[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 1 (Monday, January 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 103-104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28414]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Reporting Portal, 
OMB No. 0906-0056--Revision

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 March 4, 
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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the information collection request title 
for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 
(RHC COVID-19) Reporting Portal OMB No. 0906-0056--Revision.
    Abstract: In October 2020, HRSA created a monthly, aggregate data 
report to collect information on COVID-19 testing and related expenses 
conducted by funded organizations participating in the RHC COVID-19 
Testing (RHCCT) Program funded through the Paycheck Protection Program 
and Health Care Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 116-139). HRSA is expanding 
this data report to collect information on COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 
mitigation, and related expenses conducted by funded organizations 
participating in the RHC COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation (RHCCTM) 
Program funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (Pub. L. 117-2). 
Funded organizations were identified by Tax Identification Number 
(TIN), and a TIN organization may operate one or more RHC sites which 
were identified by unique Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
Certification Numbers. Respondents are TIN organizations who received 
funding for COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 mitigation, and related 
expenses. HRSA issued RHCCTM funding as one-time payments to 2,301 TIN 
organizations based on the number of certified RHC sites they operate, 
providing $100,000 per clinic site (4,459 RHC sites total across the 
country). Data report information is needed to comply with federal 
requirements to monitor funds distributed under the Paycheck Protection 
Program and Health Care Enhancement Act and the American Rescue Plan 
Act.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The RHC COVID-19 
Reporting Portal collects information from RHC-funded providers who use 
RHCCT Program funding and RHCCTM Program funding to support COVID-19 
testing, expand access to testing in rural communities, and other 
related expenses. The RHC COVID-19 Reporting Portal also collects 
information from RHC-funded providers who use RHCCTM Program funding to 
support COVID-19 mitigation and other related expenses. These data are 
critical to meet HRSA requirements to monitor and report on how federal 
funding is being used and to measure the effectiveness of the RHCCT 
Program and RHCCTM Program. Revisions include a confirmation page for 
TIN organization self-certification following completion of each 
program after the period of availability. Specifically, data will be 
used to assess the following:
     Whether program funds are being spent for their intended 
purposes;
     COVID-19 testing or testing related use(s) of RHCCTM 
funds;
     COVID-19 mitigation or mitigation related use(s) of RHCCTM 
funds;
     Where COVID-19 testing supported by these funds is 
occurring;
     Number of at-home (i.e. home collection, direct-to-
consumer, over-the-counter) COVID-19 tests distributed (optional);
     Number of COVID-19 tests;
     Number of positive COVID-19 tests;
     TIN organizations self-certification of complete 
expenditure of RHCCT Program funds and/or full or partial return of 
RHCCT Program funds; and
     TIN organizations self-certification of complete 
expenditure of RHCCTM Program funds and/or full or partial return of 
RHCCTM Program funds.
    Likely Respondents: Respondents are TIN organizations who own or 
operate one or more RHC who received funding for COVID-19 testing, 
COVID-19 mitigation, and related expenses.
    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     responses per       Total       per response    Total burden
                                    respondents     respondent       responses      (in hours)         hours
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RHC COVID-19 Reporting Portal...           2,301              19          43,719            0.33          14,427
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    Total.......................           2,301  ..............          43,719  ..............          14,427
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[[Page 104]]

    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. 2021-28414 Filed 12-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P