[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19188-19190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9384]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-02-42]


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 (404) 639-7090.
    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: Estimating the cost of sigmoidoscopy and 
colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening in U.S. healthcare 
facilities: Are current reimbursement levels adequate?--NEW--National 
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    Despite strong scientific evidence that screening for colorectal 
cancer (CRC) reduces the incidence and mortality from this disease, 
current screening rates in the United States remain low. While lack of 
awareness about screening recommendation may explain the low demand for 
regular screening among average risk individuals, recent findings 
emphasize the supply side barriers to CRC screening. For example, given 
the size of the U.S. population greater than 50 years of age and the 
number of practicing gastroenterologists, there may not be enough 
specialists to perform all recommended screening flexible 
sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies, as well as follow-up colonoscopies. 
In the face of efforts by CDC and other public health agencies to 
promote CRC screening, it is necessary to determine that supply will be 
sufficient to meet the increased demand for these procedures. Primary 
care physicians could fill the gap if reimbursement levels are adequate 
to cover the costs of these procedures in office-based settings. 
However, currently there is little information available about the 
actual cost of providing these procedures in different medical practice 
settings. The purpose of this request is to obtain OMB clearance to 
conduct a survey of a nationally representative sample of medical 
practices providing these procedures in order to estimate the fixed and 
variable costs of sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy for colorectal cancer 
screening and follow-up services.
    The estimated procedure costs will be compared across settings and 
provider types to assess economies of scale and scope. Estimated 
average costs will be compared with Medicare and other reimbursement 
levels for these procedures to assess the financial incentives to 
providers to perform these procedures in an office-based setting. 
Results of this study will be used to better define the economics of 
colorectal cancer screening. There are no costs to respondents except 
for their time.

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                                                                     Number of    Average burden/
                    Form type                        Number of      responses/     response  (in   Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent        hours)        (in hours)
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Telephone survey................................            3000               1            5/60             250
Mailed survey...................................            2500               1           35/60            1458
                                                                                                 ---------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............            1708
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[[Page 19190]]

    Dated: April 10, 2002.
Nancy E. Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-9384 Filed 4-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P