[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 70271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31198]



[[Page 70271]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) allow the proposed information collection 
project: ``Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Medical Provider Component 
(MEPS-MPC) for 2003''. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the 
public to comment on this proposed information collection.
    This proposed information collection was previously published in 
the Federal Register on October 15, 2003 and allowed 60 days for public 
comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this notice 
is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 16, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Allison Eydt, Human 
Resources and Housing Branch, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, OMB, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 
20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia D. McMichael, AHRQ, Reports 
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1651.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Project

    ``Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Medical Provider Component 
(MEPS-MPC) for 2003''.
    The MEPS-MPC is a survey of hospitals, physicians and other medical 
providers. The purpose of this survey is to supplement and verify the 
information provided by respondent households participating in the 
household component of the MEPS (MEPS-HC) about their use of medical 
services in the United States.
    With the permission of members of the households surveyed in the 
MEPS-HC, AHRQ contractor will contact the medical providers of the HC 
survey respondents to determine the actual dates of service, the 
diagnoses, the services provided, the amount that was charged, the 
amount that was paid and the sources of payment. Thus, the MPC is 
derived from or is based upon the core survey, MEPS-HC, and will 
improve the qualify of the core survey data.
    The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) 
conducted in 2003, will provide annual estimates, based upon a national 
representative sample, of health care use, expenditures, sources of 
payment and insurance coverage, for the U.S. civilian non-
institutionalized population for 2003. Data from medical providers 
linked to household respondents in the MEPS Household component for 
calendar year 2003, will be collected beginning 2004 and continuing 
into the year 2005. MEPS is co-sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare 
Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Center for Health 
Statistics (NCHS).

Data Confidentiality Provisions

    MEPS data confidentiality is protected under the AHRQ and NCHS 
Confidentiality statutes, section 308(d) and section 924(c) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m(d) and 42 U.S.C. 299c-
3(c),respectively).

Methods of Collection

    The Medical Provider Survey will be conducted predominantly by 
telephone, but may include self-administered mail surveys,if requested 
by the respondent. The MPC for Calendar year 2003 estimated annual 
burden is as follows:

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                                                                          Average number     Number of    Average Number  Average burden/
                    Type of provider                         Number of     of patients/      patients/      of events/      event  (in    Total hours of
                                                            respondents      provider     provider pairs      patient        minutes)         burden
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MPC 2003:
    Hospital Office-based...............................           5,095             2.2          11,210             3.2               5           2,977
    Doctor..............................................          16,031             1.3          20,840             3.5               5           6,054
    Separately Billing doctor...........................          15,879             1.4          22,230             1.3               5           2,399
    Home Health.........................................             505             1.1             555             5.8               5             267
    Pharmacy............................................           7,481             2.6          19,450            10.3               3          10,017
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...........................................          44,991  ..............          74,285  ..............  ..............          21,714
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Request for Comments

    In accordance with the above cited legislation, comments on the 
AHRQ information collection are requested with regard to any of the 
following:
    (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of functions of AHRQ, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the AHRQ's 
estimate of burden (including hours and cost) 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 upon the respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of the proposed 
information collection. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: November 26, 2003.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 03-31198 Filed 12-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M