96-21141. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43062-43063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21141]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects being developed for submission to OMB 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 
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 through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Proposed Project

Customer Survey of Entities Eligible To Participate in the Drug Pricing 
Program--New

    Section 602 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 enacted Section 
340B of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, ``Limitation of Prices of 
Drugs Purchased by Covered Entities.'' This section provides that a 
manufacturer that sells outpatient drugs to covered entities must agree 
to charge a price that will not exceed the amount determined under a 
statutory formula. The covered entities--certain PHS grantees, 
disproportionate share hospitals (DSHs), and other selected entities, 
total approximately 11,000 sites. Most of these entities serve the 
economically

[[Page 43063]]

disadvantaged or medically uninsured. The legislative intent of Section 
340B is ``to enable * * * certain Federally-funded clinics to obtain 
lower prices on the drugs that they provide to their patients.''
    A customer survey is being developed to collect information by mail 
on various aspects of the program, including, for example, whether 
information on the program is reaching the covered entities, reasons 
some entities are not participating, satisfaction with the savings 
realized, and interest in possible modifications to the program. Both 
participating and nonparticipating entities will be included in the 
survey. The results will be used to improve the design and management 
of the program. Burden estimates are as follows:

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                                                                      Responses                         Total   
                      Respondents                        Number of       per          Burden per        burden  
                                                        respondents   respondent       response         hours   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Covered Entities......................................          925            1                .25         231.
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    Send comments to Patricia Royston, HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
Room 14-36, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. 
Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: August 14, 1996.
J. Henry Montes,
Associate Administrator for Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. 96-21141 Filed 8-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P