02-11080. Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC 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. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

National Nursing Home Survey (OMB No. 0920-0353)—Reinstatement with Change—National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Section 306 of the Public Health Service Act states that the National Center for Health Statistics “shall collect statistics on health resources * * * [and] utilization of health care, including utilization of * * * services of hospitals, extended care facilities, home health agencies, and other institutions.” The data system responsible for collecting this data is the National Health Care Survey (NHCS). The National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) is part of the Long-term Care Component of the NHCS. The NNHS was conducted in 1973-74, 1977, 1985, 1995, 1997, and 1999. NNHS data describe a major segment of the long-term care system and are used extensively for health care research, health planning and public policy. NNHS provides data on the characteristics of nursing homes in relation to their residents and staff, Medicare and Medicaid certification, basic rates for Medicaid and private pay residents, sources of payment, residents' functional status and diagnoses. The survey provides detailed information on utilization patterns and quality of care that is needed in order to make accurate assessments of the need for and effects of changes in the provision and financing of long-term care for the elderly. The use of long-term care services is becoming an increasingly important issue as the number of elderly increases and persons with disabilities live longer. Data from the NNHS have been used by the National Immunization Program at CDC, the Office of the U.S. Attorney General, the Bureau of Health Professionals at the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the American Health Care Association, Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical, the Rand Corporation, AARP, National Academy of Social Insurance, and by newspapers and journals. NCHS plans to conduct the next NNHS in September-December 2003. This national survey will be preceded by a pretest of forms and procedures in January-February 2003. The data collection forms and procedures have been extensively revised from the previous NNHS. The 2003 NNHS will be based on computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) methodology. The is no cost to respondents.

Forms	Number of respondents	Number of responses/ respondent	Average burden/ response (in hrs.)	Total burden (in hrs.)
Facility Questionnaire	100	1	20/60	33.3
Nursing Home Staff Questionnaire	100	1	2.5	250
Current Resident Sampling List	100	1	20/60	33.3
Current Resident Questionnaire	100	8	25/60	333.3
Discharged Resident Sampling List	100	1	15/60	25
Discharged Resident Questionnaire	100	8	25/60	333.3
Total				1,008.3

Forms	Number of respondents	Number of responses/ respondent	Average burden/ response (in hrs.)	Total burden (in hrs.)
Facility Questionnaire	3,000	1	20/60	1,000
Nursing Home Staff Questionnaire	3,000	1	2.5	7,500
Current Resident Sampling List	3,000	1	20/60	1,000
Current Resident Questionnaire	3,000	8	25/60	10,000
Discharged Resident Sampling List	3,000	1	15/60	750
Discharged Resident Questionnaire	3,000	8	25/60	10,000
Total				30,250

Dated: April 26, 2002.

Nancy E. Cheal,

Acting Associate Director for policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.