[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46800-46801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15400]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request; Information Collection Request Title: Rural 
Health Network Development Program Performance Improvement Measurement 
System, 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 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 September 
18, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N39, 5600 Fishers 
Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.

[[Page 46801]]


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 HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, at (301) 443-3983.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the ICR title for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: Rural Health Network 
Development Program Performance Improvement Measurement System, OMB No. 
0906-0010--Revision.
    Abstract: The Rural Health Network Development (RHND) program is 
authorized under section 330A(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 254c(f)). The purpose of this program is to support integrated 
health care networks that collaborate to achieve efficiencies; expand 
access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care 
services and associated health outcomes; and strengthen the rural 
health care system as a whole. The program supports networks as they 
address gaps in service, enhance systems of care, and expand capacity 
of the local health care system.
    RHND-funded programs promote population health management and the 
transition towards value-based care through diverse network 
participants that includes traditional and non-traditional network 
partners. Evidence of program impact demonstrated by outcome data and 
program sustainability are integral components of the program. This is 
a 4-year competitive program for networks composed of at least three 
participants that are existing health care providers. At least 66 
percent of network participants must be located in a HRSA-designated 
rural area.
    HRSA currently collects information about RHND awards using an OMB-
approved set of performance measures and seeks to revise that approved 
collection. The proposed revisions are being implemented to better 
gather award recipient data in response to previously accumulated award 
recipient feedback, peer-reviewed research, and information gathered 
from the previously approved RHND measures.
    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 topic areas of interest to 
HRSA, 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 include additional components under questions 
surrounding the network's benefits and funding strategies, as well as 
the types of participant organizations. Questions surrounding Health 
Information Technology and Telehealth have been modified to reflect an 
updated telehealth definition based on renewed knowledge on the use of 
both Health Information Technology and Telehealth, and to improve 
understanding of how these important technologies are affecting HRSA 
award recipients. The Demographics and Services section now includes a 
question requesting grantees to identify which counties they have 
served during the project. Finally, revised National Quality Forum and 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services measures were included to 
allow uniform collection efforts throughout the HRSA Federal Office of 
Rural Health Policy. The total number of responses has remained at 44 
since the previous ICR. The new RHND grant cycle maintained the same 
number of award recipients and number of respondents.
    Likely Respondents: Respondents will be award recipients 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               1              44               6             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. 2023-15400 Filed 7-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P