2010-11566. Agency Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, HHS.

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing the following summary of a proposed collection for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (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.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, e-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and OS document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone]. Send written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections within 30 days of this notice directly to the OS OMB Desk Officer; faxed to OMB at 202-395-5806.

Proposed Project: Patient Perceptions of the Delivery of Health Care Through the Use of an Electronic Health Record (New)—OMB No. 0990-NEW—Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

Abstract: Recognizing the potential of health information technology (IT), Congress incorporated the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and allocated $19.2 billion to meet the goal of meaningful use of certified EHRs for each person in the United States by 2014. The HITECH Act builds on existing federal efforts to encourage health IT adoption and use, and contains provisions that are expected to promote the widespread adoption of health IT among health care providers. Health IT experts agree that HITECH stimulus funds are likely to improve how physicians practice medicine for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and, ultimately, for advancing patient-centered medical care for all Americans. However, there is an evidence gap about patients' preferences and perceptions of delivery of health care services by providers who have adopted EHR systems in their practices.

The goal of the Patient Perceptions of the Delivery of Health Care through the Use of an Electronic Health Record (Patient Perceptions of EHR) Study is to help policymakers understand how primary care practices' use of electronic health records (EHRs) affects consumers' satisfaction with (1) their medical care, (2) communication with their doctor, and (3) coordination of care. The research questions for the proposed Patient Perceptions of EHR Study are motivated by a concern that patients may have negative experiences as practices begin to use EHRs.

Estimated Annualized Burden Table

Forms	Type of respondent	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours
Screening and Recruitment Form for Primary Care Practices	Staff at Primary Care Practices	42	1	15/60	10.5
Patient Survey	Patients at Primary Care Practices	840	1	15/60	210
Patient Focus Group	Patients at Primary Care Practices	20	1	1.5	30
Total					250.5

Seleda Perryman,

Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer.