[Federal Register: August 21, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 161)]
[Notices]
[Page 48548-48549]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au06-64]
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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, Department of
Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to allow the proposed information
collection project ``Continuance of the Medical Expenditure Panel
Survey--Household and Medical Provider Component through 2009.'' In
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13
(44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this
proposed collection.
This proposed information collection was previously published in
the Federal Register on June 2, 2006 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 September 20, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz,
AHRQ, Reports Clearance Officer, 540 Gaither Road, Suite 5036,
Rockville, MD 20850. Copies of the proposed collection plans, data
collection instruments and specific details of the estimated burden can
be obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ, Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
``Continuance of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Household
and Medical Provider Component through 2009.''
AHRQ has conducted an annual panel survey of U.S. households and
their associated medical providers since 1996 through the Medical
Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS)-Household (MEPS-HC) and Medical
Provider Component (MEPS-MPC). This clearance requests continuance of
this annual survey through 2009. The MEPS is jointly sponsored by the
AHRQ and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The MEPS is
conducted using a sample of households that responded to a prior year's
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) which is sponsored by the NCHS.
The NHIS surveys approximately 40,000 households (110,000 persons) each
year.
The NHIS is used as a sampling frame for the MEPS and other surveys
to increase efficiency of data collection efforts within the Department
of Health and Human Services.
Data to be collected from each household is completed through the
MEPS-HC and includes detailed information on demographics, health
conditions, health status, use of health care services, charges and
payments for medical care, medications, and employment and health
insurance. Data to be collected from medical providers including
hospitals, physicians, and pharmacies is completed through the MEPS-MPC
which supplements and verifies information provided by the households.
With the written permission of household members of the MEPS-HC, the
MEPS-MPC collects actual dates of services, diagnosis and service
codes, as well as charges and payments for services. Subject to AHRQ
NCHS confidentiality statutes, data will be made available through
Agency publications, journals, public use files and Web-based
statistical tools. The data are intended for multiple purposes
including:
Generating national estimates of individual and family
health care use and expenditures, private and public health insurance
coverage, and the availability, cost and scope of private health
benefits among Americans.
Examining the quality of care for Americans, especially
those with chronic conditions.
Examining access to and costs of health care for common
diseases and conditions, health care quality, prescribed medications
and other health issues.
Statisticians and researchers will use these data to make important
generalizations about the civilian non-institutionalized population of
the United States and to conduct research in which the family is the
unit of analysis.
Data Confidentiality
The confidentiality of MEPS data is protected under the NCHS and
AHRQ confidentiality statutes, found in sections 934(c) and 308(d) of
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299c-3(c) and 42 U.S.C. 242m).
[[Page 48549]]
Methods of Collection
AHRQ introduces the study to respondents of the Household Component
through an advance mailing. This first contact will provide the
respondent with information on the importance and uses of the data.
Once consent for participation is established, AHRQ, through its
contractors will conduct five, in person, interviews over a 30-month
time period with each participating household to obtain information to
support two years of national estimates. Computer-assisted personal
interviewing will be used. In uncommon instances, the identical
interview may be administered over the phone. Respondents may also be
asked to complete one or more short, self-administered questionnaires
over the course of the study.
The Medical Provider Component is completed predominately by
telephone and mail. A substantial portion of the pharmacy providers
elect to submit their responses electronically.
MEPS-HC Annual Data Collection Estimated Burden
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Number of House per Burden in
Activity Unit responses response hours
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Jan-July
07 panel interview............. Households................. 7,900 2.0 15,800
06 panel interview............. Households................. 7,650 1.5 11,475
06 panel DCS................... Persons 18+ with diabetes.. 800 0.1 80
05 panel interview............. Households................. 7,400 1.5 11,100
05 panel DCS................... Persons 18+ with diabetes.. 750 0.1 75
Re-interview................... responses.................. 2,065 0.1 207
Aug-Dec
07 Panel interview............. Households................. 7,700 1.5 11,550
07 Panel SAQ................... Persons 18+................ 6,950 x 1.8 0.2 2,502
06 panel interview............. Households................. 7,550 1.5 11,325
06 Panel SAQ................... Persons 18+................ 6,800 x 1.8 0.2 2,448
Reinterview.................... responses.................. 1,373 0.1 138
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Total...................... ........................... .............. .............. 66,700
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MEPS-MPC Annual Data Collection Estimated Burden--Pair Level Calculation
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Number of Response time/
Type patient/ Events per Total events event Burden in
provider pairs pair (minutes) hours
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Hospitals....................... 10,500 3.2 33,600 5 2800
HMO............................. 450 5.0 2250 5 187
SBD............................. 15,500 1.4 21,700 3 1085
Home health..................... 440 5.8 2552 5 212
OBDS............................ 23,210 3.5 81,235 5 6770
Pharmacy........................ 14,410 10.3 148,423 3 7421
Institutions.................... 100 1.2 120 5 10
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.............. .............. .............. .............. 18,485
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MEPS Summary Data Collection Burden 2007-2009
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Unit type 2007 2008 2009 Total
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Households...................................... 66,700 66,700 66,700 200,100
Medical provider................................ 18,485 18,485 18,485 55,455
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Total....................................... 85,185 85,185 85,185 255,555
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Request for Comments
In accordance with the above cited 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 AHRQ, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy
of 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
records.
Dated: August 14, 2006.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 06-7068 Filed 8-17-06; 9:08 am]
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