[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66424-66427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18192]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

    In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed 
collections of information, SAMHSA will publish periodic summaries of 
proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects 
or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the 
SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer at (240) 276-0361.
    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collections of 
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including leveraging automated data collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: Revision to the Community Mental Health Services 
Block Grant and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery 
Services Block Grant FY 2026-2027 Plan and Report Guide (OMB No. 0930-
0168)

    SAMHSA is requesting approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for a revision of the 2026-2027 Community Mental Health 
Services Block Grant (MHBG) and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, 
and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUPTRS) Application Plan and Report 
Guide.
    Currently, the SUPTRS BG and the MHBG differ on a number of their 
practices (e.g., data collection at individual or aggregate levels) and 
statutory authorities (e.g., method of calculating MOE, stakeholder 
input requirements for planning, set asides for specific populations or 
programs, etc.). Historically, the Centers within SAMHSA that 
administer these block grants have had different approaches to 
application requirements and reporting. To compound this variation, 
states have different structures for accepting, planning, and 
accounting for the block grants and the prevention set aside within the 
SUPTRS BG. As a result, how these dollars are spent and what is known 
about the services and clients that receive these funds varies by block 
grant and by State.
    SAMHSA has conveyed that block grant funds must be directed toward 
four purposes: (1) to fund priority treatment and support services for 
individuals without insurance or who cycle in and out of health 
insurance coverage; (2) to fund those priority treatment and support 
services not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance 
offered through the exchanges and that demonstrate success in improving 
outcomes and/or supporting recovery; (3) to fund universal, selective 
and indicated prevention activities and services that align with 
SAMHSA's six prevention strategies; and (4) to collect performance and 
outcome data to determine the ongoing effectiveness of behavioral 
health prevention, treatment and recovery support services and to plan 
the implementation of new services on a nationwide basis.
    States will need help to meet future challenges associated with the 
implementation and management of an integrated physical health, mental 
health, and addiction service system. SAMHSA has established standards 
and expectations that will lead to an improved system of care for 
individuals with or at risk of mental and substance use disorders. 
Therefore, this application package continues to fully exercise 
SAMHSA's existing authority regarding states, U.S. territories, freely 
associated states, and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians' 
(subsequently referred to as ``states'') use of block grant funds as 
they fully integrate behavioral health services into the broader health 
care continuum.
    Consistent with previous applications, the FY 2026-2027 application 
has required sections and other sections where additional information 
is requested. The FY 2026-2027 application requires states to submit a 
face sheet, a table of contents, a behavioral health assessment and 
plan, reports of expenditures and persons served, an executive summary, 
and funding agreements and certifications. In addition, SAMHSA is 
requesting information on key areas that are critical to the states' 
success in addressing health care equity. Therefore, as part of this 
block grant planning process, states should identify promising or 
effective strategies as well as technical assistance needed to 
implement the strategies identified in their plans for FYs 2026 and 
2027.
    SAMHSA has made changes to the Block Grant Plan and Report 
requirements for FFY 2026 and 2027. These changes are necessary to 
ensure that funds are spent in an appropriate and timely manner. 
Adjustments were made to pre-existing tables in the plan and report.
    Proposed revisions for substance use disorder treatment services in 
the FY 26-27 SUPTRS BG Plan and Report include revisions related to 
removal of stigmatizing language, with the deletion of the term 
'abuse', and replacement with the term `use', per the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2023. The Plan and Report also include the 
universal adoption of 'Recovery Support Services' as a stand-alone 
category for SUPTRS BG Plan and Report tables. These changes affect 
Plan Tables 1, 2b, 4b, and 6b, and Report Tables 1, 2, 4, 6, 7.
    Editorial and minor stylistic changes have been made to tables and 
language. Footnotes have been revised that define the COVID-19 and ARP 
Supplemental Funding expenditure periods, including the addition of 
explicit instructions on the second No Cost Extension (NCE) for the 
COVID-19 funding, and the expiration date for the ARP funding. Finally, 
the SUPTRS BG Report Table 11c has been revised to reflect the Number 
of Persons Admitted to Treatment by Sexual Orientation and Race/
Ethnicity, in a reporting format that is compatible with the format and 
content of the comparable CMHS table for the MHBG.
    Proposed revisions for prevention services in the FY 26-27 SUPTRS 
BG Plan include those revisions that are related to a more intentional 
use of language, with strengthened statements with the addition of 
statistics, and added language to reinforce the interrelatedness 
between mental health and substance use. There is also reinforcement of 
SUPTRS BG primary prevention set-aside funds to support

