[Federal Register: April 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 78)]
[Notices]
[Page 18725-18726]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ap09-66]
[[Page 18725]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (0MB) approve the proposed information collection
project: ``Evaluation of Phase I Demonstrations of the Pharmacy Quality
Alliance.'' 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 February 10th, 2009 and allowed 60 days for
public comment. One comment was 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 May 26, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: AHRQ's 0MB Desk
Officer by fax at (202) 395-6974 (attention: AHRQ's desk officer) or by
e-mail at OIRA--submissionomb.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 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@ahrg.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
``Evaluation of Phase I Demonstrations of the Pharmacy Quality
Alliance''
AHRQ proposes to conduct an independent evaluation of five Phase I
demonstrations undertaken by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA). The
PQA launched the five demonstration projects to test the feasibility of
implementing a pharmacy provider report card system, which will be used
to provide feedback to pharmacies on their performance. The goals of
the demonstrations are to obtain feedback from pharmacists on the
credibility of the performance reports and their utility in performance
improvement, and to identify the most efficient and useful ways to
implement a performance-based quality reporting system. The evaluation
will be conducted for AHRQ by its contractor, the CNA Corporation and
Thomas Jefferson Medical College.
The purpose of this evaluation is to identify problems associated
with the implementation of a performance-based quality reporting
system. The evaluation of the Phase I demonstrations will:
Test the feasibility and utility of (1) using 15 PQA
claims-based measures on pharmacy performance and (2) a survey of
consumers about their experience with pharmacy services, which was
developed by the PQA;
Determine the resource (time and cost) requirements for
collecting the data and generating the pharmacy performance reports;
and
Provide a base of knowledge that enables the PQA to
improve the implementation process, increase operational efficiency,
reduce operational costs, and enhance the utility and validity of the
performance measures.
This project is being conducted pursuant to AHRQ's statutory
authority to conduct and support research and evaluations on health
care and on systems for the delivery of such care, including activities
with respect to (1) the quality, effectiveness, efficiency,
appropriateness and value of health care services and (2) quality
measurement and improvement. 42 U.S.C. 299a(a)(l) and (2).
Method of Collection
The evaluation will include the following two data collections: (1)
On-site interviews with key staff from each demonstration project and
(2) a survey of pharmacy staff. The data will be collected to obtain
the following types of information necessary for the evaluation:
Organizational background related to quality measurement,
organizational resources for quality measurement;
Measurement methodology;
Opinions on the performance measures;
The process for disseminating the performance measures;
Incentives and penalties for participation in pharmacy
quality improvement;
Usability of the performance reports;
Future directions for quality measurement in the
organization; and
Respondent characteristics.
On-site interviews with key demonstration participants.
On-site interviews will be conducted with up to six persons at each
of the five demonstration sites. The study will try to interview
representatives from the following job functions: (1) Pharmacy
operations management; (2) clinical pharmacy staff; (3) quality
improvement; (4) utilization management; (5) analytics management
responsible for oversight of performance report analyses; (6) analytics
staff assigned to complete the performance reports; (7) information
technology (IT) staff responsible for developing and/or coordinating
Internet components of the project; and (8) senior management
(executive leadership, i.e., Vice President level and above).
Survey of Pharmacy Staff
A pharmacy staff survey will be developed to yield additional
quantitative data about the demonstration projects. The sample will
consist of practicing pharmacists who are participating in the
demonstration sites and who received one or more of the performance
reports. It will also include field managers and supervisors. At each
of the five sites, up to 100 pharmacy staff members will be sampled,
with an expected response rate of 75 percent, yielding 75 respondents
per site.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours for this one
year data collection. On-site interviews will be conducted with 6 staff
members from each of the 5 demonstration projects and will last about 1
hour and 15 minutes. The survey of pharmacists will be completed by
about 75 staff members from each demonstration project and is estimated
to take 30 minutes to complete. The total estimated annualized burden
is 226 hours.
Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden associated
with the respondents' time to participate in this evaluation. The cost
burden is estimated to be $10,753.
[[Page 18726]]
Exhibit 1--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Form name Number of responses per Hours per Total burden
projects project response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demonstration Staff Interviews.................. 5 6 1.25 38
Survey of Pharmacists........................... 5 * 75 30/60 188
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................................... 10 na na 226
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We expect that some demonstration projects will have fewer than 75 responses, but we are indicating 75
responses here to avoid underestimating the response burden.
Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Form name Number of Total burden hourly wage Total cost
projects hours rate * burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demonstration Staff Interviews.................. 5 38 $47.58 $1,808
Survey of Pharmacists........................... 5 188 47.58 8,945
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................................... 10 226 na 10,753
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Based on the national average wage for pharmacists (29-1051), National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages
in the United States May 2007, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
The estimated total cost to the Federal government for this one
year evaluation is $208,874. Exhibit 3 shows a breakdown of the costs.
Exhibit 3--Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Component Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Developing the interview guide and survey instrument......... $33,905
Preparing 0MB clearance submission........................... 6,704
Site visits to each demonstration............................ 73,368
Analyzing the data from each demonstration site.............. 54,835
Preparing a final report..................................... 40,062
----------
Total.................................................... 208,874
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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: April 15, 2009.
Carol M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E9-9248 Filed 4-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M