[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 114 (Thursday, June 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33443-33444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13189]


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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.

Project: Measures of Co-Occurring Infrastructure (OMB No. 0930-0284)--
Revision

    SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services and Center for Substance 
Abuse Treatment conducts a data collection activity for provider-level 
performance measures about the screening, assessment, and treatment of 
co-occurring disorders. The measures were developed with active input 
from COSIG grantees. Their input was also sought regarding suggestions 
for making the implementation and reporting processes as smooth as 
possible. Based on suggestions from COSIG grantees, CSAT has taken the 
following actions to improve data quality: Clarified instructions, 
simplified minimum required reporting, developed optional reporting 
methods, allowed grantees time to work out internal processes, and held 
monthly conference calls to answer grantee questions and to allow 
grantees to share experiences with implementation. These steps allow 
CSAT to enhance working relationships with the grantees and improve the 
overall quality of the data collection process.
    Implementation will be limited to 16 of the States with Co-
occurring State Incentive Grants (COSIG) and States receiving COSIG 
grants in future years. COSIG grants enable States to develop or 
enhance their infrastructure and capacity to provide accessible, 
effective, comprehensive, coordinated/integrated, and evidence-based 
treatment services to persons with co-occurring substance abuse and 
mental disorders. Only the immediate Office of the Governor of States 
may receive COSIG grants, because SAMHSA considers the Office of the 
Governor to have the greatest potential to provide the multi-agency 
leadership needed to accomplish COSIG goals. The COSIG program is part 
of SAMHSA's plan to achieve certain goals regarding services for 
persons with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders:
     Increase percentage of treatment programs that screen for 
co-occurring disorders;
     Increase percentage of treatment programs that assess for 
co-occurring disorders;
     Increase percentage of treatment programs that treat co-
occurring disorders through collaborative, consultative, and integrated 
models of care;
     Increase the number of persons with co-occurring disorders 
served.
    These measures will enable SAMHSA to benchmark and track progress 
toward these goals within COSIG States.
    Information will be collected annually about the number and 
percentage of programs that offer screening, assessment, and treatment 
services for co-occurring disorders; and the number of clients actually 
screened, assessed, and treated through these programs. Information 
will also be collected annually about providers' policies regarding 
screening, assessment, and treatment services for persons with co-
occurring disorders.
    A questionnaire, to be completed by providers, contains 47 items, 
answered either by checking a box or entering a number in a blank. The 
questionnaire is available both in printed form and electronically. 
Obtaining the information to enter on the questionnaire will require 
respondent providers to track screening, assessment, and treatment 
services for clients.
    COSIG States will be required to report information to SAMHSA for 
all

[[Page 33444]]

providers directly participating in their COSIG projects. SAMHSA will 
consider sampling strategies for States with large numbers of 
participating providers and for providers serving large numbers of 
clients. Annual burden for the activities is shown below:

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                                                                                     Hours per
                 Data collection                     Number of     Responses per     response      Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent         (min)           hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity to Screen, Assess, and Treat...........             298               1             4.5           1,341
Policy on Screening, Assessment, Referral, and               298               1               3              15
 Treatment......................................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             298  ..............  ..............           1,356
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    Written comments and recommendations concerning the proposed 
information collection should be sent by July 14, 2008 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: June 6, 2008.
Elaine Parry,
Acting Director, Office of Program Services.
[FR Doc. E8-13189 Filed 6-11-08; 8:45 am]
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