[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34765-34766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14192]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information 
Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks 
comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any 
other aspect of the ICR.

DATES: Comments on this Information Collection Request must be received 
no later than August 18, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 10-29, Parklawn 
Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
draft instruments, email [email protected] or call the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer at (301) 443-1984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the information request collection title 
for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: Federal Tort Claims Act Free 
Clinic Application OMB No. 0915-0293--Revision
    Abstract: Under 42 U.S.C. 233(o) and HRSA Program Assistance Letter 
(PAL) 2014-04, ``Calendar Year 2015 Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) 
Deeming Application for Free Clinics,'' free clinics are required to 
submit annual, renewal, and supplemental applications for the process 
of deeming qualified health care professionals, board members, 
officers, and contractors for FTCA medical malpractice coverage for 
negligent acts and omissions that arise from the performance of 
medical, surgical, dental, or related functions within the scope of the 
covered individual's employment. HRSA proposes modifying the 
application forms to reflect changes to eligible personnel made by 
section 10608 of the Affordable Care Act, amending 42 U.S.C. 233(o)(1), 
which extended FTCA medical malpractice liability protection to free 
clinic board members, officers, employees, and contractors. 
Additionally, HRSA proposes upgrading the application to provide for 
electronic submissions. Specifically, the modifications include: (1) 
Inclusion of

[[Page 34766]]

board members, officers, employees, and contractors into one 
comprehensive application that also includes volunteer health care 
professionals, and (2) a fully electronic application that can be 
submitted via HRSA's web based application system, the Electronic 
Handbooks (EHBs). It is anticipated that these modifications will 
decrease the time and effort required to complete the current OMB 
approved FTCA application forms.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Deemed status for FTCA 
medical malpractice coverage requires HRSA approval of an application 
for deeming of certain eligible individuals from a sponsoring free 
clinic. The FTCA Free Clinic deeming application is an electronic 
application submitted to HRSA through the EHBs as part of the process 
of deeming qualified health care professionals, board members, 
officers, and individual contractors. Sponsoring clinics are required 
to submit a completed electronic application in addition to other 
required documents as required by section 224(o) of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 233(o)). Applications are reviewed by program 
staff before a deeming determination is made.
    Likely Respondents: Respondents include nonprofit private entities 
that meet the statutory and programmatic requirements as stated in 
section 224(o) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 233(o)).
    Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by 
persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide the 
information requested. This includes the time needed to review 
instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and 
systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying 
information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and 
providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to 
a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and 
review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise 
disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for 
this Information Collection Request are summarized in the table below.
    Total Estimated Annualized burden hours:

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                                                                                         Number of                      Average  burden
                             Form name                                  Number of      responses per   Total responses   per  response     Total burden
                                                                       respondents       respondent                        (in hours)         hours
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FTCA Free Clinics Program Application..............................             227                1              227                2              681
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    Total..........................................................             227                1              227                2              681
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    HRSA specifically requests comments on (1) the necessity and 
utility of the proposed information collection for the proper 
performance of the agency's functions, (2) the accuracy of the 
estimated burden, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected, and (4) the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology to 
minimize the information collection burden.

    Dated: June 11, 2014.
Jackie Painter,
Deputy Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.
[FR Doc. 2014-14192 Filed 6-17-14; 8:45 am]
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