[Federal Register: December 17, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 242)]
[Notices]
[Page 70271]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17de03-79]
[[Page 70271]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) allow the proposed information collection
project: ``Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Medical Provider Component
(MEPS-MPC) for 2003''. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the
public to comment on this proposed information collection.
This proposed information collection was previously published in
the Federal Register on October 15, 2003 and allowed 60 days for public
comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this notice
is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 16, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Allison Eydt, Human
Resources and Housing Branch, Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, OMB, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC
20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia D. McMichael, AHRQ, Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1651.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
``Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Medical Provider Component
(MEPS-MPC) for 2003''.
The MEPS-MPC is a survey of hospitals, physicians and other medical
providers. The purpose of this survey is to supplement and verify the
information provided by respondent households participating in the
household component of the MEPS (MEPS-HC) about their use of medical
services in the United States.
With the permission of members of the households surveyed in the
MEPS-HC, AHRQ contractor will contact the medical providers of the HC
survey respondents to determine the actual dates of service, the
diagnoses, the services provided, the amount that was charged, the
amount that was paid and the sources of payment. Thus, the MPC is
derived from or is based upon the core survey, MEPS-HC, and will
improve the qualify of the core survey data.
The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC)
conducted in 2003, will provide annual estimates, based upon a national
representative sample, of health care use, expenditures, sources of
payment and insurance coverage, for the U.S. civilian non-
institutionalized population for 2003. Data from medical providers
linked to household respondents in the MEPS Household component for
calendar year 2003, will be collected beginning 2004 and continuing
into the year 2005. MEPS is co-sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS).
Data Confidentiality Provisions
MEPS data confidentiality is protected under the AHRQ and NCHS
Confidentiality statutes, section 308(d) and section 924(c) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m(d) and 42 U.S.C. 299c-
3(c),respectively).
Methods of Collection
The Medical Provider Survey will be conducted predominantly by
telephone, but may include self-administered mail surveys,if requested
by the respondent. The MPC for Calendar year 2003 estimated annual
burden is as follows:
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Average number Number of Average Number Average burden/
Type of provider Number of of patients/ patients/ of events/ event (in Total hours of
respondents provider provider pairs patient minutes) burden
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MPC 2003:
Hospital Office-based............................... 5,095 2.2 11,210 3.2 5 2,977
Doctor.............................................. 16,031 1.3 20,840 3.5 5 6,054
Separately Billing doctor........................... 15,879 1.4 22,230 1.3 5 2,399
Home Health......................................... 505 1.1 555 5.8 5 267
Pharmacy............................................ 7,481 2.6 19,450 10.3 3 10,017
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Total........................................... 44,991 .............. 74,285 .............. .............. 21,714
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Request for Comments
In accordance with the above cited legislation, comments on the
AHRQ information collection are requested with regard to any of the
following:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of functions of AHRQ, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the AHRQ's
estimate of burden (including hours and cost) 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 upon the respondents,
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the request for OMB approval of the proposed
information collection. All comments will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: November 26, 2003.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 03-31198 Filed 12-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M