[Federal Register: December 28, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 248)]
[Notices]
[Page 73825-73826]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28de07-105]
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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) approve the proposed information collection
project: ``Evaluation of the Effectiveness of AHRQ's Grant-Supported
Research on Healthcare Costs, Productivity, and Market Forces.'' 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.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 26, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz,
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by E-mail at
doris.lefkowitz@ahrq.hhs.gov.
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: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477 or by E-mail at
doris.lefkowitz@ahrq.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
``Evaluation of the Effectiveness of AHRQ's Grant-Supported
Research on Healthcare Costs, Productivity, and Market Forces''
The proposed information collection will support AHRQ's efforts to
systematically review the effectiveness of its grant-supported research
on healthcare costs, productivity, and market forces since the late
1990s. In the first phase of its ongoing evaluation, AHRQ determined it
had funded 149 grants in the area of cost, productivity, organization
and market forces since the late 1990s (Krissik, Lake and Gold, 2007).
Prior to this proposed information collection, no evaluation of these
grants and their effects has been conducted. Collecting such
information through a survey of the 149 grantees will assist AHRQ in
its mission of supporting the synthesis and dissemination of available
scientific evidence for use by patients, consumers, practitioners,
providers, purchasers, policymakers, and educators. The survey will
provide information on grant activities that is not currently
available, including up-to-date information on grantee dissemination
activities and feedback on AHRQ's role in supporting research and
dissemination.
A survey of the universe of grantees who were funded to carry out
the above-described health services research work offers a rational and
scientific approach to collecting data on the impact of AHRQ's research
in this area that is otherwise not currently available. The survey will
be an integral part of AHRQ's overall evaluation, which attempts to
describe the research and the pathways through which research findings
that it has supported are disseminated and used. The survey interviews
principal investigators about their grant research projects and will
capture data that systematically track grant outcomes, providing
information on: (1) The main substantive findings from the work and the
ways they have been communicated; (2) known impacts of the work to
date; (3) linkage of work to other research in the field; (4) grantee
ratings of the support that AHRQ provided before, during, and after
award and how AHRQ services for grantees could be improved; and, (5)
grantee perceptions of AHRQ's role in research funding in this area and
how sponsor interest influences the topics that are addressed.
Method of Collection
A web-based questionnaire will be used to conduct the survey with
AHRQ grantees. A self-administered mode was selected for this survey
because respondents may need to look up information in order to answer
some questions. A self-administered mode allows respondents to complete
the survey at their own pace and schedule. If requested, a hardcopy of
the
[[Page 73826]]
questionnaire will be mailed to the respondent.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
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Number of
Form Name Number of responses per Hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
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AHRQ Grantee Survey............................. 149 1 2 298
Total........................................... 149 na na 298
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Estimated Annualized Respondent Cost Burden
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Number of Total burden Average hourly Total cost
Form Name respondents hours wage rate* burden
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AHRQ Grantee Survey............................. 149 298 $42.98 $12,808
Total........................................... 149 298 na $12,808
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*Based upon the mean of the average wages for teachers (college and university), National Compensation Survey:
Occupational Wages in the United States 2005, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
The proposed information collection is part of a larger evaluation
of the effectiveness of AHRQ's grant-supported research on healthcare
costs, productivity, and market forces, which includes a systematic
review of the research that AHRQ has funded, in-depth interviews with
grantees and grant document review, case studies to assess the effects
and dissemination pathways of market forces research, and preparation
of reports and briefings. The cost to conduct the survey of identified
grantees is $38,962.
Request for Comments
In accordance with the above-cited Paperwork Reduction Act
legislation, comments on the AHRQ information collection proposal 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 Agency, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency'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: December 17, 2007.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 07-6187 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M