2013-13915. 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 within 60 days of this notice.

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: Black Lung Clinics Program Performance Measures OMB No. 0915-0292—Extension.

Abstract: The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), Health Resources and Services Administration, conducts an annual data collection of user information for the Black Lung Program, which has been ongoing, with OMB, approval since 2004. The purpose of the Black Lung Clinic Program is to improve the health status of coal workers by providing services to minimize the effects of respiratory and pulmonary impairments of coal miners, including treatment required in the management of problems associated with black lung disease, which improves the miner's quality of life and reduces economic costs associated with morbidity and mortality arising from pulmonary diseases. Collecting this data will provide HRSA information on how well each grantee is meeting the needs of active and retired miners in their communities.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Data from the annual report will provide quantitative information about the clinics, specifically: (a) The characteristics of the patients they serve (gender, age, disability level, and occupation type); (b) the characteristics of services provided (medical encounters, non-medical encounters, benefits counseling, or outreach); and, (c) the number of patients served. This assessment will enable HRSA to provide data required by Congress under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. It will also ensure that funds are effectively used to provide services that meet the target population needs.

Likely Respondents: Black Lung Clinics Program Grantees.

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
Black Lung Clinics Program Measures	15	1	15	10.0	150
Total	15	1	15	10.0	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.

Dated: June 6, 2013.

Bahar Niakan,

Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.