E9-10289. Agency Information Collection Activities Under Emergency Review for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has submitted the following request (see below) for emergency OMB review under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). OMB approval has been requested upon publication of this notice for 120 days and the approval foregoes the routine comment period. During the emergency approval period, HRSA will publish a Federal Register notice announcing the initiation of a broad 60-day public comment period and begin the process for a routine information collection request. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, e-mail [e-mail] or call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

Proposed Project: HRSA/Bureau of Primary Health Care Capital Improvement Program Application Electronic Health Records (EHR) Readiness Checklist (NEW)

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides $1.5 billion in grants to support construction, renovation and equipment, and the acquisition of health information technology systems, for health centers, including health center controlled networks receiving operating grants under section 330 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 254b). HRSA is requesting emergency processing procedures for the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Readiness Checklist portion of the application because this information is needed before the expiration of the normal time limits under regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 to ensure the timely availability of data to make award determinations for receipt of funds under ARRA. Of the $1.5 billion, HRSA will award approximately $850 million, through limited competition grants, for one-time Capital Improvement Program (CIP) grant funding in fiscal year (FY) 2009 to support existing section 330 funded health centers. Funding under this opportunity will address pressing capital improvement needs in health centers, such as construction, repair, renovation, and equipment purchases, including health information technology systems. Applicants must provide information using the EHR Readiness Checklist that demonstrates comprehensive planning and readiness for implementing EHRs.

The estimated annual burden is as follows:

Form	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Total responses	Hours per response	Total burden hours
EHR Readiness Checklist	568	1	568	.25	568
Total	568		568		568

Dated: April 29, 2009.

Alexandra Huttinger,

Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.