[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 89 (Thursday, May 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27223-27225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09725]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed information collection 
project: ``AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS).'' This proposed 
information collection was previously published in the Federal Register 
on Page 12562, March 3, 2020, and allowed 60 days for public comment. 
AHRQ did not received comments from the public during this period. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public 
comment.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by 30 days after date 
of publication of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain . Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports 
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 27224]]

Proposed Project

AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS)

    AHRQ has developed a systematic method for its grantees to report 
project progress and important preliminary findings for grants funded 
by the Agency. This system, the AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS), 
previously known as the Grants Reporting System (GRS), was last 
approved by OMB on May 22, 2017. The system addressed the shortfalls in 
the previous reporting process and established a consistent and 
comprehensive grants reporting solution for AHRQ. The ARRS provides a 
centralized repository of grants research progress and additional 
information that can be used to support initiatives within the Agency. 
This includes future research planning and support to administration 
activities such as performance monitoring, budgeting, knowledge 
transfer as well as strategic planning.
    This Project has the following goals:
    (1) To promote the transfer of critical information more frequently 
and efficiently and enhance the Agency's ability to support research 
designed to improve the outcomes and quality of health care, reduce its 
costs, and broaden access to effective services.
    (2) To increase the efficiency of the Agency in responding to ad-
hoc information requests.
    (3) To support Executive Branch requirements for increased 
transparency and public reporting.
    (4) To establish a consistent approach throughout the Agency for 
information collection regarding grant progress and a systematic basis 
for oversight and for facilitating potential collaborations among 
grantees.
    (5) To decrease the inconvenience and burden on grantees of 
unanticipated ad-hoc requests for information by the Agency in response 
to particular (one-time) internal and external requests for 
information.
    This study is being conducted by AHRQ pursuant to AHRQ's statutory 
authority to conduct and support research on healthcare and on systems 
for the delivery of such care, including activities with respect to the 
quality, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness and value of 
healthcare services and with respect to quality measurement and 
improvement. 42 U.S.C. 299a(a)(1) and (2).

Method of Collection

    To achieve the goals of this project the following data collections 
will be implemented:
    AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS)--Grantees and vendors use the 
ARRS system to report project progress and important preliminary 
findings for grants and contracts funded by the Agency. Grantees and 
vendors submit progress reports on a monthly or quarterly basis which 
are reviewed by AHRQ personnel. All users access the ARRS system 
through a secure online interface which requires a user I.D. and 
password entered through the ARRS login screen. When status reports are 
due AHRQ notifies principal investigators and vendors via email.
    The ARRS is an automated user-friendly resource that is utilized by 
AHRQ staff for preparing, distributing, and reviewing reporting 
requests to grantees and vendors for the purpose of information 
sharing. AHRQ personnel are able to systematically search on the 
information collected and stored in the ARRS database. Personnel will 
also use the information to address internal and/or external requests 
for information regarding grant progress, preliminary findings, and 
other requests, such as Freedom of Information Act requests, and 
producing responses related to federally mandated programs and 
regulations.

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden

    Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours for the 
respondents. It will take grantees an estimated 15 minutes to enter the 
necessary data into the ARRS System and reporting will occur four times 
annually. The total annualized burden hours are estimated to be 500 
hours.
    Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden for the 
respondents. The total estimated cost burden for respondents is 
$19,710.

                                  Exhibit 1--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of
                    Form name                        Number of     responses per     Hours per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Data entry into ARRS............................             500               4           15/60             500
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             500             N/A             N/A             500
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                                   Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden
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                                                     Number of     Total burden   Average hourly    Total cost
                    Form name                       respondents        hours        wage rate *       burden
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Data entry into ARRS............................             500             500          $39.42         $19,710
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             500             500             N/A          19,710
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* Based upon the average wages for Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Occupations (29-0000), ``National
  Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States, May 2015,'' U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
  Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#29-0000.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ's 
information collection are requested with regard to any of the 
following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ's health care research and 
health care information dissemination functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's 
estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed 
collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the

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collection of information upon the respondents, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the 
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: May 1, 2020.
Virginia L. Mackay-Smith,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 2020-09725 Filed 5-6-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4160-90-P