[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 92 (Friday, May 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25572-25573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9558]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-05-0242x]


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 404-371-5983 
and 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

    Estimating the Cost of Sigmoidoscopy and Colonoscopy for Colorectal 
Cancer Screening in U.S. Healthcare Facilities--New--National Center 
for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Division 
of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC), Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-
related deaths in the United States. In 2005, it is estimated that 
approximately 56,300 Americans will die from CRC and about 145,300 new 
cases will be diagnosed. The risk of developing CRC increases with 
advancing age. More than 90% of newly diagnosed CRCs occur in persons 
50 years of age and older. Several

[[Page 25573]]

scientific studies have demonstrated that regular screening for CRC 
reduces the incidence and mortality from this disease. Other studies 
have shown that regular screening for CRC is also cost-effective in 
terms of years of life saved.
    Despite strong scientific evidence and evidence-based clinical 
guidelines recommending screening, current screening rates remain low. 
A recent CDC study reported that more than 40 million Americans who are 
50 years of age or older and at average risk for CRC have not been 
screened in accordance with current guidelines. The study also reported 
that screening this population with current endoscopic (i.e., flexible 
sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy) capacity in the health care system could 
require as much as ten years to complete. In view of the current 
shortage in endoscopic capacity, an effective national effort to 
promote CRC screening could increase the demand for endoscopic 
procedures.
    It has been reported that reimbursements for endoscopic procedures 
in publicly-funded programs may not be adequate to cover the costs of 
performing these procedures. This may be a disincentive for providers 
to perform endoscopy procedures. Currently, there is little information 
available about the actual costs of providing these procedures in 
different types of healthcare facilities in the United States.
    The purpose of this project is to conduct a survey of a nationally 
representative sample of healthcare facilities in order to estimate the 
economic costs of providing colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy for 
CRC screening and follow-up services. The estimated procedure costs 
will be compared to the reimbursement rates for both screening 
procedures in order to determine whether the difference between 
payments to facilities and costs incurred is a potential barrier to 
expansion of CRC screening to uninsured or underinsured populations.
    The study will also determine whether there are technical factors 
that enable some facilities to provide larger numbers of endoscopic 
procedures at lower average costs than other facilities, i.e., whether 
economies of scale and/or economies of scope exist for certain types of 
facilities. Results of this study will be used to better define the 
economics of colorectal cancer screening. There is no cost to the 
respondents other than their time.

                                       Estimate of Annualized Burden Table
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                                                                     Number of      Avg. burden    Total burden
                    Form type                        Number of      responses/     per response     of response
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs.)       (in hrs)
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Telephone script to identify the appropriate               2,530               1            5/60             211
 respondent.....................................
Survey of hospital-based outpatient departments.           1,500               1             4.0           6,000
Survey of freestanding ambulatory surgery                    800               1             6.0           4,800
 centers........................................
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          11,011
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    Dated: May 6, 2005.
Joan F. Karr,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-9558 Filed 5-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P