[Federal Register: October 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 202)]
[Notices]
[Page 59292-59293]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19oc07-61]
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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.
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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 renewal of the generic
information collection project: ``Questionnaire and Data Collection
Testing, Evaluation, and Research for the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality.'' 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 information collection.
This proposed information collection was previously published in
the Federal Register on August 15, 2007 and allowed 60 days for public
comment. No 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 November 19, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: AHRQ's OMB Desk
Officer by fax at (202) 395-6974 (attention: AHRQ's desk officer) or by
e-mail at OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov (attention: AHRQ's desk
officer).
Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection
instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be
obtained from AHRQ's Reports Clearance Officer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ, Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
``Questionnaire and Data Collection Testing, Evaluation, and
Research for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.''
AHRQ plans to employ the latest techniques to improve its current
data collections by developing new surveys, or information collection
tools and methods, and by revising existing collections in anticipation
of, or in response to, changes in the healthcare field, for a three-
year period. The clearance request is limited to research on
information collection tools and methods, and related reports and does
not extend to the collection of data for public release or policy
formation.
A generic clearance for this work allows AHRQ to draft and test
information collection tools and methods more quickly and with greater
lead time, thereby managing project time more efficiently and improving
the quality of the methodological data the agency collects.
In some instances the ability to pretest/pilot-test information
collection surveys, tools, and methods, in anticipation of work, or
early in a project, may result in the decision not to proceed with
particular survey activities. This would save both public and private
resources and effectively eliminate or reduce respondent burden.
Many of the tool AHRQ develops are made available to users in the
private sector. The health care environment changes rapidly and
requires a quick response from the agency to provide appropriately
refined tools. A generic clearance for this methodological work will
facilitate the agency's timely development of information collection
tools and methods suitable for use in changing conditions.
It is particularly important to refine AHRQ's tools because they
have a widespread impact. These tools are frequently made available to
help the private sector to improve health care quality by enabling the
gathering of useful data for analysis. They are also used to provide
information about health care quality to consumers and purchasers so
that they can make marketplace choices to influence and improve health
care quality. The current clearance will expire January 31, 2008. This
is a request for a generic approval from OMB to test information
collection instruments and methods over the next three years.
Methods of Collection
Participation in the testing of information collection tools and
methods will be fully voluntary and non-participation will have no
affect on eligibility for, or receipt of, future AHRQ health services
research support or on future opportunities to participate in research
or to obtain informative research results. Specific estimation
procedures, when used, will be described when we notify OMB as to
actual studies conducted under the clearance.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
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Estimated time
Type of research activity Number of per respondent Total burden
respondents (min) hours
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Face-to-Face Interviews................................ 100 60 100
Field Tests (short).................................... 2,400 20 800
Field Tests (long)..................................... 7,600 30 3,800
Lab Experiments........................................ 200 90 300
Focus Groups........................................... 100 60 100
Cognitive Interviews................................... 100 60 100
Totals............................................. 10,500 Not Applicable 5,200
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This information collection will not impose a cost burden on the
respondents beyond that associated with their time to provide the
required data. There will be no additional costs for capital equipment,
software, computer services, etc.
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
Expenses (equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff) will be
incurred by AHRQ components as part of their normal operating budgets.
No additional cost to the Federal Government is anticipated. Any
deviation from these limits will be noted in reports made to OMB with
respect to a particular study or studies conducted under the clearance.
Request for Comments
In accordance with the above-cited Paperwork Reduction Act
legislation, comments on AHRQ's information
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collection are requested with regard to any of the following: (a)
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of AHRQ health care research and health care
information dissemination functions, including whether the information
will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of
burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed collection(s) 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 Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of
public record.
Dated: October 15, 2007.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 07-5156 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]
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