[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 135 (Monday, July 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 38826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3451]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[No. DoD-2007-HA-0073]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health 
Affairs, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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    In compliance with Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense 
for Health Affairs announces a new information collection. 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 
information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden of the information collection on respondents, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by 
September 14, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and 
title, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160 
Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1160.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency 
name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The 
general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the 
public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without 
change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and 
associated collection instruments, please write to Office of the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (OASD), TRICARE--
Health Program Analysis and Evaluation, ATTN: LtCol Lorraine Babeu, 
5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810A, Falls Church, VA 22041-3206, or call 
(703) 681-0039.
    Title and OMB Number: Public Perceptions of Military Health Care; 
OMB Control Number 0720-TBD.
    Needs and Uses: The goal of this survey effort is to determine the 
public's perceptions of Military Health Care and compare and contrast 
that with their perceptions of U.S. Health Care.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Annual Burden Hours: 133.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: .133 (8 minutes).
    Frequency: Annually.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

    The goal of this survey effort is to understand and compare the 
public's perceptions of Military health care to that of Health Care in 
general in the United States. The Military Health Care System's vision 
statement is--``A world class health system that supports the military 
mission by fostering, protecting, sustaining and restoring health''. 
Recent developments have tarnished that vision. The media have focused 
attention on the plight of wounded military personnel in the direct 
care environment, Walter Reed specifically. They have published various 
articles and stories on the shortfalls of Military Health Care to 
include support services (Medical Evaluation Boards, Physical 
Evaluation Boards, Housing, Pay, etc.) as provided in accounts from 
beneficiary and other sources. There are numerous and ongoing anecdotal 
accounts of red tape, bureaucracy, physician shortages (particularly 
mental health care workers), substandard care, neglect, problems with 
consults and appointments, and overall perceived deep and systemic 
failures of the Military Health Care System. HA/TMA is very concerned 
about the implications of these negative accounts of Military Health 
Care on the perceptions of the public regarding the provision of health 
care, ancillary and support services. HA/TMA would like to understand 
the extent to which the public holds negative perceptions of the 
system, what their perceptions were/are about Military Health Care in 
general and what can be done, if anything, to help regain the public's 
trust in this important resource since this current breech occurred. We 
would also like to compare and contrast the public's perceptions of 
Military Health Care with those of Health Care in the public arena as a 
way to gain more insight into the issue. Moreover, health care for 
military personnel and their family members has often been cited as one 
of the key recruitment and retention tools for the Department. Data 
from this survey will help establish a baseline for understanding the 
public's attitude about Military Health Care and help determine if 
changes in the system based on recommended interventions such as 
increased staffing, computerized medical records, streamlined processes 
and procedures, etc., will improve the public's perceptions or 
attitudes. For the purposes of this survey, Military Health Care is 
defined as medical and dental care for individuals entitled to health 
care under 10 USC, Chapter 55.

    Dated: July 9, 2007.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 07-3451 Filed 7-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-M