[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27568-27569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12546]


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

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 the 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, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) publishes 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 and draft instruments, call 
the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer at (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: Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency 
(CARE) Act and Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) Survey: New

    The purpose of the Ryan White CARE Act is to provide emergency 
assistance to localities that are disproportionately affected by the 
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and to make financial 
assistance available for the development, organization, coordination, 
and operation of more effective and cost-efficient systems for the 
delivery of essential services to persons with HIV disease. The CARE 
Act also provides grants to States, eligible metropolitan areas, 
community-based programs, and early intervention programs for the 
delivery of services to individuals and families with HIV infection.
    The HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) administers Titles I, II, III, and 
IV of the Ryan White CARE Act of 1990, as amended by the Ryan White 
CARE Act Amendments of 1996 and 2000 (codified under Title XXVI of the 
Public Health Service Act).
    In 1998, President Clinton declared that HIV was a severe and 
ongoing health crisis among racial/ethnic minority communities. In 
response to the President's declaration, in fiscal year 1999 the 
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) announced funding of a new initiative 
to address the disproportionate impact of HIV on African-American and 
Hispanic communities. Since 1999, the initial CBC initiative has been 
broadened to address the HIV epidemic in other racial and ethnic 
minority communities. Currently, the HRSA, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Office 
of Public Health and Sciences' Office of Minority Health, the Indian 
Health Service, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration allocate MAI funds. Direct service providers receiving 
MAI funds through HAB include organizations whose board of directors 
and/or direct service employees are racial/ethnic minorities, as well 
as organizations whose mission is focused on providing care to racial/
ethnic minority populations.
    The Fax Consultation Form for Minority Providers and Providers 
Receiving MAI Funds is designed to collect information from (1) service 
providers receiving MAI funds and (2) service providers funded by the 
Ryan White CARE Act whose board members or direct service staff are 
predominantly racial/ethnic minority members.
    The Fax Consultation Form will address several over-arching 
questions including: (1) Have the MAI funds increased the number of 
persons served and the type and availability of services provided in 
communities of color; (2) have the MAI funds increased the capacity of 
minority and other CARE Act service providers to provide care and 
services in communities of color; (3) what has been the impact of MAI 
funded training, technical assistance (TA), and capacity building of 
minority and other organizations; and (4) what administrative impact 
have MAI funds had on CARE Act programs? Information obtained from the 
Fax Consultation Form for Minority Providers and Providers Receiving 
MAI Funds will be used to address the over-arching questions, plan new 
technical assistance and capacity development activities, and inform 
HAB policies and program management.
    The Fax Consultation Form for Minority Providers and Providers 
Receiving MAI Funds will be transmitted by facsimile to service

[[Page 27569]]

providers who meet the criteria for participating in the survey. 
Responding service providers will return their completed forms by the 
United States Postal Service, an Internet web-based response form, or 
by facsimile. The form will be designed to include check box responses 
and open-ended questions. The form will not require additional data to 
be collected or analyzed by the responding provider. The form will take 
no longer than 20 minutes to complete. The form will include questions 
regarding facilitators and barriers to CARE Act and MAI funding, 
training and technical assistance needs, ways in which the number of 
minority service providers engaged in HIV care might be increased, new 
and expanded activities funded by MAI, extent to which MAI funds have 
met the needs of racial/ethnic communities, the impact of MAI funds on 
the administration activities, and methods used to track MAI funds.
    The estimated response burden for service providers is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Estimated
                                                            Estimated     Estimated       total       Estimated
        Estimated number of provider respondents            responses    minutes per     minutes     total hour
                                                          per provider    response       burden        burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,500...................................................            1            20        30,000           500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer, Room 14-45, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 day of this 
notice.

    Dated: May 13, 2003.
Jane M. Harrison,
Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 03-12546 Filed 5-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P