[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18413-18415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05310]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Public Comment Request; National Survey of Older Americans Act 
Participants [OMB 0985-0023]

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living is announcing that the 
proposed collection of information listed above has been submitted to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance as 
required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 30-day notice 
collects comments on the information collection requirements related to 
the proposed revision for the information collection requirements 
related to the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information must be submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by April 12, 2024.

[[Page 18414]]


ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find the information collection by 
selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' 
or by using the search function. By mail to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, New Executive Office Bldg., 725 17th St. 
NW, Rm. 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristen Robinson, Administration for 
Community Living, Washington, DC 20201, by email at 
[email protected], or by telephone at 202-795-7428.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. 3506), the Administration for Community Living (ACL) has 
submitted the following proposed collection of information to OMB for 
review and clearance. The National Survey of Older Americans Act (OAA 
Section 202(f),) Participants information collection includes consumer 
assessment surveys for the Congregate and Home-delivered meal nutrition 
programs; Case Management, Homemaker, and Transportation Services; and 
the National Family Caregiver Support Program. This survey builds on 
earlier national pilot studies and surveys, as well as performance 
measurement tools developed by ACL grantees in the Performance Outcomes 
Measures Project (POMP). Changes identified as a result of these 
initiatives were incorporated into the last data collection package 
that was approved by OMB and are included in this proposed extension of 
a currently approved collection.
    This information will be used by ACL to track performance outcome 
measures; support budget requests; comply with the GPRA Modernization 
Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-352) reporting requirements; provide national 
benchmark information; and inform program development and management 
initiatives.
    In addition to the proposed extension of a currently approved 
collection of information, ACL is requesting approval for a one-time 
module on `Preferences and Needs Related to Community Living' to be 
added to the currently approved NSOAAP data collection effort. The 
module will be added to the 2024 collection instrument.
    Most older adults want to remain living in their homes and 
communities as they age. According to a 2022 National Poll on Healthy 
Aging conducted by the University of Michigan, 88 percent of older 
adults reported it was important to them to be able to stay living 
safely in their homes for as long as possible. Unexpected medical 
events and declines in health, however, can sometimes make that 
difficult. The purpose of the one-time module on `Preferences and Needs 
Related to Community Living' is to better understand how prepared OAA 
recipients are to remain living in their homes as they age, so that the 
Aging Network can better tailor their programs and services to meet 
their clients' needs.
    The results of this information collection will be used by ACL to:
     Provide refined national benchmarks for use by State 
agencies and area agencies on aging (AAAs).
     Provide secondary data for analysis of various Title III 
program evaluations.
     Provide performance information for key demographic 
subgroups which will enable ACL to identify variations in performance 
and examine the need for additional targeted technical assistance.
     Provide secondary data for analysis of `Preferences and 
Needs Related to Community Living' on access to and use of OAA programs 
and services among older adults that will be shared with states and 
AAAs to help them better structure their programs and services to help 
older adults remain safely in their homes and communities as long as 
possible.
    The data will be used by the Senior official performing the duties 
of the Administrator and the Assistant Secretary for Aging for the 
Administration for Community Living, in testimony and presentations; it 
will be incorporated into the agency's Annual Report; and it will be 
used by program staff to identify areas that may need attention at the 
national level. Copies of the survey instruments and data from previous 
National Surveys of OAA Participants can be found on the Aging, 
Independence, and Disability (AGID) Program Data Portal at https://agid.acl.gov/. This IC collects demographic data from grantees 
receiving programs and services funded by HHS. ACL will adhere to best 
practices for collection of all demographic information when this 
information is collected for the programs listed in accordance with OMB 
guidance.
    This includes, but is not limited to, guidance specific to the 
collection of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) items that 
align with Executive Order 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support 
for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, Executive 
Order 14075 on Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, 
Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals, and Executive Order 13988 
on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender 
Identity and Sexual Orientation. Understanding these disparities can 
and should lead to improved service delivery for ACL's programs and 
populations served.

Comments in Response to the 60-Day Federal Register Notice

    A 60-day FRN published in the FR on August 2, 2023, at 88 FR 50869. 
One public comment was received.

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    Data collection form             Comment            ACL response
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NSOAAP Demographic            The undersigned       ACL concurs and
 Characteristics.              write to provide      plans to maintain
                               support for the       the sexual
                               Administration's      orientation
                               efforts to retain a   question and two-
                               question assessing    step gender
                               sexual orientation    identity question
                               and add in a two-     for the foreseeable
                               step question         future.
                               assessing gender
                               identity amongst
                               respondents to the
                               NSOAAP. Questions
                               measuring SOGI
                               among respondents
                               to the NSOAAP will
                               serve a practical
                               utility for the
                               Administration as
                               it will increase
                               the
                               Administration's
                               ability to assess
                               the needs of LGBTQ
                               older Americans.
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[[Page 18415]]

    Estimated Program Burden:
    ACL estimates the annual burden associated with this collection of 
information as follows:

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                                                     Number of     Responses per     Hours per     Annual burden
       Respondent/data collection activity          respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Area Agency on Aging: Respondent selection                   300               1             4.0           1,200
 process........................................
Service recipients (i.e., Congregate and Home-             4,000               1            0.75           3,000
 Delivered Meal nutrition programs, Case
 Management, Homemaker, Transportation services)
 + Rotating Module..............................
National Family Caregiver Support Program                  2,000               1            0.75           1,500
 clients + Rotating Module......................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................           6,300               1          * 0.90           5,700
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* Weighted mean.


    Dated: March 7, 2024.
Alison Barkoff,
Principal Deputy Administrator for the Administration for Community 
Living, performing the delegable duties of the Administrator and the 
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2024-05310 Filed 3-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P