[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45640-45641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21284]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-0920-0573]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-5960 or 
send comments to Maryam Daneshvar, CDC Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 
Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail to 
[email protected].
    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 collection 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 on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Adult and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Confidential Case Reports for National 
HIV/AIDS Surveillance [0920-0573 expiration 02/28/2010]--Revision--
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention 
(NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    CDC is authorized under Sections 304 and 306 of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242b and 242k) to collect information on cases 
of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired 
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These national HIV/AIDS surveillance 
data collected by CDC are the primary source of information used to 
monitor the extent and characteristics of the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
    As science, technology, and our understanding of the epidemic have 
evolved, the national surveillance system has been updated periodically 
to meet the nation's needs for information. CDC in collaboration with 
health departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. 
dependent areas, conducts national surveillance for cases of HIV 
infection that includes critical data across the spectrum of HIV 
disease from HIV diagnosis, to AIDS, the end-stage disease caused by 
infection with HIV, and death. In addition, this national system 
provides essential data to estimate HIV incidence and monitor patterns 
in viral resistance and HIV-1 subtypes in the U.S.
    Since 1993, these data have been maintained and reported through 
the HIV/AIDS reporting system (HARS) software. In 2010, the new 
enhanced electronic HIV/AIDS reporting system (eHARS) will be fully 
deployed. The revisions requested include additional data elements for 
eHARS that will allow better tracking of documents and flow of 
previously approved currently collected surveillance data. In addition, 
CDC is requesting approval of a revised data collection form for 
enhanced perinatal surveillance (EPS) that includes non-substantial 
editorial changes aimed at improving the format and usability of the 
EPS form. Revisions include improved wording of terms and changes in 
the format of some response options.
    The purpose of HIV/AIDS surveillance data is to monitor trends in 
HIV/AIDS and describe the characteristics of infected persons (e.g., 
demographics, modes of exposure to HIV, clinical and laboratory markers 
of HIV disease, manifestations of severe HIV disease, and deaths among 
persons with HIV/AIDS). HIV/AIDS surveillance data are widely used at 
all government levels to assess the impact of HIV infection on 
morbidity and mortality, to allocate medical care resources and 
services, and to guide prevention and disease control activities.
    CDC provides funding for 59 jurisdictions to provide adult and 
pediatric HIV case reports. Health department staff compile information 
from laboratories, physicians, hospitals, clinics and other health care 
providers in order to complete the HIV and pediatric case reports. CDC 
estimates that 1,839 adult HIV case reports and 8 pediatric case 
reports are processed by each health department annually.
    These data are recorded on standard paper case report forms and 
entered into the eHARS reporting system. Updates to case reports are 
also entered into the eHARS system by health departments as additional 
information may be received

[[Page 45641]]

from laboratories, vital statistics, or additional providers. CDC 
estimates approximately 97 updates to case reports will be processed by 
each of the 59 health departments annually. Case report information 
compiled over time by health departments is then re-identified and 
forwarded to CDC on a monthly basis (twelve times a year) for inclusion 
in the national HIV surveillance database.
    Supplemental surveillance data are collected in a subset of areas 
to provide additional information necessary to estimate HIV incidence, 
to better describe the extent of HIV viral resistance and quantify HIV 
subtypes among persons infected with HIV, and to monitor and evaluate 
perinatal HIV prevention efforts. Health departments funded for these 
supplemental data collections obtain this information from 
laboratories, health providers, and medical records. CDC estimates that 
on average 2,437 reports containing incidence data elements will be 
processed annually, by each of the 25 health departments funded to 
collect incidence data annually. Additionally, an estimated 2,019 
reports containing additional viral resistance data elements will be 
processed on average, annually, by each of the 11 health departments 
conducting variant and resistant HIV surveillance (VARHS) annually. An 
estimated 167 reports containing perinatal surveillance data elements 
will be processed on average by each of the 15 health departments 
reporting data collected as part of enhanced perinatal surveillance 
(EPS). Data collected for these 3 supplemental data collections are 
also reported monthly to CDC.

                                       Estimate of Annualized Burden Table
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                                                                     No. of        Avg. burden     Total annual
             Form                   Type of          No. of       responses per   per response      burden (in
                                  respondent       respondents     respondent      (in hours)         hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adult HIV/AIDS Case Reports..  Health                        59           1,839           20/60           36,167
                                Departments.
Peds HIV/AIDS Case Reports...  Health                        59               8           20/60              157
                                Departments.
Case Report Updates..........  Health                        59              97            5/60              477
                                Departments.
Incidence....................  Health                        25           2,437           10/60           10,154
                                Departments.
VARHS........................  Health                        11           2,019            5/60            1,851
                                Departments.
EPS..........................  Health                        15             167               1            2,505
                                Departments.
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............           51,311
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    Dated: August 28, 2009.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. E9-21284 Filed 9-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P