[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74095-74096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28268]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

[OMB No. 0906-0066--Extension]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request SHIP COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation Program 
Data Collection

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 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 ICR should be received no later than February 
28, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or by mail to 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 Samantha Miller, 
the acting HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer at (301) 443-
9094.

[[Page 74096]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the information collection request title 
for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: Small Rural Hospital 
Improvement Program (SHIP) COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation Program Data 
Collection OMB No. 0906-0066--Extension.
    Abstract: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2) 
provided one-time funding for awards that will be carried out under 
Section 711 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 912(b)(5)). The SHIP 
is requesting an extension of an information collection request. State 
grantees will improve health care in rural areas by using the funding 
to provide support to eligible rural hospitals to increase COVID-19 
testing efforts, expand access to testing in rural communities, and 
expand the range of mitigation activities.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The terms and conditions 
for this program specify that, ``hospitals will be required to report 
on the number of tests provided and categories in which the funding is 
spent.'' The data will allow HRSA to ensure SHIP COVID-19 recipients 
are meeting the terms and conditions of their funding, while providing 
HRSA with information on the effectiveness of funds distributed through 
this program.
    Likely Respondents: The respondents will be hospital staff and 
designated Representatives, and State Office of Rural Health Staff.
    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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                                                   Number of                     Average burden
          Form name               Number of     respondents per       Total       per response     Total burden
                                 respondents       respondent       responses      (in hours)         hours
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SHIP COVID-19 Testing and      1,540..........  6..............           9,240             .25  2,310
 Mitigation Data Reporting.    Number of        Reported on a                                    Total hours
                                unique           quarterly                                        spend on
                                organizations    basis during                                     responses for
                                funded through   the 18 month                                     all funded
                                the program.     program or                                       organization
                                                 until the end                                    over a 2-year
                                                 of the public                                    period.
                                                 health
                                                 emergency
                                                 (whichever is
                                                 first).
                               1,540..........  ...............           9,240  ..............  2,310
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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. 2021-28268 Filed 12-28-21; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P