[Federal Register: September 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 183)]
[Notices]
[Page 54403-54405]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19se08-58]
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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: ``Conducting Measurement Activities in Support of the AHRQ
Health IT Initiative.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995, 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 November 18, 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.
[[Page 54404]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
Conducting Measurement Activities in Support of the AHRQ Health IT
Initiative
Over the past 35 years, AHRQ and its predecessor agencies have made
adoption of health information technology (IT) an agency priority. In
addition, AHRQ-supported research has helped to demonstrate the
potential of health IT to enhance health care quality and patient
safety. As the lead federal research agency on the quality, safety,
efficiency, and effectiveness of health care in America, AHRQ plays a
central role in efforts to increase the adoption of health IT.
Consistent with its mission, AHRQ proposes to develop measures of
four indicators of performance of its health IT portfolio, namely:
1. Reduction in medication errors due to adoption of electronic
prescribing systems;
2. The number of persons who can access their medication
information online;
3. The number of clinicians who can electronically access evidence-
based prevention or treatment information; and
4. The number of clinician organizations who have adopted evidence-
based decision support technologies.
While secondary data are available to calculate measures 1, 3 and 4
described above, no national data exist for measure 2. Thus,
this proposed information collection relates to measure 2: The
number of persons who can access their medication information online.
This project is being conducted pursuant to AHRQ's statutory
mandates to conduct and support research, evaluations and initiatives
to advance information systems for health care improvement (42 U.S.C.
299b-3) and to promote innovations in evidence-based health care
practices and technologies by conducting and supporting research on the
development, diffusion, and use of health care technology (42 U.S.C.
299b-5(a)(1)).
Method of Collection
The data will be collected using a random-digit-dial (RDD)
telephone survey of the U.S. adult population. To ensure a
representative geographic distribution of the sample, the total sample
will be allocated to each Census region in proportion to the total
number of adults in each region. The survey will be administered in
both English and Spanish.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
Exhibit 1 presents the estimated annualized burden hours for the
respondents' time to participate in this project. The telephone survey
will be completed by 1,000 respondents and is expected to require 12
minutes to complete. The cognitive pretest interviews, which are used
to refine and validate the survey instrument, will be completed by 18
respondents (9 English-speaking and 9 Spanish-speaking) and are
expected to last one hour. The total burden hours are estimated to be
218 hours.
Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden for the
respondents' time to participate in this project. The total cost burden
is estimated to be $4,205.
Exhibit 1--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of
Data collection Number of responses per Hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
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Telephone Survey................................ 1000 1 12/60 200
Cognitive Pretest Interview..................... 18 1 1 18
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Total....................................... 1018 na na 218
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Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden
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Number of Total burden Average hourly Total cost
Data collection respondents hours wage rate * burden
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Telephone Survey................................ 1000 200 $19.29 $3,858
Cognitive Pretest Interview..................... 18 18 19.29 347
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Total....................................... 1018 218 na 4,205
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* Based upon the mean of the average wages, National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United
States 2006, ``U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.''
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
We are requesting approval for a one-time, one year, data
collection effort. The estimated cost of this data collection is
$310,067, which includes the cost of developing, administering and
analyzing the survey. Exhibit 3 details labor hours, operational
expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff),
and any other expenses that would not have been incurred without this
collection of information.
Exhibit 3. Annual Costs for the Estimate of the Number of Persons Who
Can Access Their Medication Information Online
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Annual cost
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Labor:
1,514 hours plus 42% fringe......................... $123,998
Data collection:
[[Page 54405]]
Interviewer training, sample purchase, survey 30,274
administration, data entry, toll calls.............
Other direct costs:
Computer charge, telephone/fax/teleconference, 28,418
printing and duplication, travel...................
Indirect costs:
Regular overhead, 46.5%; G&A........................ 101,775
Contract Fee............................................ 25,602
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Total............................................... $310,067
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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
AHRQ health care research, quality improvement and 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: September 9, 2008.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E8-21824 Filed 9-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M