[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42796-42797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17328]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-14-14VS]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted 
the following information collection request to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed 
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public 
and affected agencies.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) 
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the 
accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and 
(e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Written comments and/or 
suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be 
directed to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written 
comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Developmental Studies to Improve the National Health Care Surveys--
New--National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Section 306 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 
242k), as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS), acting through the Division of Health Care Statistics 
(DHCS) within NCHS, shall collect statistics on the extent and nature 
of illness and disability of the population of the United States.
    The DHCS conducts the National Health Care Surveys, a family of 
nationally representative surveys of encounters and health care 
providers in inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings. This 
information collection request (ICR) is for a new generic clearance to 
conduct developmental studies to improve this family of surveys. This 
three year clearance period will include studies to evaluate and 
improve upon existing survey design and operations, as well as to 
examine the feasibility of, and address challenges that may arise with, 
future expansions of the National Health Care Surveys.
    Specifically, this request covers developmental research with the 
following aims: (1) To explore ways to refine and improve upon existing 
survey designs and procedures; and (2) to explore and evaluate proposed 
survey designs and alternative approaches to data collection. The goal 
of these research studies is to further enhance DHCS existing and 
future data collection protocols to increase research capacity and 
improve health care data quality for the purpose of monitoring public 
health and well-being at the national, state and local levels, thereby 
informing health policy decision-making process. The information 
collected through this generic ICR will not be used to make 
generalizable statements about the population of interest or to inform 
public policy; however, methodological findings may be reported.
    This generic clearance would include studies conducted in person, 
via the telephone or internet, and by postal or electronic mail. 
Methods covered would include qualitative (e.g., usability testing, 
focus groups, ethnographic studies, and respondent debriefing 
questionnaires) and/or quantitative (e.g., pilot tests, pre-tests and 
split sample experiments) research methodologies. Examples of studies 
to improve existing survey designs and procedures may include 
evaluation of incentive approaches to improve recruitment and increase 
participation rates; testing of new survey items to obtain additional 
data on providers, patients, and their encounters while minimizing 
misinterpretation and human error in data collection; testing data 
collection in panel surveys; triangulating and validating survey 
responses from multiple data sources; assessment of the feasibility of 
data retrieval; and development of protocols that will locate, 
identify, and collect accurate survey data in the least labor-intensive 
and burdensome manner at the sampled practice site.
    To explore and evaluate proposed survey designs and alternative 
approaches to collecting data, especially with the nationwide adoption 
of electronic health records, studies may expand the evaluation of data 
extraction of electronic health records and submission via continuity 
of care documentation to small/mid-size/large medical providers and 
hospital networks, managed care health plans, prison-hospitals, and 
other inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings that are 
currently either in-scope or out-of-scope of the National Health Care 
Surveys. Research on feasibility, data quality and respondent burden 
also may be carried out in the context of developing new surveys of 
health care providers and establishments that are currently out-of-
scope of the National Health Care Surveys.
    Specific motivations for conducting developmental studies include: 
(1) Within the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) (OMB No. 
0920-0234), new clinical groups may be expanded to include dentists, 
psychologists, podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists), mid-level 
providers (e.g., physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, nurse 
practitioners, certified nurse midwives) and allied-health 
professionals (e.g., certified nursing aides, medical assistants, 
radiology technicians, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, dieticians/
nutritionists). Current sampling frames such as those from the American 
Medical Association may be obtained and studied, as well as frames that 
are not currently in use by NAMCS, such as state and organizational 
listings of other licensed providers. (2) Within the National Study of 
Long-Term Care Providers (OMB No. 0920-0912), additional new frames may 
be sought and evaluated and data items from home care agencies, long-
term care hospitals, and facilities exclusively serving individuals 
with intellectual/developmental disability may be tested. Similarly, 
data may be obtained from lists compiled by states and other 
organizations. Data about the facilities as well as residents and their 
visits will be investigated. (3) In the inpatient and outpatient care 
settings, the National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS) (OMB No.

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0920-0212) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey 
(NHAMCS) (OMB No. 0920-0278) may investigate the addition of facility 
and patient information especially as it relates to insurance and 
electronic medical records.
    Discussion is underway with the DHHS Office of Minority Health on 
the possibility of conducting a study to collect data on the awareness, 
adoption and implementation of the Enhanced National Standards on 
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in physician 
offices. The study may be preceded by a feasibility study.
    The National Health Care Surveys collect critical, accurate data 
that are used to produce reliable national estimates--and in recent 
years, state-level estimates--of clinical services and of the providers 
who delivered those services in inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and 
long-term care settings. The data from these surveys are used by 
providers, policy makers and researchers to address important topics of 
interest, including the quality and disparities of care among 
populations, epidemiology of medical conditions, diffusion of 
technologies, effects of policies and practice guidelines, and changes 
in health care over time. Research studies need to be conducted to 
improve existing and proposed survey design and procedures of the 
National Health Care Surveys, as well as to evaluate alternative data 
collection approaches particularly due to the expansion of electronic 
health record use, and to develop new sample frames of currently out-
of-scope providers and settings of care. There is no cost to 
respondents other than their time to participate. Average burdens are 
designed to cover 15-40 min interviews as well as 90 minute focus 
groups, longer on-site visits, and situations where organizations may 
be preparing electronic data files. The total estimated annualized 
burden is 7,085 hours.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
          Type of respondents                   Form name            Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health Care Providers and Business      Interviews, surveys,               6,667               1               1
 entities.                               focus groups,
                                         experiments (in person,
                                         phone, internet, postal/
                                         electronic mail).
Health Care Providers,State/local       Interviews, surveys,                 167               1             2.5
 government agencies, and business       focus groups,
 entities.                               experiments (in person,
                                         phone, internet, postal/
                                         electronic mail).
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Leroy Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2014-17328 Filed 7-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P