[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23439-23440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10872]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Economic Research Service


Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Collect Information

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub L. 
104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to request approval for a 
new information collection from State officials in the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); 
local WIC agencies; State Medicaid officials; and Medicaid Managed Care 
Organizations (MCO).

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 7, 
2003, to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Requests for additional information 
regarding this notice should be directed to Alex Majchrowicz, Food 
Assistance Branch, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M St. NW., Washington, DC 
20036-5831. Submit electronic comments to [email protected]. or 
telephone 202-694-5355.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: An Assessment of the Impact of Medicaid Managed Care on WIC 
Program Coordination with Primary Care Services.
    OMB Number: Not yet issued.
    Expiration Date: Two years from date of issuance.
    Type of Request: Approval to collect information from State WIC 
officials; local WIC agencies; State Medicaid officials; and Medicaid 
Managed Care Organizations (MCO).
    Abstract: USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) seeks detailed 
information

[[Page 23440]]

that will determine the impact Medicaid managed care may have on the 
ability of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children (WIC) to coordinate services with primary care 
providers. The WIC program is a supplemental nutrition program 
providing supplemental foods, nutrition education, and referral to 
health care services for pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, and 
children up to age five. The program is designed to serve as an adjunct 
to the health care delivery system for clients with an identified 
nutritional/ medical risk. In the past, State and local WIC programs 
have worked with the Public Health Departments and other direct primary 
care providers to ensure that clients have access to appropriate health 
care services. State Medicaid programs have been a major provider of 
health care services to these women, infants, and children. However, it 
is unknown how the movement of Medicaid programs to managed care has 
changed the dynamics of the WIC program's ability to coordinate with 
and refer to primary care services. This data collection effort will 
ensure that USDA can appropriately plan to assist State WIC programs in 
carrying out their mandate to refer clients to primary care services.
    Toward this end, data will be collected from State WIC program 
officials, State Medicaid officials, selected local WIC agencies, and 
Managed Care Organizations (MCO). The data collection period is 
estimated to last one month for the State-level programs and an 
additional 6 weeks for the local WIC agencies and MCOs. To capture data 
about coordination of the WIC and Medicaid programs, a telephone survey 
of all WIC and Medicaid programs in the 50 States and District of 
Columbia will be conducted to determine the extent to which formal 
coordination efforts have been undertaken, and to describe the 
agreements, requirements, and incentives included in these efforts. The 
survey will be directed at the State WIC and Medicaid directors, or 
their designees responsible for coordination efforts.
    To obtain more detailed information about coordination efforts and 
the manner in which they impact program operations, detailed case 
studies will be conducted in six selected States. The first step in the 
case study process will be to conduct a telephone survey of local WIC 
directors within each of the case study States to discuss how State-
level efforts to coordinate services have been implemented locally. 
Second, a series of in-depth site visits will be conducted in (at 
maximum) two counties in each of the six States to visit all local WIC 
clinics and the MCOs with which they coordinate services. Criteria for 
selection of the counties will include such factors as number of 
clinics serving a particular geographic area, type of local agency 
sponsoring the clinics, caseload size and composition, types of managed 
care plans serving the area, and the type of coordination activity 
undertaken.
    Two specific activities will comprise the in-depth site visits. 
Interviews with local clinic service delivery staff--clinic site 
managers, nutrition professionals, and WIC clerks--will be conducted. 
The results of these interviews will be used to enhance and supplement 
the results from the survey of local agency directors. At least three 
rural clinic sites will be selected among the six States. Also, in 
order to have a complete picture of efforts being made to coordinate 
WIC with Medicaid managed care services, interviews with key managed 
care plan officials will be conducted in conjunction with the visits to 
the local WIC clinics.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: A combined total of 218 
respondents are necessary to complete the questionnaires. An average of 
51 questionnaires will be collected from State WIC officials and an 
additional 51 questionnaires from State Medicaid officials. 
Questionnaires will also be administered to up to 20 local WIC agencies 
in six States (with a maximum of 80 local agencies) and up to six MCOs 
in the same six States.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: The individuals participating 
in the data collection effort will respond only once.
    Estimated Total Responses: Maximum total number of responses: 218 
(51 State WIC officials, 51 State Medicaid officials, 80 local WIC 
agencies, and 36 MCOs.)
    Hours per Response: State WIC and Medicaid survey: 30 minutes. 
Local WIC agency and MCO: 45 minutes.
    Total Reporting Hours: Maximum total reporting hours: 138 hours (51 
State WIC offices @ 30 minutes + 51 State Medicaid offices @ 30 minutes 
+ 80 local WIC agencies @ 45 minutes + 36 MCOs @ 45 minutes).
    Comments: 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 has 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments should be sent to the 
address stated in the preamble. All responses to this notice will be 
summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments 
will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 27, 2003.
Susan Offutt,
Administrator, Economic Research Service, USDA.
[FR Doc. 03-10872 Filed 5-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-P