[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 152 (Thursday, August 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47803-47804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17178]


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

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 Program Deeming Sponsorship Application for Free 
Clinics, OMB No. 0915-0293-Revision

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, 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, 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 October 5, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N136B, 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 Lisa Wright-
Solomon, 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.
    Information Collection Request Title: Federal Tort Claims Act 
Program Deeming Sponsorship Application for Free Clinics, OMB No. 0915-
0293- Revised
    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 liability 
protections, including Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) coverage, for the 
performance of medical, surgical, dental or related functions within 
the scope of deemed employment. Section 224(o) extends eligibility for 
deemed PHS employee status to free clinic health professionals 
including employees, officers, board members, contractors, and 
volunteers at qualifying free clinics. The Free Clinics FTCA Program is 
administered by HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care. Sponsoring free 
clinics seeking FTCA coverage for their employees, officers, board 
members, contractors, and volunteers must 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.
    HRSA is proposing several changes to the FTCA Program Deeming 
Applications for Free Clinics, to be used for Free Clinic deeming 
sponsorship applications for Calendar Year 2021 and thereafter, to 
improve question clarity and clarify required documentation.
    Specifically, the Application includes the following proposed 
changes:
     Updated application language: Specifically, throughout the 
application, alternate terminology was utilized to provide greater 
clarity and specificity. These changes were based on stakeholder 
feedback and information received from the HRSA Health Center Program 
Support. These changes are not substantive in nature.
     Added Service Type and clarifications regarding 
professional designation: Specifically, section VI of the application 
was updated to include service type which will allow HRSA to verify 
whether an individual is performing clinical or non-clinical services. 
In addition to the inclusion of service type, a note was added to 
request that free clinics include the professional designation for each 
individual.
     Deleted remark in section IX: It has been determined that 
the information requested in this section, which related to offsite 
events and particularized determinations is no longer necessary to 
evaluate eligibility for deeming.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Deeming applications must 
address certain criteria required by law in order for the Secretary to 
deem an individual sponsored by a qualifying free clinic as a PHS 
employee for purposes of liability protections, including FTCA 
coverage. This determination cannot be made without the collection of 
this information. Specifically, the deeming sponsorship application 
form seeks information verifying that the free clinic meets the 
criteria to sponsor a deeming application and that the individual being 
sponsored is eligible to be deemed

[[Page 47804]]

as a PHS employee. The FTCA application form for free clinics has been 
updated to improve clarity and thereby improve applicants' and deemed 
individuals' compliance with applicable requirements.
    Likely Respondents: Respondents include free clinics seeking deemed 
PHS employee status on behalf of their sponsored individuals for 
purposes of liability protections, including 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 ICR are summarized in the table below.

                                     Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                                     Number of       Number of         Total        burden per     Total burden
            Form name               respondents    responses per     responses     response  (in       hours
                                                    respondent                        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FTCA Free Clinics Program                    374               3           1,122               2           2,244
 Application....................
    Total.......................             374  ..............           1,122  ..............           2,244
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2020-17178 Filed 8-5-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P