[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 68 (Monday, April 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 18100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5189]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration on Aging


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report 
and Instructions

AGENCY: Administration on Aging, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Administration on Aging (AoA) is announcing that the 
proposed collection of information listed below has been submitted to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Submit written comments on the collection of information by May 
10, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information by 
fax 202.395.6974 or by mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, OMB, New Executive Office Bldg., 725 17th St. NW., rm. 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, Attn: Brenda Aguilar, Desk Officer for AoA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Wheaton, telephone: (202) 357-
3587; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In compliance with 44 U.S.C. 3507, AoA has 
submitted the following proposed collection of information to OMB for 
review and clearance.
    To comply with this requirement, AoA is publishing notice of the 
proposed collection of information set forth in this document. With 
respect to the following collection of information, AoA invites 
comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of AoA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of AoA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of 
information technology. The reporting system, the National Ombudsman 
Reporting System (NORS), was developed in response to the needs and 
directives pertaining to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget for use in FY 1995-96 
and extended with slight modifications for use in FY 1997-2001 and 
again for FY 2002-2006.
    This request is to institute the use of the revised information 
collection, State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report (and 
Instructions), from state agencies on aging and state long-term care 
ombudsman programs under Titles III and VII of the Older Americans Act. 
The data collected on complaints filed with ombudsman programs and 
narrative on long-term care issues provide information to Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services and others on patterns of concerns and 
major long-term care issues affecting residents of long-term care 
facilities. Both the complaint and program data collected assist the 
states and local ombudsman programs in planning strategies and 
activities, providing training and technical assistance and developing 
performance measures.
    A list of the proposed changes and the revised reporting form and 
instructions may be viewed in the ombudsman section of the AoA Web 
site, http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/elder_rights/LTCombudsman/NORS/nors_form_instructions.asp. These documents represent the results of 
work with the states and local ombudsmen to revise and update the form 
and instructions for use beginning in FY 2007. AoA estimates the burden 
of this collection of information as follows: Approximately 10 minutes 
per case, per respondent, for a total annual hour burden of 10,258 
hours, with 52 State Agencies on Aging responding annually.

    Dated: April 5, 2006.
Josefina G. Carbonell,
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
 [FR Doc. E6-5189 Filed 4-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P