[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48875-48876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18332]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-04-0497]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
    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. Send comments to Sandi Gambescia, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E11, 
Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Written comments 
should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Evaluating CDC Funded Health Department HIV Prevention Programs, 
Partner Counseling and Referral Services, OMB No. 0920-0497--
Extension--National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background

    CDC is requesting approval for the continued use of two currently 
approved forms under OMB No. 0920-0497, for collecting HIV partner 
counseling and referral services (PCRS) program data. The current forms 
expire October 31, 2004. This request is for a 12-month clearance past 
this date. The extension of the current forms will allow grantees to 
continue to collect PCRS data as they transition to the new Program 
Evaluation and Monitoring System (PEMS) over the next year.
    CDC funds HIV prevention projects in 65 public health agencies (50 
states, 6 cities, 7 territories, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico) 
through cooperative agreements. PCRS is one of a number of public 
health strategies supported by CDC that is designed to control and 
prevent the spread of HIV.
    A fundamental feature of PCRS is informing current and past 
partners of an HIV-infected person that they have been identified as a 
sex or injection-drug-paraphernalia-sharing partner, and advising them 
to be tested for HIV. Informing partners of their exposure to HIV is 
confidential, and partners are not told who reported their name, or 
when the reported exposure occurred. Notified partners, who may not 
have suspected their risk, can choose whether to have HIV counseling 
and testing. Those who choose to be tested and are found to be HIV 
positive can receive a medical evaluation, treatment, and prevention 
services designed to modify their high risk behavior, thereby possibly 
reducing the number of new HIV infections.
    HIV prevention programs that conduct PCRS interventions can reach 
significant numbers of persons at very high risk of contracting HIV. 
The CDC requires aggregate PCRS program data to determine if 
interventions are being

[[Page 48876]]

delivered as intended, gauge the degree to which program performance 
indicator targets are being achieved, and help agencies improve their 
programs to better deliver effective PCRS. Until grantees transition to 
PEMS, it is essential that they be allowed to continue to collect 
aggregate PCRS data using the existing forms.
    Each health department funded to conduct PCRS will prepare and 
submit aggregate PCRS data to the CDC annually. Completion of two data 
collection forms is necessary for evaluation of aggregate PCRS data, 
and it is estimated that one hour is needed to complete each form; 
therefore, 65 health departments x 2 responses x 1 hour = 130 hours. 
There is no cost to respondents.

                                           Estimates of Annual Burden
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                                                                                      Average
                                                      No. of          No. of        burden per     Total burden
                   Respondents                      respondents    responses per   response (in     (in hours)
                                                                    respondent        hours)
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Health Departments..............................              65               2               1             130
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............             130
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    Dated: August 4, 2004.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-18332 Filed 8-10-04; 8:45 am]
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