[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 201 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58285-58286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22946]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Document Identifier OS-0955-New]


Agency Generic Information Collection Request; 30-Day Public 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Health and Human Service, 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 following summary of a proposed 
collection for public comment.

DATES: Comments on the ICR must be received on or before November 22, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or via 
facsimile to (202) 395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sherrette Funn, [email protected] 
or (202) 795-7714. When requesting information, please include the 
document identifier 0955-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: Access, Exchange and Use of Social 
Determinants of Health Data in Clinical Notes.
    Type of Collection: New.
    OMB No.: 0955-NEW--Office of the National Coordinator for Health 
Information Technology.
    Abstract: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office 
of the Secretary, Office of the National Coordinator for Health 
Information Technology (ONC), promotes the access, exchange, and use of 
electronic health information to improve health care. There are ongoing 
efforts to determine what types of information should be recorded in 
patients' electronic medical records and how that information can be 
utilized to improve health and healthcare. Data reflecting Social 
Determinants of Health (SDOH)--the conditions in which people live, 
learn, work, and play--is limited across healthcare yet is vital to 
collect and understand for both individual care and public health. 
There is a growing recognition that by capturing and accessing SDOH 
data during the course of care, providers can more easily address non-
clinical factors, such as food, housing, and transportation 
insecurities, which can have a profound impact on a person's overall 
health.
    The 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) requires HHS and ONC to 
improve the interoperability of health information. ONC's Cures Act 
final rule identifies important data elements that should be made 
electronically available and exchanged through the use of health 
information technology (IT).
    In support of these efforts, ONC seeks to better understand 
patients' and health care providers' knowledge of SDOH, how SDOH data 
are currently documented in the electronic health record and how this 
information is used in patient care. Additionally, ONC seeks to 
understand challenges experienced and preferences for SDOH data 
collection, sharing and utilization from both the provider and patient 
perspectives.
    A series of 20 focus groups, a mix of asynchronous (discussion 
board) and synchronous (live), will be conducted among groups of 
healthcare professionals (10 groups) and patients/care partners (10 
groups), representing various backgrounds, demographics, and healthcare 
professions, to learn more about their experiences and thoughts 
relating to the capture and utilization of SDOH data. A prescreening 
questionnaire will be sent to 1,500 individuals and 200 of those 1,500 
people will be chosen to participate in the focus groups. Each 
individual will participate in one 90-minute focus group.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Table
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                                                                                      Average
                                     Type of         Number of        Number        burden per     Total burden
           Form name               respondent       respondents    responses per   response  (in       hours
                                                                    respondent        hours)
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Prescreening Questionnaire      Patients and                 675               1            5/60              56
 (English).                      Care Partners.
Prescreening Questionnaire      Patient and Care              75               1            5/60               6
 (Spanish).                      Partners
                                 (Spanish
                                 speakers).
Prescreening Questionnaire....  Clinicians and               750               1            5/60              63
                                 Healthcare
                                 Professionals.
Asynchronous Focus Group......  Patients and                  10               1           90/60              15
                                 Care Partners.
Synchronous Focus Group         Patients and                  80               1           90/60             120
 (English).                      Care Partners.
Synchronous Focus Group         Patients and                  10               1           90/60              15
 (Spanish).                      Care Partners
                                 (Spanish
                                 speakers).
Asynchronous Focus Group......  Clinicians and                90               1           90/60             135
                                 Healthcare
                                 Professionals.
Synchronous Focus Group.......  Clinicians and                10               1           90/60              15
                                 Healthcare
                                 Professionals.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................            1700               1  ..............             425
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[[Page 58286]]

Sherrette A. Funn,
Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer, Office of the 
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-22946 Filed 10-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-45-P