[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12965-12966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04508]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-17-1030]


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--
Generic (OMB Control No. 0920-1030, expires 10/31/2017)--Extension--
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 is for the extension of a 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 the health policy decision-making process. The information 
collected through 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 information collection 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

[[Page 12966]]

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), 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, 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) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey 
(NHAMCS) may investigate the addition of facility and patient 
information especially as it relates to insurance and electronic 
medical records.
    The National Health Care Surveys collect critical, accurate data 
that are used to produce reliable national estimates--and in recent 
years (when budget allows), 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
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                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
           Type of research                    Respondents           Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interviews, surveys, focus groups,      Health Care Providers              6,667               1               1
 experiments (in person, phone,          and Business entities.
 internet, postal/electronic mail).
Interviews, surveys, focus groups,      Health Care Providers,               167               1             2.5
 experiments (in person, phone,          State/local government
 internet, postal/electronic mail).      agencies, and business
                                         entities.
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Leroy A. 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. 2017-04508 Filed 3-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P