[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 59791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8607]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of 
Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) allow the proposed information collection 
project: ``Assessment of Unreimbursed Care among Community Primary Care 
Physicians.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to 
comment on this proposed information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 13, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, 
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Room 5036, 
Rockville, MD 20850. Copies of the proposed collection plans, data 
collection instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden 
can be obtained from AHRQ's Reports Clearance Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ, Reports 
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Project

``Assessment of Unreimbursed Care among Community Primary Care 
Physicians''

    This project is being conducted as part of AHRQ's Primary Care 
Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRN). One of AHRQ's PBRN 
contractors, the American Academy of Family Physician's National 
Research Network (AAFP-NRN), will survey primary care practices 
participating in its PBRN in order to assess the current state of un-
reimbursed medical care provided in community based primary care 
practices.
    There has been substantial research conducted to quantify the 
amount of un-reimbursed care provided in private physicians' offices. 
This survey will collect information from a sample of community-based 
primary care practices that are widely representative of private 
physicians across the United States in order to understand the current 
state of private primary care office un-reimbursed care and help assess 
factors that encourage and discourage practices from engaging in this 
activity.
    The AAFP-NRN will collaborate with AHRQ on the design of a self-
administered, web-based questionnaire. The survey will collect 
information pertaining to the level of un-reimbursed care in the 
practice as well as characteristics of the practice, the physician(s) 
and the patient population.

Methods of Collection

    The survey will be distributed to 1200 primary care physicians with 
an expected response rate of 65% (780 responses). A stratified sampling 
approach will be used to ensure appropriate representation from the 
four Census regions, urban and rural areas, and small and large 
practices. Selected physicians will receive a letter informing them of 
the purpose of the study, inviting them to participate and offering 
them the opportunity to complete the survey on paper or via the 
Internet. A follow-up mailing with a duplicate paper-based version of 
the questionnaire will be mailed to non-responders after two weeks. 
Reminder phone calls will be placed in weeks four and six to all non-
responders. If necessary to achieve target response rates, a re-mailing 
of the paper-based questionnaire will occur in week eight. The 
questionnaire is estimated to take no more than fifteen minutes to 
complete.

                                       Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Estimated time
                    Data collection effort                        Number of      per respondent  Estimated total
                                                                 respondents        in hours       burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary care clinicians......................................             780              .25              195
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimated Costs to the Federal Government

    The total cost to the government for this activity is estimated to 
be $129,956.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with the above-cited legislation, comments on AHRQ's 
information collection are requested with regard to any of the 
following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of health care research and 
information dissemination functions of AHRQ, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's 
estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed 
collection(s) 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 upon the 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    To date, one comment has been received. The commenter noted that s/
he believed no physicians provide free care. The purpose of this survey 
is to assess the current state of private primary care office un-
reimbursed care and help assess factors that encourage and discourage 
practices from engaging in this activity.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of the proposed 
information collection. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: September 26, 2006.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 06-8607 Filed 10-10-06; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M