[[Page 66425]]

universal, selective, and/or indicated substance use prevention 
strategies.
    Updated tables ensure consistency in Tables 5a-5c for both Plans 
and Reports, and updated language for substances in Table 5c. The term 
`abstinence' has been removed from the Prevention National Outcome 
Measures (NOMs) to better reflect current terminology. Report Tables 31 
and 32 have been combined into a new Report Table 31, which reduces 
burden for grantees and removes redundant, obsolete reporting 
requirements. Gender categories in Table 31 have been updated to align 
with CSAT gender categories.
    On the MHBG portion of the Plan, the changes are the addition of 
one planning table--MHBG Plan Table 4a: State Agency Planned Budget for 
MHBG and the addition of a new section to the Environmental Factors and 
Plan section--Uniform Reporting System and Mental Client-Level Data 
(MH-CLD)/Mental Health Treatment Episode Data Set (MH-TEDS). Minor 
revisions were made for clarification to other sections.
    On the MHBG report, the only changes are the addition of one new 
table (Table 4B) and the addition of data definitions in the appendix. 
The additional tables should not require excessive effort as all data 
will already be collected by the states for the additional funding 
efforts.
    While the statutory deadlines and block grant award periods remain 
unchanged, SAMHSA encourages states to turn in their application as 
early as possible to allow for a full discussion and review by SAMHSA. 
Applications for the MHBG-only are due no later than September 1, 2025. 
The application for SUPTRS BG-only is due no later than October 1, 
2025. A single application for MHBG and SUPTRS BG combined is due no 
later than September 1, 2025.

Estimates of Annualized Hour Burden

    The estimated annualized burden for the uniform application will 
remain 33,493 hours since most revisions have been made for 
clarification and the combining of tables will not change the burden. 
Burden estimates are broken out in the following tables showing burden 
separately for Year 1 and Year 2. Year 1 includes the estimates of 
burden for the uniform application and annual reporting. Year 2 
includes the estimates of burden for the recordkeeping and annual 
reporting. The reporting burden remains constant for both years.

                                            Table 1--Estimates of Application and Reporting Burden for Year 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Authorizing                                                              Number of       Number of
                                    legislation        Authorizing        Implementing       Number of     responses per     hours per      Total hours
                                     SUPTRS BG       legislation MHBG      regulation       respondents        year          response
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services (SUPTRS BG) and Community Mental Health Services (MHBG) Block Grant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting:.....................  Standard Form and  .................  .................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                  Content.
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  .................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                  32(a).
SUPTRS BG......................  Annual Report....  .................  .................  ..............  ..............  ..............          11,190
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  45 CFR 96.122(f).              60               1  ..............  ..............
                                  52(a).
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-30- .................  .................               5               1  ..............  ..............
                                  b.
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  45 CFR 96.134(d).              60               1  ..............  ..............
                                  30(d)(2).
MHBG...........................  Annual Report....  .................  .................  ..............  ..............  ..............          11,003
                                 .................  42 USC Sec.        .................              59               1  ..............  ..............
                                                     300x-6(a).
                                 .................  42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                                     52(a).
                                 .................  42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................              59               1  ..............  ..............
                                                     4(b)(3)B.
                                 State Plan         .................  .................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                  (Covers 2 years).
SUPTRS BG elements.............  42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  45 CFR                         60               1  ..............  ..............
                                  22(b).                                96.124(c)(1).
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-23  .................  45 CFR 96.126(f).              60               1  ..............  ..............
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-27  .................  45 CFR 96.131(f).              60               1  ..............  ..............
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  45 CFR 96.122(g).              60               1             120           7,230
                                  32(b).
MHBG elements..................  .................  42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................              59               1             120           7,109
                                                     1(b).
                                 .................  42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................              59               1  ..............  ..............
                                                     1(b)(2).
                                 .................  42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................              59               1  ..............  ..............
                                                     2(a).
                                 Waivers..........  .................  .................  ..............  ..............  ..............           3,240
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  .................              20               1  ..............  ..............
                                  24(b)(5)(B).
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  45 CFR 96.132(d).               5               1  ..............  ..............
                                  28(d).
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  45 CFR 96.134(b).              10               1  ..............  ..............
                                  30(c).
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  .................               1               1  ..............  ..............
                                  31(c).

