[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 71 (Monday, April 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20506-20507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07668]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Outcome Evaluation of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman 
Program (LTCOP); OMB#0985-XXXX

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is announcing an 
opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed collection of 
information listed above. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, 
including each proposed extension of an existing collection of 
information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice. This notice solicits comments on the proposed new information 
collection requirements related to an outcome evaluation for ACL's 
Long-term Ombudsman Program (LTCOP).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information must be submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by June 12, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to: Susan Jenkins, Ph.D. Submit written comments on the collection of 
information to Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC 
20201, Attention: Susan Jenkins, Ph.D.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Jenkins, Ph.D., Administration 
for Community Living, Washington, DC 20201, 202.795.7369; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. A 
``Collection of information'' is defined as and includes agency 
requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, 
keep records, or provide information to a third party. The PRA requires 
Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each 
proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before 
submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this 
requirement, ACL is publishing a notice of the proposed collection of 
information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, ACL 
invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this 
collection of information, including:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) the accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;
    (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.
    The mission of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) \1\ is 
to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, 
people with disabilities across the lifespan, and their families and 
caregivers. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program serves individuals 
living in long-term care facilities (nursing homes, residential care 
communities, such as assisted living and similar settings) and works to 
resolve resident problems related to poor care, violation of rights, 
and quality of life. Ombudsman programs also advocate at the local, 
state and national levels to promote policies and consumer protections 
to improve residents' care and quality of life.
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    \1\ In April 2012, a new Operating Division was created within 
the US Department of Health and Human Services named the 
Administration for Community Living (ACL). This Operating Division 
contains the Administration on Aging (AoA). This document 
consistently refer to the federal agency as ``ACL/AoA.''
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    This data collection is part of an outcome evaluation of the Long-
term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) designed to determine the efficacy 
of LTCOP in carrying out core functions as described in the Older 
Americans Act, the long-term impacts of the LTCOP's for various 
stakeholders, what system advocacy among Ombudsman programs looks like, 
and effective or promising Ombudsman program practices. The efficacy of 
LTCOP in carrying out core functions as described in the Older 
Americans Act. ACL is interested in learning:
    1. Are the critical functions, including federally mandated 
responsibilities, of the LTCOP at the state, and local levels, carried 
out effectively and efficiently?
    2. How effective is the LTCOP in ensuring Ombudsman services for 
the full range of residents of long-term care facilities, including 
individuals with the greatest economic and social needs?
    3. How cost-effective LTCOP strategies are, for example, the cost 
effectiveness of services offered through consultations, referrals, 
complaint handling, and via education and outreach activities.
    4. What impact do LTCOPs have on long-term care practices, 
programs, and policies?
    5. What impact do LTCOPs have on residents' health, safety, 
welfare, well-being, and rights?
    Act (OAA) programs such as Title VII Long-Term Care Ombudsman 
Program (LTCOP), ACL/AoA seeks increased understanding of how these 
programs are operationalized at the State and local levels and their 
progress towards their goals and mission. This information will enable 
ACL/AoA to

[[Page 20507]]

effectively report its results to the President, to Congress, to the 
Department of Health and Human Services and to the public.
    The information will also aid in program refinement and continuous 
improvement. The more productive ACL/AoA's programs, the greater the 
number of older adults have access to a higher quality of life. 
Therefore, in addition to the legislative mandate under the OAA, it is 
important for program integrity and function to evaluate the LTCOP.
    To comment and review the proposed data collection please visit the 
ACL website at https://www.acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.

Estimated Program Burden

    ACL estimates the burden associated with this collection of 
information as follows:

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                                                     Number of     Responses per     Hours per     Annual burden
       Respondent/data collection activity          respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Focus Group--Facility staff including                         16               1            0.33             5.3
 participant information........................
Focus Group--Residents/family including                       24               1               1              24
 participant information........................
Interview--Stakeholders.........................              40               1               1              40
Survey--Facility Administrator..................            1840               1            0.33           607.2
Survey--Former Ombudsmen........................              12               1               1              12
Survey--SUA director............................              53               1             0.5            26.5
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total:......................................            1985  ..............            4.16             715
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    Dated: April 6, 2020.
Mary Lazare,
Principal Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-07668 Filed 4-10-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4154-01-P