[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 86 (Thursday, May 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35842-35843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09466]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request; Information Collection Request Title: COVID-19 
Provider Relief Programs Single and Commercial Audits and Delinquent 
Audit Reporting Submission Activities, Office of Management and Budget 
No. 0906-0083--Extension

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement to provide opportunity for 
public comment on proposed data collection projects per 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 July 1, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N39, 5600 Fishers 
Lane, Rockville, Maryland 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 Joella Roland, 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: COVID-19 Provider Relief 
Programs Single and Commercial Audits and Delinquent Audit Reporting 
Submission Activities, OMB No. 0906-0083--Extension.
    Abstract: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 
(Pub. L. 116-136); the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care 
Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 116-139); the Coronavirus Response and Relief 
Supplemental Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 116-260); the Families First 
Coronavirus Response

[[Page 35843]]

Act (Pub. L. 116-127); and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. 
L. 117-2) provided the Department of Health and Human Services the 
authority to administer the Provider Relief Programs (PRP) (e.g., 
Provider Relief Fund; American Rescue Plan Act Rural Distribution; 
COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund; and COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to 
Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and 
Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured). The Department of Health and 
Human Services delegated the authority for these programs to HRSA. The 
PRP issued payments to eligible health care providers for expenses or 
lost revenues attributable to COVID-19 and claims reimbursement for 
COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccine administration for uninsured 
and COVID-19 vaccine administration for underinsured individuals. 
Recipients of these funds agreed to the Terms and Conditions applicable 
to each Program, which require, among other Terms, compliance with 
reporting requirements as specified by the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services. Recipients are eligible health care providers who 
include public entities, Medicare or Medicaid enrolled suppliers and 
providers, and for-profit and non-profit entities that provide 
diagnosis, testing, vaccination, or care for individuals with possible 
or actual cases of COVID-19. The Single Audit Act requires entities 
that expend $750,000 or more of federal assistance during the entity's 
fiscal year to conduct an independent audit. Requirements for these 
audits are set forth in regulations at 45 CFR subpart F. Requirements 
differ for non-profit and commercial/for-profit entities, and non-
profit entities are required to submit their audits to the Federal 
Audit Clearinghouse. HRSA has established a Commercial Audit Reporting 
Portal to collect audits from commercial/for-profit organizations. In 
late calendar year 2023, HRSA developed a delinquent audit follow-up 
process to ensure that all providers required to submit an audit do so. 
The delinquent audit follow-up process includes educating PRP 
recipients on the 45 CFR 75 subpart F requirements and following up on 
overdue audit report submissions. In February 2024, OMB approved HRSA's 
emergency ICR for the Commercial Audit Reporting Portal and the 
delinquent audit follow-up process. Collectively, these activities will 
help ensure the fiscal and program integrity of the PRP.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: HRSA will use the 
collected information to ensure all PRP recipients who expended over 
$750,000 in funding during the recipient's fiscal year submit an audit 
and resolve audit findings, including recovery of any funds used not in 
accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the programs.
    Likely Respondents: PRP recipients who expended over $750,000 in 
funding during their fiscal year.
    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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          Average
                                               Number of      Number of       Total      burden per     Total
                  Form name                   respondents   responses per   responses     response      burden
                                                             respondent                  (in hours)     hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Provider Relief Bureau Commercial Audit            21,000               1       21,000         0.75       15,750
 Reporting Portal...........................
Delinquent Audit Follow-up Attestation......       21,000               2       42,000         0.25       10,500
Questioned Cost Attestation.................        7,000              10       70,000         5.00      350,000
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................       49,000  ..............      133,000  ...........      376,250
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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. 2024-09466 Filed 5-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P