[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28667-28668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13178]


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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: Federal 
Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Program Deeming Applications for Free Clinics, 
OMB No. 0915-0293--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, 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 August 22, 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: Federal Tort Claims Act 
(FTCA) Program Deeming Applications for Free Clinics, OMB No. 0915-
0293--Extension.
    Abstract: Section 224(o) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 
U.S.C. 233(o)), as amended, authorizes the ``deeming'' of certain 
individuals as PHS employees for the purposes of receiving Federal Tort 
Claims Act (FTCA) coverage. Section 224(o) relates to employees, 
officers, and contractors at qualifying free clinics. The Free Clinics 
FTCA Program is administered by HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care 
(BPHC). Sponsoring free clinics are required by law to submit deeming 
applications in the specified form and manner on behalf of named 
individuals for review and approval, resulting in a ``deeming 
determination'' that includes associated FTCA coverage for these 
individuals.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Deeming applications must 
address certain specified criteria required by law for deeming 
determinations to be issued, and FTCA application forms are critical to 
BPHC's deeming determination process. These forms provide BPHC with the 
information necessary to evaluate an application and determine whether 
an individual meets the requirements for deemed PHS employee status for 
the purposes of FTCA coverage. FTCA application forms for free clinics 
do not require any changes with this extension other than to update the 
applicable dates.
    Likely Respondents: Respondents include free clinics seeking deemed 
PHS employee status on behalf of their sponsored individuals for 
purposes of FTCA coverage.
    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.

[[Page 28668]]



                                     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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FTCA Free Clinics Program                    228               3             684               2            1368
 Application....................
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    Total.......................             228               3             684               2            1368
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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. 2017-13178 Filed 6-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P