[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32223-32224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10748]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-23-1015 Docket No. CDC-2023-0039]


Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice with comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part 
of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the 
utility of Government information, invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information 
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 
notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project 
titled National Electronic Health Records Survey (NEHRS). NEHRS will 
collect information about the use of electronic health records (EHRs) 
systems, documentation of social determinants of health or social 
needs, interoperability, exchange of patient health information with 
public health agencies, and use of telemedicine technology among 
office-based and outpatient physicians in the United States.

DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before July 18, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2023-
0039 by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, 
NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments 
to www.regulations.gov.
    Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
portal (www.regulations.gov) or by U.S. mail to the address listed 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan 
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection 
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton 
Road NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; Telephone: 404-639-7570; 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they 
conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires Federal agencies 
to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each 
proposed collection of information, including each new proposed 
collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of 
information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information 
collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To 
comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a 
proposed data collection as described below.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses; and
    5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

    National Electronic Health Records Survey (NEHRS) (OMB Control No. 
0920-1015)--Reinstatement--National Center for Health Statistics 
(NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) requests a 
Reinstatement with a Change for a three-year clearance to the National 
Electronic Health Records Survey (NEHRS). NCHS is requesting approval 
to collect data for 2024, 2025, and 2026 NEHRS cohorts.
    NEHRS is a national survey of office-based physicians conducted by 
NCHS, and sponsored by the Office of the National Coordinator for 
Health Information Technology (ONC),

[[Page 32224]]

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The survey is conducted 
under the authority of section 306 of the Public Health Service Act 
(42U.S.C. 242k).
    Although there are other surveys that collect information from 
United States office-based physicians, NEHRS is unique in that it 
provides nationally representative information about the use of 
electronic health records (EHR) and other health information 
technologies. Additional justifications for conducting future rounds of 
NEHRS include the need for more complete data to study: (1) 
documentation of social needs; (2) trends in interoperability; (3) the 
exchange of patient health information with public health agencies; and 
(4) the use of telemedicine technology. The new data collections will 
reestablish trends of patient health information exchange with public 
health agencies, telemedicine technology use, as well as the evolving 
engagement in interoperability; particularly with respect to 
electronically sending, receiving, integrating, and searching for 
patient health information through these systems. Improving 
interoperability of electronic health information is a major priority 
for ONC, and NEHRS provides ONC with data on physicians' experience 
with interoperability.
    CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 5,544 annual burden 
hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their time to 
participate.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per     Total burden
      Type of respondents           Form name       respondents    responses per   response (in     (in hours)
                                                                    respondent        hours)
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Office-based physicians or      NEHRS...........          16,633               1           20/60           5,544
 office staff.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............           5,544
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health 
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2023-10748 Filed 5-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P