[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 63 (Monday, April 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17612-17613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06880]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Public Comment Request; Rural Health Network 
Development Program, OMB No. 0906-0010--Revision

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
HRSA has submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Comments 
submitted during the first public review of this ICR will be provided 
to OMB. OMB will accept further comments from the public during the 
review and approval period. OMB may act on HRSA's ICR only after the 30 
day comment period for this notice has closed.

DATES: Comments on this ICR should be received no later than May 5, 
2021.

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 Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a copy of the clearance 
requests submitted to OMB for review, email Lisa Wright-Solomon, the 
HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer at [email protected] or 
call (301) 443-1984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Information Collection Request Title: Rural Health Network 
Development Program OMB No. 0906-0010--Revision
    Abstract: The Rural Health Network Development Program (RHND) is 
authorized under Section 330A(e) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 254(e)). The purpose of this program is to support integrated 
rural health care networks that have combined the functions of the 
entities participating in the network to address the health care needs 
of the targeted rural community. Recipients will combine the functions 
of the entities participating in the network to address the following 
legislative aims: (i) Achieve efficiencies; (ii) expand access, 
coordinate, and improve the quality of essential health care services; 
and (iii) strengthen the rural health care system as a whole.
    RHND-funded programs promote population health management and the 
transition towards value-based care through diverse network membership 
that includes traditional and non-traditional network partners. 
Evidence of program impacted demonstrated by outcome data and program 
sustainability are integral components of the program. This is a 3-year 
competitive program for networks composed of at least three members 
that are separate existing health care providers or entities.
    A 60-day Notice published in the Federal Register on November 19, 
2020, vol. 85, No. 224, pages 73728-73729. There were no public 
comments.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: This program needs 
measures that will enable HRSA to provide aggregate program data 
required by Congress under the Government Performance and Results Act 
of 1993. These measures cover the principal

[[Page 17613]]

topic areas of interest to the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, 
including: (a) Access to care; (b) population demographics; (c) 
staffing; (d) consortium/network; (e) sustainability; and (f) project 
specific domains. All measures will evaluate HRSA's progress toward 
achieving its goals.
    The proposed changes of RHND measures are a result of the 
accumulation of grantee feedback, peer-reviewed research, and 
information gathered from the previously approved RHND program 
measures. The proposed changes include additional questions surrounding 
the network's components of sustainability. Questions surrounding 
Health Information Technology and Telehealth have been modified to 
reflect updated knowledge on the use of both and to improve 
understanding of how these important technologies are affecting HRSA 
grantees. Additional National Quality Forum measures were also included 
in an effort to allow uniform collection efforts throughout the Federal 
Office of Rural Health Policy.
    Likely Respondents: Respondents will be awardees of the Rural 
Health Network Development Program.
    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
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                                                                                      Average
                                     Number of       Number of         Total        burden per     Total  burden
            Form name               respondents    responses per     responses     response  (in       hours
                                                    respondent                        hours)
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Performance Improvement and                   44               1              44               6             264
 Measurement System Database....
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    Total.......................              44  ..............              44  ..............             264
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    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. 2021-06880 Filed 4-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P