[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34680-34682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14006]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part C (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-76, dated 
October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, as 
amended most recently at 69 FR 17166-17167, dated April 1, 2004) is 
amended to reorganize the Division of Health Interview Statistics, 
National Center for Health Statistics.
    Section C-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as 
follows:
    Delete in its entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Division of Health Interview Statistics (CS7) insert the following:
    Division of Health Interview Statistics (CS7). The Division of 
Health Interview Statistics plans and administers

[[Page 34681]]

complex data collection systems and analytic programs and conducts a 
program of methodologic and substantive public health research 
activities based on the collection of data from nationwide and special 
health interview surveys. (1) Participates in the development of 
policy, long-range plans, and programs of NCHS; (2) plans, directs, and 
coordinates the health interview statistics program of NCHS; (3) 
administers Division programs comprised of national health interview 
surveys, longitudinal surveys, population-based telephone surveys, 
targeted follow-up studies, and national and subnational surveys on 
selected health topics; (4) conducts research on data collection and 
estimation methodology, survey methodology, questionnaire design, data 
quality and reliability, and statistical computation related to health 
and health status assessment; (5) analyzes data and publishes reports 
on the prevalence and incidence of disease and associated disabilities, 
health status, health-related behaviors, utilization of health care 
resources, health insurance status, and other health and well-being 
related topics; (6) conducts multidisciplinary research directed toward 
development of new scientific knowledge in areas related to health and 
health care, population demographics, economics, epidemiology, 
statistics, and disability; (7) performs innovative theoretical and 
experimental investigations of the content of health interview surveys; 
(8) develops sophisticated approaches to making health interview 
statistics data available to users, including techniques to avoid 
disclosure of confidential data; (9) conducts descriptive analyses and 
sophisticated multivariate analyses that integrate data across multiple 
surveys or data sets; (10) designs, develops, and implements state-of-
the-art computing systems for collecting, storing, and retrieving 
health interview statistics data and for subsequent analysis and 
dissemination; (11) applies computer systems and software in its 
programs, consistent with NCHS and CDC information technology 
requirements; (12) incorporates novel system improvement efforts to 
maintain timeliness, efficiency, cost effectiveness, and accuracy of 
data systems over multiple years; (13) conducts methodological research 
on the utilization, evaluation, and presentation of health interview 
statistics; (14) produces and publishes a wide variety of health 
interview statistics reports, papers, and tabulations in multiple 
formats as well as makes presentations on analyses of such data; and 
(15) develops and sustains collaborative partnerships with, and 
provides expert advice and technical assistance to NCHS, CDC, and DHHS 
and externally with public, private, domestic and international 
entities on issues regarding health interview statistics data.
    Office of the Director (CS71). (1) Participates in the development 
of policy, long-range plans, and programs of NCHS; (2) provides 
leadership for the design, development, conduct, and statistical 
evaluation of the Division's data systems; (3) oversees the analysis 
and dissemination of national and subnational health interview 
statistics through national health interview statistics surveys, 
supplements, and customized population surveys; (4) coordinates the 
planning and production activities of the Division including data 
collection, information technology, and data dissemination systems; (5) 
directs, plans, and monitors the scientific integrity and relevance to 
public health of the Division's data, publications, services, and other 
products; (6) develops and administers a research, analytic, and 
methodological program in health interview statistics; (7) conducts 
theoretical and experimental research to improve the usefulness of the 
Division's statistics and data to policymakers, researchers, and 
academia; and (8) provides advice and leads development of 
collaborative partnerships within NCHS, CDC, and DHHS, and externally 
with public, private, domestic and international entities on issues 
regarding health interview statistics and the manner in which 
statistics may impact policy issues.
    Delete the title and functional statement for the Systems and 
Programming Branch (CS72), and insert the following:
    Data Production and Systems Branch (CS72). (1) Conducts research 
into the design, development, deployment, and administration of survey 
and information technology systems to collect, process, and disseminate 
national health interview survey data; (2) develops system improvement 
plans and strategies to insure timely, cost-effective, accurate, and 
confidential data collection and production systems; (3) performs 
systems analysis and computer programming of health interview 
statistics data, employing state-of-the-art information technologies in 
support of data collection, processing, maintenance, analysis, and 
dissemination activities; (4) develops and adopts computer 
technologies, data architectures, security infrastructure, and database 
management for health interview statistics systems that are consistent 
with NCHS and CDC IT requirements; (5) develops and implements data 
collection and production standards for the Division's surveys; (6) 
provides planning for utilization of evolving telecommunication, data 
access, and network technologies in Division survey efforts; (7) 
conduct studies and analyses of data collection, processing, and 
dissemination systems to insure data confidentiality; (8) designs and 
implements computer applications to produce final edited and imputed 
health interview survey data and statistics; (9) produces health 
statistics reports and tabulations of data from health interview 
surveys in multiple formats; and (10) provides consultation and expert 
technical assistance NCHS-wide as well as to a broad range of agencies, 
institutions, federal, local, and international governments, 
researchers, and individuals regarding systems design and 
administration for health interview statistics technology systems.
    Delete in their entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Survey Planning and Development Branch (CS73) and insert the following:
    Survey Planning and Special Surveys Branch (CS73). (1) Establishes 
the design and content of the national health interview surveys and 
subnational special surveys in response to public health priorities; 
(2) converts identified data needs into research, development, and 
evaluation activities and related public health information; (3) 
designs and conducts methodological, analytical, developmental, and 
evaluation studies of health interview survey processes, questions, and 
data; (4) performs theoretical and experimental research on the design 
and content of the health interview survey in order to improve the 
timeliness, availability, and quality of the health interview 
statistics data; (5) plans and conducts special customized population 
surveys such as the State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey 
(SLAITS) in order to obtain timely state and smaller-area data as well 
as national data relevant to public health; (6) collaborates with other 
NCHS programs and through contracts, grants, and interagency agreements 
with outside sponsors of surveys for the development and implementation 
of survey questions and data; (7) publishes and presents results of 
methodological, analytical, developmental, and evaluation studies of 
special population surveys and data; (8) serves as the NCHS resource on 
special population surveys data and their use in addressing critical 
public health issues; and (9) provides

