[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21254-21255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09085]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request Information Collection Request Title: National 
Health Service Corps Ambassador Portal OMB No. 0915-0388--Extension

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 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 ICR should be received no later than July 5, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N39, 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, in compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    Information Collection Request Title: National Health Service Corps 
Ambassador Portal OMB No. 0915-0388--Extension
    Abstract: The National Health Service Corps (NHSC), administered by 
HRSA, is committed to improving the health of the nation's underserved 
by uniting communities in need with caring health professionals and by 
supporting communities' efforts to build better systems of care. NHSC 
programs provide scholarships and repay qualifying educational loans 
for primary care physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician 
assistants, behavioral health clinicians, and other primary care 
clinicians who agree to practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas 
(HPSAs).
    The NHSC invites current and former NHSC participants and 
individuals affiliated with academic, clinical, and other public health 
related organizations to participate in the NHSC Ambassador Program. 
NHSC Ambassadors provide professional development, training, and 
mentorship to NHSC Corps members interested in primary care and serving 
in a HPSA. NHSC Ambassadors also educate current and prospective NHSC 
participants about the unique or local characteristics of a particular 
NHSC site, HPSA, or region. NHSC Ambassadors inspire and motivate 
students and clinicians to provide primary care in communities with 
health professional shortages.
    The NHSC Ambassador Portal serves as both the application interface 
for interested individuals to apply and become NHSC Ambassadors, as 
well as the public-facing online searchable database of contact 
information for Ambassadors. An applicant creates an Ambassador profile 
that contains information such as name, email address, professional/
employment information (including organization name and address, or the 
school attending), phone number(s), discipline(s) interested in 
interacting with, and a brief reason why he or she would like to be 
Ambassador. Completed applications are forwarded through the portal to 
NHSC staff. If approved, an NHSC Ambassador has the opportunity to add 
a brief professional biography and social network addresses to his or 
her profile. Assistance in completing the application is provided 
through prompts via the online portal and through the NHSC Customer 
Care Center, if necessary.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The need and purpose of 
this information collection is to provide a database where interested 
parties can search for an NHSC Ambassador to serve as a local resource 
who can offer a unique perspective on providing health care services as 
an NHSC Participant in HPSAs. Based on the analysis of the Directory 
since its creation in 2014, it is estimated that nearly 600 Ambassadors 
have the potential to update their profiles within 1 year. The number 
of new Ambassadors was over-estimated at 200 in 2014, whereas recent 
trends estimate 156 new Ambassadors annually. Therefore, the estimated 
increase in updates by current Ambassadors and decrease in new 
Ambassador profiles results in a net burden hour increase of 6 hours 
from 2014 to 2017.
    Likely Respondents: Current or former NHSC participants or 
individuals who are affiliated with academic, clinical, or

[[Page 21255]]

other public health related organizations.
    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 ICR 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       per response    Total burden
                                    respondents     respondent       responses      (in hours)         hours
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Ambassador Portal--New                       156               1             156             .10              16
 Applicants.....................
Ambassador Portal--Updates to                600               1             600             .10              60
 current Ambassador profiles....
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    Total.......................             756  ..............             756  ..............              76
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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.

Jason E. Bennett,
Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2017-09085 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P