[[Page 66426]]

 
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................  .................               7               1  ..............  ..............
                                  32(c).
                                 .................  42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................              10  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                                     32(e).
                                 .................  42 U.S.C. 300x-    .................              10  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                                     2(a)(2).
                                 .................  42 U.S.C 300x-     .................              10  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                                     4(b)(3).
                                 .................  42 U.S.C 300x-     .................               7  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                                     6(b).
Recordkeeping..................  42 U.S.C. 300x-23  42 U.S.C. 300x-3.  45 CFR 96.126(c).           60/59               1              20           1,200
                                 42 U.S.C. 300x-25  .................  45 CFR                         10               1              20             200
                                                                        96.129(a)(13).
                                 42 U.S.C 300x-65.  .................  42 CFR Part 54...              60               1              20           1,200
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Combined Burden............  .................  .................  .................  ..............  ..............  ..............          42,373
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report

300x-52(a)--Requirement of Reports and Audits by States--Report
300x-30(b)--Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Regarding State Expenditures--
Exclusion of Certain Funds (SUPTRS BG)
300x-30(d)(2)--MOE--Noncompliance--Submission of Information to 
Secretary (SUPTRS BG)

State Plan--SUPTRS BG
300x-22(b)--Allocations for Women
300x-23--Intravenous Substance Abuse
300x-27--Priority in Admissions to Treatment
300x-29--Statewide Assessment of Need
300x-32(b)--State Plan

State Plan--MHBG
42 U.S.C. 300x-1(b)--Criteria for Plan
42 U.S.C. 300x-1(b)(2)--State Plan for Comprehensive Community Mental 
Health Services for Certain Individuals--Criteria for Plan--Mental 
Health System Data and Epidemiology
42 U.S.C. 300x-2(a)--Certain Agreements--Allocations for Systems 
Integrated Services for Children

Waivers--SUPTRS BG
300x-24(b)(5)(B)--Human Immunodeficiency Virus--Requirement regarding 
Rural Areas
300x-28(d)--Additional Agreements
300x-30(c)--MOE
300x-31(c)--Restrictions on Expenditure of Grant--Waiver Regarding 
Construction of Facilities
300x-32(c)--Certain Territories
300x-32(e)--Waiver amendment for 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1927

Waivers--MHBG
300x-2(a)(2)--Allocations for Systems Integrated Services for Children
300x-6(b)--Waiver for Certain Territories

Recordkeeping

300x-23--Waiting list
300x-25--Group Homes for Persons in Recovery from Substance Use 
Disorders
300x-65--Charitable Choice

                        Table 2--Estimates of Application and Reporting Burden for Year 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of       Number of
                                                     Number of     responses per     hours per      Total hours
                                                    respondent         year          response
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting:
    SUPTRS BG...................................              60               1             187          11,220
    MHBG........................................              59               1             187          11,033
Recordkeeping...................................           60/59               1              40           2,360
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Combined Burden.........................  ..............  ..............  ..............          24,613
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The total annualized burden for the application and reporting is 
33,493 hours (42,373 + 24,613 = 66,986/2 years = 33,493).
    Link for the application: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/block-grants.

[[Page 66427]]

    Send comments to SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 5600 Fisher 
Lane, Room 15E45, Rockville, MD 20852 OR email him a copy at 
[email protected]. Written comments should be received by 
October 15, 2024.

Alicia Broadus,
Public Health Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2024-18192 Filed 8-14-24; 8:45 am]
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