[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 183 (Friday, September 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54403-54405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21824]


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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, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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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) approve the proposed information collection 
project: ``Conducting Measurement Activities in Support of the AHRQ 
Health IT Initiative.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, 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 18, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, 
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by e-mail at 
[email protected].
    Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection 
instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be 
obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports 
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

[[Page 54404]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposed Project

Conducting Measurement Activities in Support of the AHRQ Health IT 
Initiative

    Over the past 35 years, AHRQ and its predecessor agencies have made 
adoption of health information technology (IT) an agency priority. In 
addition, AHRQ-supported research has helped to demonstrate the 
potential of health IT to enhance health care quality and patient 
safety. As the lead federal research agency on the quality, safety, 
efficiency, and effectiveness of health care in America, AHRQ plays a 
central role in efforts to increase the adoption of health IT.
    Consistent with its mission, AHRQ proposes to develop measures of 
four indicators of performance of its health IT portfolio, namely:
    1. Reduction in medication errors due to adoption of electronic 
prescribing systems;
    2. The number of persons who can access their medication 
information online;
    3. The number of clinicians who can electronically access evidence-
based prevention or treatment information; and
    4. The number of clinician organizations who have adopted evidence-
based decision support technologies.
    While secondary data are available to calculate measures 1, 3 and 4 
described above, no national data exist for measure 2. Thus, 
this proposed information collection relates to measure 2: The 
number of persons who can access their medication information online.
    This project is being conducted pursuant to AHRQ's statutory 
mandates to conduct and support research, evaluations and initiatives 
to advance information systems for health care improvement (42 U.S.C. 
299b-3) and to promote innovations in evidence-based health care 
practices and technologies by conducting and supporting research on the 
development, diffusion, and use of health care technology (42 U.S.C. 
299b-5(a)(1)).

Method of Collection

    The data will be collected using a random-digit-dial (RDD) 
telephone survey of the U.S. adult population. To ensure a 
representative geographic distribution of the sample, the total sample 
will be allocated to each Census region in proportion to the total 
number of adults in each region. The survey will be administered in 
both English and Spanish.

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden

    Exhibit 1 presents the estimated annualized burden hours for the 
respondents' time to participate in this project. The telephone survey 
will be completed by 1,000 respondents and is expected to require 12 
minutes to complete. The cognitive pretest interviews, which are used 
to refine and validate the survey instrument, will be completed by 18 
respondents (9 English-speaking and 9 Spanish-speaking) and are 
expected to last one hour. The total burden hours are estimated to be 
218 hours.
    Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden for the 
respondents' time to participate in this project. The total cost burden 
is estimated to be $4,205.

                                  Exhibit 1--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of
                 Data collection                     Number of     responses per     Hours per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Telephone Survey................................            1000               1           12/60             200
Cognitive Pretest Interview.....................              18               1               1              18
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................            1018              na              na             218
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                                   Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden
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                                                     Number of     Total burden   Average hourly    Total cost
                 Data collection                    respondents        hours        wage rate *       burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone Survey................................            1000             200          $19.29          $3,858
Cognitive Pretest Interview.....................              18              18           19.29             347
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................            1018             218              na           4,205
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* Based upon the mean of the average wages, National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United
  States 2006, ``U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.''

Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government

    We are requesting approval for a one-time, one year, data 
collection effort. The estimated cost of this data collection is 
$310,067, which includes the cost of developing, administering and 
analyzing the survey. Exhibit 3 details labor hours, operational 
expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), 
and any other expenses that would not have been incurred without this 
collection of information.

  Exhibit 3. Annual Costs for the Estimate of the Number of Persons Who
             Can Access Their Medication Information Online
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                                                            Annual cost
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Labor:
    1,514 hours plus 42% fringe.........................        $123,998
Data collection:

[[Page 54405]]

 
    Interviewer training, sample purchase, survey                 30,274
     administration, data entry, toll calls.............
Other direct costs:
    Computer charge, telephone/fax/teleconference,                28,418
     printing and duplication, travel...................
Indirect costs:
    Regular overhead, 46.5%; G&A........................         101,775
Contract Fee............................................          25,602
                                                         ---------------
    Total...............................................        $310,067
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Request for Comments

    In accordance with the above-cited Paperwork Reduction Act 
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 
AHRQ health care research, quality improvement and information 
dissemination functions, 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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the 
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: September 9, 2008.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E8-21824 Filed 9-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M