[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44626-44627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18331]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request: Rural Health Network Development Planning 
Performance Improvement and Measurement System Database, OMB No. 0915-
0384--Extension

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 must be received no later than October 25, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA

[[Page 44627]]

Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N136B, 5600 Fishers 
Lane, Rockville, Maryland 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 Lisa Wright-
Solomon, the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer at (301) 
443-1984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the ICR title for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: Rural Health Network 
Development Planning Performance Improvement and Measurement System 
Database, OMB No. 0915-0384--Extension.
    Abstract: The purpose of the Rural Health Network Development 
Planning (Network Planning) Program is to assist in the development of 
an integrated health care network specifically for entities that do not 
have a history of formal collaborative efforts. Health care networks 
can be an effective strategy to help smaller rural health care 
providers and health care service organizations align resources, 
achieve economies of scale and efficiency, and address challenges more 
effectively as a group than as single providers. This program promotes 
the planning and development of healthcare networks in order to achieve 
efficiencies; expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of 
essential health care services; and strengthen the rural health care 
system as a whole.
    The goals of the Network Planning Program are centered around 
approaches that will aid providers in better serving their communities 
given the changes taking place in health care, as providers move from 
focusing on the volume of services to focusing on the value of 
services. In addition to establishing and improving local capacity and 
coordination of care, the Network Planning Program brings together key 
parts of a rural health care delivery system, particularly those 
entities that may not have collaborated in the past under a formal 
relationship. The program supports one year of planning with the 
primary goals of helping networks create a foundation for their 
infrastructure and focusing member efforts to address important 
regional or local community health needs.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Performance measures for 
the Network Planning Program serve the purpose of quantifying awardee-
level data that conveys the successes and challenges associated with 
the grant award. These measures and aggregate data substantiate and 
inform the focus and objectives of the grant program. The approved 
measures encompass the following principal topic areas: Network 
infrastructure, network collaboration, sustainability, and network 
assessment.
    Likely Respondents: Rural Health Network Development Planning 
Program award 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 ICR are summarized in the table below.

                                     Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Number of                    Average burden
            Form name                Number of     responses per       Total       per  response   Total burden
                                    respondents     respondent       responses      (in hours)         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Health Network Development              21               1              21               1              21
 Planning Program Performance
 Improvement Measurement System.
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................              21  ..............              21  ..............              21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.

Maria G. Button,
Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2019-18331 Filed 8-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P