[Federal Register: May 2, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 85)]
[Notices]
[Page 23439-23440]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02my03-26]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Economic Research Service
Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Collect Information
AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub L.
104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR
part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the
Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to request approval for a
new information collection from State officials in the Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC);
local WIC agencies; State Medicaid officials; and Medicaid Managed Care
Organizations (MCO).
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 7,
2003, to be assured of consideration.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Requests for additional information
regarding this notice should be directed to Alex Majchrowicz, Food
Assistance Branch, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M St. NW., Washington, DC
20036-5831. Submit electronic comments to ALEXM@ers.usda.gov. or
telephone 202-694-5355.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: An Assessment of the Impact of Medicaid Managed Care on WIC
Program Coordination with Primary Care Services.
OMB Number: Not yet issued.
Expiration Date: Two years from date of issuance.
Type of Request: Approval to collect information from State WIC
officials; local WIC agencies; State Medicaid officials; and Medicaid
Managed Care Organizations (MCO).
Abstract: USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) seeks detailed
information
[[Page 23440]]
that will determine the impact Medicaid managed care may have on the
ability of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) to coordinate services with primary care
providers. The WIC program is a supplemental nutrition program
providing supplemental foods, nutrition education, and referral to
health care services for pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, and
children up to age five. The program is designed to serve as an adjunct
to the health care delivery system for clients with an identified
nutritional/ medical risk. In the past, State and local WIC programs
have worked with the Public Health Departments and other direct primary
care providers to ensure that clients have access to appropriate health
care services. State Medicaid programs have been a major provider of
health care services to these women, infants, and children. However, it
is unknown how the movement of Medicaid programs to managed care has
changed the dynamics of the WIC program's ability to coordinate with
and refer to primary care services. This data collection effort will
ensure that USDA can appropriately plan to assist State WIC programs in
carrying out their mandate to refer clients to primary care services.
Toward this end, data will be collected from State WIC program
officials, State Medicaid officials, selected local WIC agencies, and
Managed Care Organizations (MCO). The data collection period is
estimated to last one month for the State-level programs and an
additional 6 weeks for the local WIC agencies and MCOs. To capture data
about coordination of the WIC and Medicaid programs, a telephone survey
of all WIC and Medicaid programs in the 50 States and District of
Columbia will be conducted to determine the extent to which formal
coordination efforts have been undertaken, and to describe the
agreements, requirements, and incentives included in these efforts. The
survey will be directed at the State WIC and Medicaid directors, or
their designees responsible for coordination efforts.
To obtain more detailed information about coordination efforts and
the manner in which they impact program operations, detailed case
studies will be conducted in six selected States. The first step in the
case study process will be to conduct a telephone survey of local WIC
directors within each of the case study States to discuss how State-
level efforts to coordinate services have been implemented locally.
Second, a series of in-depth site visits will be conducted in (at
maximum) two counties in each of the six States to visit all local WIC
clinics and the MCOs with which they coordinate services. Criteria for
selection of the counties will include such factors as number of
clinics serving a particular geographic area, type of local agency
sponsoring the clinics, caseload size and composition, types of managed
care plans serving the area, and the type of coordination activity
undertaken.
Two specific activities will comprise the in-depth site visits.
Interviews with local clinic service delivery staff--clinic site
managers, nutrition professionals, and WIC clerks--will be conducted.
The results of these interviews will be used to enhance and supplement
the results from the survey of local agency directors. At least three
rural clinic sites will be selected among the six States. Also, in
order to have a complete picture of efforts being made to coordinate
WIC with Medicaid managed care services, interviews with key managed
care plan officials will be conducted in conjunction with the visits to
the local WIC clinics.
Estimated Number of Respondents: A combined total of 218
respondents are necessary to complete the questionnaires. An average of
51 questionnaires will be collected from State WIC officials and an
additional 51 questionnaires from State Medicaid officials.
Questionnaires will also be administered to up to 20 local WIC agencies
in six States (with a maximum of 80 local agencies) and up to six MCOs
in the same six States.
Number of Responses per Respondent: The individuals participating
in the data collection effort will respond only once.
Estimated Total Responses: Maximum total number of responses: 218
(51 State WIC officials, 51 State Medicaid officials, 80 local WIC
agencies, and 36 MCOs.)
Hours per Response: State WIC and Medicaid survey: 30 minutes.
Local WIC agency and MCO: 45 minutes.
Total Reporting Hours: Maximum total reporting hours: 138 hours (51
State WIC offices @ 30 minutes + 51 State Medicaid offices @ 30 minutes
+ 80 local WIC agencies @ 45 minutes + 36 MCOs @ 45 minutes).
Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the agency, including whether the information has
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected;
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. Comments should be sent to the
address stated in the preamble. All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments
will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: April 27, 2003.
Susan Offutt,
Administrator, Economic Research Service, USDA.
[FR Doc. 03-10872 Filed 5-1-03; 8:45 am]
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