[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 8305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3867]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0609]


Proposed Information Collection (Survey of Veteran Enrollees' 
Health and Reliance Upon VA) Activity: Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment 
on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are 
required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each 
proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension 
of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public 
comment in response to this notice. This notice solicits comments for 
information needed to survey veteran enrollees' health status and 
reliance on VA's health care services.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before April 27, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at http://www.Regulations.gov; or to Mary Stout, Veterans Health Administration 
(193E1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20420; or e-mail: [email protected]. Please refer to 
``OMB Control No. 2900-0609'' in any correspondence. During the comment 
period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Stout at (202) 461-5867 or FAX 
(202) 273-9381.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being 
made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, VHA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VHA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Title: Survey of Veteran Enrollees' Health and Reliance Upon VA, VA 
Form 10-21034g.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0609.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Public Law 104-262, The Veterans Health Care Eligibility 
Reform Act of 1996, requires VA implement a priority-based enrollment 
system. VA must enroll veterans by specified priorities as far down the 
priorities as the available resources permit. The number of priority 
levels to which VHA will be able to deliver care will be a function of 
annual funding levels and utilization of health care services by 
enrollees. Additionally, eligibility reform has brought about the ever-
increasing need for VA to plan and budget for the evolving clinical 
care needs of its extremely dynamic enrollee population at risk of need 
or use of VA care.
    There is no valid, recent information available in administrative 
databases on all enrollees' health status, income, and their reliance 
upon the VA system. The magnitude of changes each year in enrollees, 
their characteristics, and system policies make annual surveys 
necessary to capture this critical information for input into VHA's 
Health Care Services Demand Model. The survey will provide VA with 
current information for sound decisions that affect the entire VA 
health care delivery system and the veterans it serves. VA Form 10-
21034g will be used to provide the survey data on morbidity and 
reliance that is critical to obtaining accurate projections of VA's 
ability to service veterans who are seeking VA health care services. 
The projections will also be used to support VA's Capital Asset 
Realignment for Enhanced Services initiative and will also serve as the 
basis for VA's new emphasis on population-based budget formulation, 
policy scenario testing, and strategic planning.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, and Federal Government.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 10,900 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 42,200.

    Dated: February 17, 2009.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Denise McLamb,
Program Analyst, Enterprise Records Service.
[FR Doc. E9-3867 Filed 2-23-09; 8:45 am]
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