[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75968-75969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21641]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects 
being developed for submission to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more 
information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data 
collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer on (301) 443-1129.
    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 estimated 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.

Proposed Project: OAT Telehealth Outcome Measures Development and 
Analysis: New

    The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT) has created a 
set of performance measures that grantees can use to evaluate the 
effectiveness of their services programs and monitor their progress 
through the use of performance reporting data. As required by the 
Government Performance and Review Act of 1993 (GPRA), all Federal 
agencies must develop strategic plans describing their overall goal and 
objectives. The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT) has 
worked with its grantees to develop performance measures to be used to 
evaluate and monitor the progress of the grantees. Grantee goals are 
to: Improve access to needed services; reduce rural practitioner 
isolation; improve health system productivity and efficiency; and 
improve patient outcomes. In each of these categories, specific 
indicators were designed to be reported through a performance 
monitoring Web site.
    The Program Assessment Response Tool (PART) is the newest 
instrument created for use by Federal agencies. The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) uses the PART to assess Federal programs. 
The PART is a series of diagnostic questions used to assess and 
evaluate programs across a set of performance-related criteria, 
including program design and purpose, strategic planning, program 
management, and results. PART results are used to inform the budget 
process and improve program management. OAT's Telehealth Network Grant 
Program has been undergoing a PART assessment this year. Thus, in 
addition to responding to the GPRA initiative, OAT now has the added 
responsibility of responding to the PART assessment of its Telehealth 
Network Grant Program. The proposed performance measures will provide 
performance data that will address the PART assessment, monitor 
progress, and evaluate program effectiveness.
    The estimates of burden are as follows:

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                                                                        Number of      Responses per                                       Total burden
                                Form                                   respondents       respondent    Total responses    Hour burden         hours
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Performance Measurement Tool.......................................             667                2            1,334                7            9,338
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[[Page 75969]]

    Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer, Room 10-33 Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 
20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this 
notice.

    Dated: December 12, 2006.
Caroline Lewis,
Acting Associate Administrator for Administration and Financial 
Management.
 [FR Doc. E6-21641 Filed 12-18-06; 8:45 am]
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