[[Page 34682]]

consultation and technical assistance to a wide range of researchers 
and institutions at the state, national, and international levels, 
addressing the definitions, needs, and uses for national and 
subnational health interview statistics and data.
    Delete in their entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Data Analysis Branch (CS74) and insert the following:
    Data Analysis and Quality Assurance Branch (CS74). (1) Conducts 
research and analysis on topics relevant to public health using 
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data; (2) plans, develops, and 
implements analytic techniques and guidelines to assure data quality 
standards for Division surveys and supplements; (3) prepares scientific 
papers and presentations on the health status of the population, broad 
health trends, and characteristics of persons with health problems 
using data from the NHIS; (4) converts identified health interview 
statistics data needs into research, development, and evaluation 
activities; (5) conducts descriptive analyses as well as multivariate 
analyses that integrate data across multiple surveys or data sets; (6) 
administers analytic and scientific peer review of manuscripts produced 
from data collected in the Division's programs; (7) develops and 
implements a data dissemination plan to address needs of researchers; 
(8) serves as the NCHS resource on health interview survey data and 
their use in assessing the prevalence and incidence of disease and 
associated disabilities, health status, health related behaviors, 
health insurance status, and other health and well-being related 
topics; (9) provides interpretations and recommendations regarding 
public health issues as a result of data analyses from the NHIS; and 
(10) provides consultation, technical assistance, and liaison to 
academia, other research groups, and State, Federal, and international 
entities concerning the development, uses, and dissemination of health 
interview survey data.
    Delete in their entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Special Population Surveys Branch (CS75).

    Dated: June 6, 2004.
William H. Gimson,
Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).
[FR Doc. 04-14006 Filed 6-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-M