[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 178 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56623-56624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20136]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Document Identifier: OS-0990-0421]


Agency Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and 
Human Services, is publishing the

[[Page 56624]]

following summary of a proposed collection for public comment.

DATES: Comments on the ICR must be received on or before October 14, 
2020.

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: Sherrette Funn, [email protected] 
or (202) 795-7714. When submitting comments or requesting information, 
please include the document identifier 0990-New-30D and project title 
for reference.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested persons are invited to send 
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this 
collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (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.
    Title of the Collection: ASPE Generic Clearance for the Collection 
of Qualitative Research and Assessment.
    Type of Collection: Extension.
    OMB No. 0990-0421--Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning 
and Evaluation (ASPE).
    Abstract: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and 
Evaluation (ASPE) is requesting a three-year extension for their 
generic clearance for purposes of conducting qualitative research. The 
ICR is for an extension of the approved information collection assigned 
OMB control number 0990-0421, scheduled to expire on October 31, 2020. 
ASPE conducts qualitative research to gain a better understanding of 
emerging health and human services policy issues, develop future 
intramural and extramural research projects, and to ensure HHS 
leadership, agencies and offices have recent data and information to 
inform program and policy decision-making. ASPE is requesting approval 
for at least four types of qualitative research which include, but are 
not limited to: (a) Interviews, (b) focus groups, (c) questionnaires, 
and (d) other qualitative methods.
    ASPE's mission is to advise the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services on policy development in health, disability, 
human services, data, and science, and provides advice and analysis on 
economic policy. ASPE leads special initiatives, coordinates many of 
the Department's evaluation, research and demonstration activities, and 
manages cross-Department planning activities such as implementation of 
the Evidence Act, strategic planning, legislative planning, and review 
of regulations. Integral to this role, ASPE will use this mechanism to 
conduct qualitative research, evaluation, or assessment, conduct 
analyses, and understand needs, barriers, or facilitators for HHS-
related programs and services.
    ASPE is requesting comment on the burden for qualitative research 
aimed at understanding emerging health and human services policy 
issues. The goal of developing these activities is to identify emerging 
issues and research gaps to ensure the successful implementation of HHS 
programs. The participants may include health and human services 
experts; national, state, and local health or human services 
representatives; public health, human services, or healthcare 
providers; and representatives of other health or human services 
organizations.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: ASPE is requesting 
comment on the burden for qualitative research aimed at understanding 
emerging health and human services policy issues. The goal of 
developing these activities is to identify emerging issues and research 
gaps to ensure the successful implementation of HHS programs. The 
participants may include health and human services experts; national, 
state, and local health or human services representatives; public 
health, human services, or healthcare providers; and representatives of 
other health or human services organizations. The increase in burden 
from 747 in 2014 to 1,300 respondents in 2017 reflects an increase in 
the number of research projects conducted over the estimate in 2014. 
There is no change in request of burden hours from 2017 to 2020.
    The total annual burden hours estimated for this ICR are summarized 
in the table below.

                                                            Estimated Annualized Burden Table
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                                                                                                          Number of      Average burden
               Type of respondent                                Form                    Number of      responses per      hours per       Total burden
                                                                                        respondents       respondent        response          hours
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Health or Human Services Policy Stakeholder.....  Qualitative Research..............           1,300                1                1            1,300
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Sherrette A. Funn,
Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-20136 Filed 9-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4151-05-P