referral for services, and COVID-19 vaccination.

Likely Respondents: Respondents will likely be award recipients of the Black Lung Clinics Program.

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 ICR 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
Black Lung Clinics Program Measures	15	1	15	10	150
Total	15		15		150

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.

Maria G. Button,

Director, Executive Secretariat.