03-12195. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (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 the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Professional Training and Information Questionnaire (PTIQ) (OMB No. 0915-0208)—Revision

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) of the HRSA's Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr), is committed to improving the health of the Nation's underserved by uniting communities in need with caring health professionals and by supporting communities' efforts to build better systems of care.

The National Health Service Corps (authorized by the Public Health Services Act, section 331) collects data on its programs to ensure compliance with legislative mandates and to report to Congress and policymakers on program accomplishments. To meet these objectives, the NHSC requires a core set of information collected annually that is appropriate for monitoring and evaluating performance and reporting on annual trends.

The PTIQ is used to collect data related to professional issues from NHSC-obligated Scholarship Program Recipients including physicians, physician assistants (PAs), nurse practioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and other disciplines in the current year's placement cycle. This data is used to match an individual health care professional with the most appropriate clinical practice setting.

The PTIQ will be mailed twelve months in advance of the intended service availability date. Estimates of annualized reporting burden are as follows:

Type of respondent	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Hours per response	Total burden hours
Health Care Professionals	311	1	5 min	26

Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 14-45, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Dated: May 9, 2003.

Jane M. Harrison,

Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.