[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71112-71113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31430]


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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, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects 
being developed for submission to the Office of Management and Budget 
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 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.

[[Page 71113]]

Proposed Project: The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program 
Deferment Request Forms and Associated Reporting Requirements (OMB No. 
0915-0179)--Revision

    The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program was 
established to assure an adequate supply of trained primary care health 
professionals (allopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians, dentists, 
nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, and, if 
needed by the NHSC program, other health professionals), to provide 
services in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) throughout the 
United States. Under the Program, the Secretary has entered into 
contracts with health professions students agreeing to pay the total 
school tuition, required fees and a stipend for living expenses. In 
exchange, the scholarship recipients agreed to provide full-time 
clinical services at a site in a federally designated HPSA.
    To assure that scholars are adequately trained to provide primary 
health services to the underserved, individuals receiving a degree from 
a school of medicine (allopathic or osteopathic) are required by law to 
request a deferment of their service obligation to complete primary 
care postgraduate training (e.g., a residency) approved by the NHSC. 
Scholars in other disciplines (e.g., dentistry) may request a deferment 
of their service obligation to pursue postgraduate training approved by 
the NHSC. The Deferment Request Form solicits information (including 
the period and type of training for which the deferment is requested), 
so that the NHSC is able to annually determine if a deferment will be 
approved. In special circumstances (e.g., switching residency programs, 
requesting a chief residency position, etc.), the scholar may also be 
asked to submit additional documentation (e.g., a letter from the new 
program director, a description of the chief residency position and how 
it would benefit the NHSC, etc.)
    The estimated response burden is as follows:

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                                              Number of       Responses per       Hours per        Total hour
                  Form                       respondents       respondent         response           burden
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Deferment Request Forms.................               600                 1                 1               600
Letters of Intent and Request...........               100                 1                 1               100
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    Total...............................               700  ................  ................               700
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    Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer, Room 16C-17, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this 
notice.

    Dated: December 16, 2003.
Tina M. Cheatham,
Acting Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 03-31430 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P