[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 39849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19481]


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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 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) 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, call the HRSA 
Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129.
    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

Deferment Request Form for NHSC and NHH Scholarship Programs (OMB NO. 
0915-0179) Extension, No Change

    We are requesting an extension of the OMB clearance for the 
Deferment Request Form and associated reporting requirements for the 
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program and the Native 
Hawaiian Health (NHH) Scholarship Program. The NHSC/NHH Scholarship 
Programs are authorized by Sections 338A and Sections 338K of the 
Public Health Service (PHS) Act. The requirements for obligated 
service, found in Section 338C of the PHS Act, include provisions for 
deferment of the service obligation under certain circumstances (42 USC 
254m(b)(5)).
    Under these programs, allopathic physicians, osteopathic 
physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician 
assistants, and, if needed by the NHSC or NHH program, students of 
other health professions (including mental health professionals) are 
offered the opportunity to enter into a contractual agreement with the 
Secretary under which the Public Health Service agrees to pay the total 
school tuition, required fees and a stipend for living expenses. In 
exchange, the scholarship recipient agrees to provide full-time 
clinical services at a site in a federally designated Health 
Professions Shortage Areas (HPSA) of the United States. NHH scholarship 
recipients must be native Hawaiians and are assigned to sites in 
Hawaii. The minimum service obligation is 2 years.
    Once scholarship recipients have completed their academic 
requirements, the law requires that selected types of recipients be 
allowed to defer their service obligation in order to complete an 
approved internship, residency, or other advanced clinical training.
    The Deferment Request Form provides the information necessary for 
considering the period and type of training for which deferment of the 
service obligation will be approved for physicians and dentists.
    In addition, these programs have two other reporting requirements 
for which no forms have been developed, including: (1) Individuals who 
are in a deferment status are required to submit requests in writing 
for modifications to the deferment (e.g., extension of deferment or 
change of residency programs); and (2) Dentists, who can either begin 
their service obligation immediately after graduation or can be 
deferred for up to three years, are required and to notify the program 
in writing of their intent to request deferment.
    The estimated burden on respondents is as follows:

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                                                                     Number of       Hours per     Total burden 
                         Type of report                             respondents      response          hours    
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Deferment Form..................................................             600              .5             300
Requests for Change of Deferment and Letters of Intent..........             100              .5              50
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      Total.....................................................             700  ..............             350
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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: July 18, 1997.
Jane Harrison,
Acting Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 97-19481 Filed 7-23-97; 8:45 am]
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