[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 148 (Thursday, August 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42421-42422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14985]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

    Periodically, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA) will publish a summary of information 
collection requests under OMB review, in compliance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these 
documents, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on (240) 276-1243.

Proposed Project: Opioid Treatment Data Systems for Disaster Planning 
Project (Pilot)--NEW

    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
(SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), has identified a 
critical need for Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs, also commonly known 
as Methadone Clinics) to be able to access limited but specific patient 
dosage data for patients displaced due to service disruptions affecting 
the OTP from which they regularly receive treatment (the patient's 
`Home OTP'). Service disruptions in home OTPs have ranged in cause from 
events such as the September 11th terrorist attacks or more recently, 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to more common events such as snow storms 
or electrical black-outs.
    The proposed system will ensure that, in such circumstances, 
patients displaced from their home OTPs will still be able to obtain 
safe and effective treatment at an alternative OTP (referred to in this 
project as a `Guest OTP'). In reviewing past events involving OTP 
service disruptions and their impact on patients, SAMHSA, in tandem 
with numerous stakeholders, established four basic principles that 
would guide creation of a deliberately simple, centralized Web-based 
system to house patient data. Such a system would facilitate Guest OTPs 
in providing safe and effective continuity of treatment for patients 
temporarily unable to obtain treatment from their Home OTPs due to any 
form of service disruption. The proposed centralized data system is 
known as the Opioid Treatment Data Systems for Disaster. Subsequently, 
in a small sample study of five (5) OTPs, SAMHSA tested a protocol and 
data collection instrument for use in determining functional 
requirements for the proposed system. In the fall 2005, SAMHSA provided 
funding for the current project, to support creation of the necessary 
infrastructure for a pilot system, to be followed by testing on a 
regional basis. This pilot project will focus on creating the means by 
which vital dosage data for OTP patients can be made accessible to 
Guest OTPs called upon to treat patients of other programs in the event 
of service disruptions, most specifically, in disaster scenarios, so 
that patients are not forced during such circumstances to forgo or 
discontinue treatment. Ultimately, the pilot system will be reviewed to 
determine its effectiveness and ability to support a national 
implementation, should funding for such a system become available.
    This notice is being provided for a survey to be distributed to 
OTPs in the region(s) selected by SAMHSA to gather information 
regarding their present data collection and reporting capabilities and 
practices. Technical information from the surveys will be used 
exclusively for development of the overall system and to help inform 
selection of sites best suited for participation as pilot sites for 
testing of the Opioid Treatment Data Systems for Disaster Planning. OTP 
respondents will have the option of completing an on-line or paper 
version of the survey. The survey consists of approximately 25 
questions predominantly formatted as yes/no responses with one to two 
words fill in the blank responses. The estimated maximum annual 
response burden to collect this information is as follows:

[[Page 42422]]



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                                                         Responses per      Burden/response      Annual burden
             Number of facilities (OTPs)                   facility             (hours)             (hours)
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200.................................................                  1                 1.0                 200
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    Written comments and recommendations concerning the proposed 
information collection should be sent by September 4, 2007 to: SAMHSA 
Desk Officer, Human Resources and Housing Branch, Office of Management 
and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 
20503; due to potential delays in OMB's receipt and processing of mail 
sent through the U.S. Postal Service, respondents are encouraged to 
submit comments by fax to: 202-395-6974.

    Dated: July 30, 2007.
Elaine Parry,
Acting Director, Office of Program Services.
 [FR Doc. E7-14985 Filed 8-1-07; 8:45 am]
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