2023-17748. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request; Information Collection Request Title: Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program Measures, OMB No. 0906-0043-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 October 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to [e-mail] or mail the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N39, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 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 Joella Roland, the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, at (301) 443–3983.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

When submitting comments or requesting information, please include the ICR title for reference.

Information Collection Request Title: Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program Measures, OMB No. 0906–0043—Revision.

Abstract: This ICR is a revision of currently approved information collection of measures for the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT)'s Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program, under which OAT administers cooperative agreements in accordance with section 330I of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c–14), as amended. The purpose of this program is to fund evidence-based projects that utilize telehealth technologies through telehealth networks to expand access to, and improve access to and the quality of, health care services. This program will work to help HRSA assess the effectiveness of evidence-based practices with the use of telehealth for patients, providers, and payers.

In the Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program Report, the adjusted data collection instrument includes the addition, removal, and revision of measures, with 27 total data elements addressing patient encounter information. The currently approved measures focus on behavioral health, and the proposed adjusted measures allow for the inclusion of broader health care services and expanded outcome measures. Five data elements were updated to specify data collection that allows for deeper understanding of outcomes related to socioeconomic indicators. The estimated burden for the Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program Report decreased since the data collection frequency is changing from monthly to quarterly. In addition, the information collected from grantees in the Performance Improvement and Measurement System more closely aligns measures with the Notice of Funding Opportunity and will assist in clarifying program measures and impact. These adjustments allow OAT to gain a more thorough understanding of how to utilize telehealth technologies through telehealth to improve access to, and improve the quality of, health care services.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The measures will enable HRSA to capture data that illustrate the impact and scope of federal funding along with assessing these efforts. The measures cover the principal topic areas of interest to OAT, including: (a) population demographics; (b) access to health care; (c) cost savings and cost-effectiveness; and (d) clinical outcomes.

Likely Respondents: Likely respondents are award recipients of the Evidence Based Telehealth Network 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

Instrument name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Total responses	Average burden per response (in hours)	Total burden hours
Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program Report	11	4	44	31	1,364
Telehealth Performance Measurement Report	11	1	11	5	55
Total	* 11		55		1,419
* HRSA estimates 11 unique respondents, each completing the two forms.

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.