[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43445-43446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17884]



[[Page 43445]]

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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 September 21, 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: Health Center Controlled 
Networks OMB No. 0915-0360-REVISION
    Abstract: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
has a goal to ensure that all Health Center Program award recipients 
effectively implement health information technology (health IT) systems 
that enable all providers to become meaningful users of health IT, 
including Electronic Health Records (EHRs), and use those systems to 
increase access to care, improve quality of care, and reduce the cost 
of care. The Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs) program serves 
as a major component of HRSA's HIT initiative to support this goal. 
HCCNs provide ongoing support for achieving meaningful use of certified 
EHRs \1\ and adopting technology-enabled quality improvement 
strategies, including health information exchange (HIE). HCCNs also 
support sharing of knowledge, resources, and data to improve Health 
Center Program award recipients' and look-alikes' (health centers) 
operations, care provision, and generate efficiencies and economies of 
scale. As a result, health centers working with HCCNs are better 
positioned to deliver care in a patient-centered medical home model and 
participate in value based payment. The HCCN program is authorized by 
Section 330(e) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 254b).
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    \1\ For the purposes of this funding opportunity announcement, 
``certified EHR'' refers to HIT products certified by the Office of 
the National Coordinator (ONC) for HIT Authorized Testing and 
Certification Body. For further information about ONC certified HIT 
products, see http://onc-chpl.force.com/ehrcert.
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    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The annual, non-competing 
continuation progress reports will describe each HCCNs' progress in 
achieving key activity goals, such as improving performance measures 
via data-driven quality improvement activities, enhanced utilization of 
data exchange, and the efficiency and effectiveness of HCCN services to 
health centers. Award recipients will also report emerging needs, 
implementation challenges, lessons learned, best practices, and plans 
to meet the goals set for the next budget period. HCCNs will update 
their work plan and submit their annual, non-competing continuation 
progress report annually.
    The information collected from the progress report forms will serve 
multiple purposes. The information will be used to inform new technical 
assistance needs and evaluate the performance and outcome of the 
funding initiative. The progress reports will also enhance HRSA's 
ability to respond to departmental inquiries regarding the program in a 
timely and accurate manner. Information will also be used in the 
preparation of reports to Congress and other external agencies.
    In addition to meeting the goal of accountability to Congress, 
patients, and the general public, information collected from the 
progress reports are critical for HRSA grantees and individual 
providers to assess the status of existing EHR systems and health 
outcomes for patients. The partnership between HRSA, grantees, 
providers, and patients provides a unique opportunity to ensure that 
all parties share in the benefits of accurate information, lessons 
learned, major accomplishments, barriers encountered, and technical 
assistance to promote improved care and efficiency.
    Likely Respondents: Type of respondents expected are existing 
networks that are currently serving health centers and other safety net 
entities.
    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 hours: 1350.

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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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Work Plan Update................              45               1              45               5             225
Annual Progress Report..........              45               1              45              25            1125
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    Total.......................              90  ..............  ..............  ..............            1350
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[[Page 43446]]

    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,
Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2015-17884 Filed 7-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P