[Federal Register: June 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 39483-39484]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jn04-79]
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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 (ARHQ) to request the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to allow the proposed information
collection project: 2004-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--
Insurance Component (MEPS-IC). In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the pubic
to comment on this proposed information collection.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 30, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Cynthia McMichael,
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Room 5202,
Rockville, MD 20850.
Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection
instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be
obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia McMichael, AHRQ Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1651.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
2004-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance Component (MEPS-
IC).
The MEPS-IC, an annual survey of the characteristics of employer-
sponsored health insurance, was first conducted by AHRQ in 1997 for the
calendar year 1996. The survey has since been conducted annually for
calendar years 1997 through 2003. AHRQ proposes to continue this annual
survey of establishments for calendar years 2004 through 2006. The
survey data for calendar year 2004 will be collected in 2005. Likewise,
calendar year 2005 will be collected in 2006 and calendar year 2006
data in 2007. The survey will collect information from both public and
private employers.
This survey will be conducted for AHRQ by the Bureau of the Census
using a sample comprised of:
1. An annual sample of employers selected from Census Bureau lists
of private sector employers and governments (known as the List Sample),
and
2. An every fourth year sample of employers identified by
respondents to the MEPS-Household Component (MEPS-HC) for the same
calendar year (known as the Household Sample). The MEPS-HC is an annual
household survey designed to collect information concerning health care
expenditures and related data for individuals. This sample is next
scheduled to be collected for the 2006 survey year.
Data to be collected from each employer will include a description
of the business (e.g., size, industry) and descriptions of health
insurance plans available, plan enrollments, total plan costs and costs
to employees.
Data Confidentiality Provisions
MEPS-IC List Sample data confidentiality is protected under the
U.S. Census Bureau confidentiality statute, Section 9 of Title 13,
United States Code. MEPS-IC Household Sample data confidentiality is
protected under sections 308(d) and 924(c) of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 242m and 42 U.S.C. 299c-3(c)).
Section 308(d), the confidentiality statute of the National Center
for Health Statistics, is applicable because the MEPS-HC sample is
derived from respondents of an earlier NCHS survey. Section 924(c), the
confidentiality statute of AHRQ, applies to all data collected for
research that is supported by AHRQ. All data products listed below must
fully comply with the data confidentiality statute under which the raw
data was collected as well as any additional confidentiality provisions
that apply.
Data Products
Data will be produced in three forms: (1) Files derived from the
Household Sample, which can be linked back to other information from
household respondents in the MEPS-HC, will be available to researchers
at the AHRQ Research Data Center; (2) files containing employer
information from the List Sample will be available for use by
researchers at the Census Bureau's Research Data Centers; and (3) a
large compendium of tables of estimates, also based on List Sample
data, will be produced and made available on the AHRQ website. These
tables will contain descriptive, but non-identifiable statistics, such
as, numbers of establishments offering health insurance, average
premiums, average contributions, total enrollments, numbers of self
insured establishments and other related statistics for a large number
of population subsets defined by firm size, state, industry and
establishment characteristics, such as, age, profit/nonprofit status
and union/non-union.
The data are intended to be used for purposes such as:
Generating national and State estimates of employer health
insurance offerings;
Producing estimates to support the Bureau of Economic
Analysis and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in their
production of health care expenditure estimates for the National Health
Accounts and the Gross Domestic Product;
Producing national and State estimates of spending on
employer-sponsored health insurance to study the
[[Page 39484]]
results of national and State health care policies;
Supply data for modeling the demand for health insurance;
and
Providing data on health plan choices, costs, and benefits
that can be linked back to households' use of health care resources in
the MEPS-HC for studies of the consumer health insurance selection
process.
These data provide the basis for researchers to address important
questions for employers and policymakers alike.
Method of Collection
The data will be collected using a combination of modes. The Census
Bureau's first contact with employers will be made by telephone. This
contact will provide information on the availability of health
insurance from that employer and essential persons to contact. Based
upon this information, Census will mail a questionnaire to the
employer.
In order to assure high response rates, Census will follow-up with
a second mailing after an interval of approximately 30 working days,
followed by a telephone call to collect data from those who have not
responded by mail.
As part of this process, for larger respondents with high burdens,
such as State employers and very large firms, we will, if needed,
perform personal visits and do customized collection, such as,
acceptance of data in computerized formats and use of special forms.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
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Estimated time Estimated Estimated
Survey years Annual number per respondent total annual annual cost to
of respondents in hours burden hours the government
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2004............................................ 34,507 .6 19,708 $8,800,000
2005............................................ 34,507 .6 19,708 9,138,000
2006............................................ 39,791 .6 23,550 10,660,000
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Request for Comments
In accordance with the above cited Paperwork Reduction Act
legislation, comments on AHRQ's 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 the AHRQ, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the AHRQ's estimate of the
burden (including hours and costs) 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 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: June 23, 2004.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 04-14734 Filed 6-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M