[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12689-12690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4937]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-05BL]


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 404-371-5974 or 
send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance 
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected].
    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. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Worksheet for Medical Conditions among Refugees and Immigrants--
New--National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Clearance is being requested for 
a ``Worksheet for Medical Conditions among Refugees and Immigrants'' 
for state and local health refugee coordinators to identify specific 
medical conditions of public health importance in newly arrived 
refugees and immigrants. CDC requests notification of specific medical 
conditions listed on the worksheet, including Class A and B health 
conditions not recognized overseas, and substantial discrepancies in 
the overseas and U.S. based medical evaluations.
    Section 412 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 
1522(b)(4)) authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(DHHS) to: (A) assure that an adequate number of trained staff are 
available at the location at which the refugees enter the United States 
to assure that all necessary

[[Page 12690]]

medical records are available and in proper order; (B) provide for the 
identification of refugees who have been determined to have medical 
conditions affecting public health and requiring treatment; (C) assure 
that State or local health officials at the resettlement destination of 
each refugee within the United States are promptly notified of the 
refugee's arrival and provided with all applicable medical records; and 
(D) provide for such monitoring of refugees identified under 
subparagraph (B) as will insure that they receive appropriate and 
timely treatment. The Secretary, DHHS, shall develop and implement 
methods for monitoring and assessing the quality of medical screening 
and related health services provided to refugees awaiting resettlement 
in the United States.
    On July 3, 2003, the Secretary, DHHS, delegated to the Director, 
CDC, the authority to re-delegate the authorities vested in the 
Secretary, DHHS, under section 412(b)(4) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 
1522(b)(4)), as amended hereafter. The Division of Global Migration and 
Quarantine (DGMQ), CDC, is responsible for monitoring the performance 
and quality of the required overseas medical examinations of refugees 
and immigrants applying for permanent residence in the United States, 
and notifying state and local public health officials of the arrival of 
all refugees and immigrants who have Class A and B health conditions, 
(as defined in 42 CFR 34.2) to facilitate the recommended follow-up 
evaluation in the U.S. Currently, the Department of State uses medical 
examination forms DS 2053, 3024, 3025, and 3026, under OMB control 
number 1405-0113, to conduct the overseas medical evaluation of 
refugees and immigrants. This type of communication and data exchange 
with local partners has been critical in identifying medical conditions 
among refugees that require overseas interventions.
    In 2004, several outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases among 
refugees in overseas refugee camps were identified and controlled 
because of rapid notification by U.S. state and local health 
departments of cases in resettled refugees. Since March 2004, DGMQ has 
been working with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, 
Refugees, and Migration and the International Organization for 
Migration (IOM) to resettle approximately 15,000 Laotian Hmong refugees 
accepted for U.S. resettlement. Approximately 8,800 refugees have 
arrived into the United States through early January 2005, and 
resettled to 27 states. DGMQ and the Division of Tuberculosis 
Elimination (DTBE) at CDC have recently received reports from one state 
of six active TB cases among Hmong refugees. Two of the three cultures 
confirmed TB cases were multi-drug resistant. In addition, IOM, the 
group performing overseas medical examinations has reported that since 
July, 2004 to present, 166 suspect active TB cases have been identified 
among U.S.-bound Hmong refugees. Completing the worksheet and 
furnishing the requested information is essential. Accurate information 
will allow important public health functions and follow-up of 
significant health events to be performed in preventing the spread of a 
disease. Respondents include state and local health departments. There 
is no cost to the respondents other than their time.
    Annualized Burden Table:

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                                                                  Number of      Average burden
                 Respondents                     Number of      responses per     per response     Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent       (in hours)       (in hrs.)
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State and local health agencies.............              300              170             5/60            4,250
                                             ------------------
    Total...................................              300  ...............  ...............            4,250
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    Dated: March 7, 2005.
Betsey Dunaway,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-4937 Filed 3-14-05; 8:45 am]
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