2022-13487. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request Information Collection Request Title: The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, 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 August 23, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to [e-mail] or mail them to 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 Samantha Miller, the acting 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: The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart OMB No. 0915-0367—Revision

Abstract: The THCGME Program, Section 340H of the Public Health Service Act, was established by Section 5508 of Public Law 111-148. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260) and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2) provided continued funding for the THCGME Program. The THCGME Program awards payment for both direct and indirect expenses to support training for primary care residents in community-based ambulatory patient care settings. The THCGME Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart, published in the THCGME Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), is a means for determining the number of eligible resident/fellow full-time equivalents (FTEs) in an applicant's primary care residency program. The FTE Chart revisions will now collect the number of resident/fellow FTEs from previous academic years and will further clarify the number of resident/fellow FTEs positions requested with the NOFO application.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The THCGME Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart requires applicants to provide: (a) data related to the size and/or growth of the residency program over previous academic years, (b) the number of residents enrolled in the program during the baseline academic year, and (c) a projection of the program's proposed expansion over the next 5 academic years. It is imperative that applicants complete this chart to quantify the total supported residents. THCGME funding is used to support expanded numbers of residents in existing residency programs, to establish new residency training programs, or to maintain filled positions at existing residency training programs. Utilization of a chart to gather this important information has decreased the number of errors in the eligibility review process resulting in a more accurate review and funding process, and this ICR comports with the regulatory requirement imposed by 45 CFR 75.206(a) “ Standard application requirements, including forms for applying for HHS financial assistance, and state plans”.

Likely Respondents: Teaching Health Centers applying for THCGME funding through a THCGME NOFO process, which may include new applicants and existing awardees.

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
THCGME Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart	90	1	90	1.25	112.50
Total	90		90		112.50

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.