2012-22709. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (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 draft instruments, email [e-mail] or call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer at [phone].

Comments are invited on: (a) The proposed collection of information for the proper performance of the functions of the agency; (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: Workforce Recruitment in Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)—Funded Health Centers (OMB No. 0915-0353)—[Extension]

This semi-annual survey is designed to collect information from HRSA-funded health centers regarding their current workforce and recent hiring efforts. The purpose of this data collection instrument is to provide data on baseline and hiring uptake data of health center workforce recruitment, and recommendations on whether additional training or technical assistance might be needed to support health centers in their hiring efforts. As authorized by statute, HRSA provides technical assistance to health centers to assist them in meeting the Health Center Program requirements and in providing required primary health services that are dependent on a high quality and effective workforce.

Ensuring that the primary care workforce is able to meet the demands of increasing patient volume is critical to the future success of health centers in serving the nation's underserved and vulnerable populations. As health centers seek to fill open positions, one growing pool of qualified candidates increasingly being recruited is returning veterans, many of which have trained as health care providers and/or administrators during their time in the service. The information collected in this survey will help assess how health centers have filled vacancies, whether the availability of veterans to join the health center workforce is impacting their hiring efforts, and what additional efforts might improve health center recruitment.

The annual estimate of burden is as follows:

Instrument	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Total responses	Hours per response *	Total burden hours
Health Center Workforce Survey	1,200	2	2,400	1.0	2,400
Total	1,200	2	2,400	1.0	2,400
*Note: This estimate includes the time for the grantee to read the survey instructions, collect the data and information requested, and to complete the online survey.

Email comments to [e-mail], or mail the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 10-29, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Dated: September 10, 2012.

Bahar Niakan,

Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.