[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3499-3501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01614]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30Day-26-0976]
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information
collection request titled ``Million Hearts[supreg] Hypertension Control
Champions Challenge'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval. CDC previously published a ``2025 Million
Hearts[supreg] Hypertension Control Champions Challenge'' notice on
June 16, 2025 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.
CDC received two comments related to the previous notice. This notice
serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency
comments.
CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly
interested in comments that:
(a) 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;
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected;
(d) 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 submission of responses; and
(e) Assess information collection costs.
To request additional information on the proposed project or to
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call
(404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Direct
written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in
this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management
and Budget, 725 17th
[[Page 3500]]
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide
written comments within 30 days of notice publication.
Proposed Project
Million Hearts[supreg] Hypertension Control Champions Challenge
(OMB Control No. 0920-0976, Exp. 3/31/2026)--Revision--National Center
for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for men and
women in the United States, among the most costly health problems
facing our nation today, and among the most preventable. Heart disease
and stroke also contribute significantly to disability. High blood
pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the leading causes of
heart disease and stroke. Currently, about 120 million American adults
have high blood pressure but only 27 million or one in four adults with
hypertension have their blood pressure adequately controlled. The costs
of hypertension are estimated at $48.6 billion annually in direct
medical costs.
In September 2011, CDC launched the Million Hearts[supreg]
initiative to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. In
February 2022, CDC launched Million Hearts[supreg] 2027 to continue to
prevent one million heart attacks, strokes, and related health
conditions. In order to achieve this goal, at least 10 million more
Americans must have their blood pressure under control. Million
Hearts[supreg] is working to reach this goal through the promotion of
clinical practices that are effective in increasing blood pressure
control among patient populations. There is scientific evidence that
provides general guidance on the types of system-based changes to
clinical practice that can improve patient blood pressure control, but
additional information is needed to fully understand implementation
practices so that they can be shared and promoted.
In 2012, CDC launched the Million Hearts[supreg] Hypertension
Control Challenge, authorized by Public Law 111-358, the America
Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in
Technology, Education and Science Reauthorization Act of 2010 (COMPETES
Act). The Challenge is designed to help CDC (1) identify clinical
practices and health systems that have been successful in achieving
high rates of hypertension control, and (2) develop models for
dissemination. The Challenge is open to single practice providers,
group practice providers, and healthcare systems. Providers whose
hypertensive population achieves exemplary levels of hypertension
control are recognized as Million Hearts[supreg] Hypertension Control
Champions.
Interested clinicians or practices complete a web-based application
form which collects the minimum amount of data needed to demonstrate
hypertension control among their adult patients, including: (a) Two
point-in-time measures of the clinical hypertension control rate for
the patient population; (b) the size of the clinic population served;
(c) a brief description of the characteristics of the patient
population served and geographic location; and (d) a description of the
sustainable systems and strategies adopted to achieve and maintain
hypertension control rates. The estimated burden for completing the
application form is 30 minutes. CDC scientists or contractors review
each application form and rank applications by reported hypertension
control rate.
In the second phase of assessment, applicants with the highest
preliminary scores are asked to participate in a two-hour data
verification and validation process. The applicant reviews the
application form with a reviewer, describes how information was
obtained from the providers' (or practices') electronic records, chart
reviews, or other sources, and reviews the methodology used to
calculate the reported hypertension control rate. Data verification and
validation is conducted to ensure that all applicants meet eligibility
criteria and assure accuracy of their reported hypertension control
rate according to a standardized method. Applicants must have achieved
a hypertension control rate of at least 80% among their adult patients
aged 18-85 years with hypertension.
Up to 35 finalists who pass the data verification and background
check are selected as Champions. Several Champions participate in a
one-hour, semi-structured interview and provide detailed information
about the patient population served, the geographic region served, and
the strategies employed by the practice or health system to achieve
exemplary rates of hypertension control, including barriers and
facilitators for those strategies. Based on the information collected
for Challenges in 2013 through 2024, CDC recognized a total of 199
public and private health care practices and systems as Million
Hearts[supreg] Hypertension Control Champions. The Champions are
announced annually, approximately six months after the Challenge
application period ends. The current OMB approval for information
collection expires March 31, 2026.
CDC plans to conduct the Million Hearts[supreg] Hypertension
Control Challenge annually through 2027. The 2026 Challenge is planned
to launch in early 2026. The application period will be open for
approximately 30-60 days, with recognition of the 2026 Champions in the
fall of 2026.
The overall goal of the Million Hearts[supreg] initiative is to
prevent one million heart attacks and strokes, and controlling
hypertension is one focus of the initiative. CDC will use the
information collected through the Million Hearts[supreg] Hypertension
Control Challenge to increase widespread attention to hypertension at
the clinical practice level, improve understanding of successful and
sustainable implementation strategies at the practice or health system
level, bring visibility to organizations that invest in hypertension
control, and motivate individual practices to strengthen their
hypertension control efforts. Information collected through the Million
Hearts[supreg] Hypertension Control Challenge will link success in
clinical outcomes of hypertension control with information about
strategies that can be used to achieve similar favorable outcomes so
that the strategies can be replicated by other providers and health
care systems.
OMB approval is requested for three years. CDC requests OMB
approval for an estimated 165 annual burden hours. Participation is
voluntary. There are no costs to respondents other than their time.
[[Page 3501]]
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Average burden
Type of respondents Form name Number of responses per per response
respondents respondent (in hours)
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Clinicians, practices, and healthcare Million Hearts[supreg] 100 1 30/60
systems. Hypertension Control
Champion Application
form.
Finalists............................. Data Verification Form.. 40 1 2
Champions............................. Semi-structured 35 1 1
interview guide.
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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. 2026-01614 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]
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