[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76335-76336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29772]


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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 February 20, 2015.

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: Rural Health 
Network Development Program OMB No. 0915-XXXX--New
    Abstract: This program is authorized under Section 330A(f) of the 
Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 254c(f). This 
authority directs the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) to support 
grants for eligible entities to promote, through planning and 
implementation, the development of integrated health care networks that 
have combined the functions of the entities participating in the 
networks in order to: (i) Achieve efficiencies; (ii) expand access to, 
coordinate, and improve the quality of essential health care services; 
and (iii) strengthen the rural health care system as a whole.
    The Rural Health Network Development Program is designed to assist 
rural health care providers to acclimate to the evolving health care 
environment by addressing relevant

[[Page 76336]]

topics to the health care environment as identified by the rural 
community. The program also enables rural health networks to continue 
to be a locus of innovation in maximizing limited rural health 
resources in times of economic hardship and decreased access to health 
care services that can be modeled in other communities, both rural and 
urban. This is a 3-year competitive program for mature networks 
composed of at least three members that are separate, existing health 
care provider entities.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: For this program, 
performance measures were drafted to provide data to the program and to 
enable HRSA to provide aggregate program data. These measures cover the 
principal topic areas of interest to the Office of Rural Health Policy, 
including: (a) Network infrastructure; (b) network collaboration; (c) 
sustainability; and (d) network assessment. Several measures will be 
used for this program.
    Likely Respondents: The respondents would be Rural Health Network 
Development Program grant recipients.
    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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                                                                                      Average
                                     Number of       Number of         Total        burden per     Total  burden
            Form name               respondents    responses per     responses     response  (in       hours
                                                    respondent                        hours)
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Performance Improvement and                   54               1              54             6.7           361.8
 Measurement System (PIMS)
 Database.......................
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    Total.......................              54               1              54             6.7           361.8
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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.

Jackie Painter,
Acting Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.
[FR Doc. 2014-29772 Filed 12-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P