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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

NOTICE: NOTICES

ACTION: Agency information collection activities:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 3, 2001.

DOCUMENT 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; ``Medical Expenditure Panel SurveyMedical Provider Component (MEPSMPC) for 2001 and 2002''. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act as amended (see in particular 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection.

SUMMARY: Proposed collection; comment request,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Proposed Project
``Medical Expenditure Panel SurveyMedical Provider Component (MEPSMPC) for 2001 and 2002.''

The MEPSMPC is a survey of hospitals, physicians and other medical providers. The purpose of this survey is
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to supplement and verify the information provided by household respondents in the household component of the MEPS (MEPSHC) about the use of medical services in the United States based on a nationally representative sample.

With the permission of members of the households surveyed in the MEPSHC, AHRQ contractor will contact the medical providers of the HC Survey respondents to determine the actual dates of service, the diagnoses, the services provided, the amount that was charged, the amount that was paid and the source of payment. Thus, the MPC is derived from or is based upon the core survey, (MEPSHC) and will improve the quality of the core survey data.

The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPSHC) to be conducted in 2001 through 2003, will provide annual, nationally representative estimates of health care use, expenditures, sources of payment and insurance coverage, for the U.S. civilian non
institutionalized population for 2001 and 2002 respectively. MEPS is cosponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Center For Health Statistics (NCHS). Data from medical providers linked to household respondents in the MEPS Household component for calendar year 2001, will be collected beginning in 2002 and continuing into the year 2003, data for calendar year 2002 will be collected beginning in 2003 and continue into the year 2004. Data Confidentiality Provisions

MEPS data confidentiality is protected under the AHRQ and NCHS confidentiality statutes, sections 308(d) as well as the section 924(c) of the Public Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m(d) and 42 U.S.C. 299c3(c) respectively).

Method of Collection

The medical provider survey will be conducted predominantly by telephone, but may include selfadministered mail surveys, if requested by the respondent.

The MPC for Calendar year 2001 estimated annual hour burden is as follows:
Average No. of Average No. Average No. burden/ Total hours Type of provider respondents of patients/ of events/ event (in of burden providers patient minutes) Hospital....................................... 5,000 2.15 3.2 5 (.083 2,867 hrs.) Officebased Doctor............................ 23,000 1.15 3.5 5 7,715 Separately Billing Doctor...................... 11,200 1.22 1.3 5 1,480 Home Health.................................... 500 1.0 5.8 5 242 Pharmacy....................................... 9,000 1.75 10.3 3 8,111
Estimated Annual Burden Total................ ........... ........... ........... ........... 20,415 MPC for Calendar Year 2002 Average No. of Average No. Average No. burden/ Total hours Type of provider respondents of patients/ of events/ event (in of burden providers patient minutes) Hospital....................................... 5,000 2.60 3.2 5 (.083 3,467 hrs.) Officebased Doctor............................ 18,000 1.15 3.5 5 6,038 Separately Billing Doctor...................... 13,360 1.22 1.3 5 1,766 Home Health.................................... 600 1.00 5.8 5 290 Pharmacy....................................... 10,700 1.75 10.3 3 9,643
Estimated Annual Burden Total................ ........... ........... ........... ........... 21,204 Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) The necessity of the proposed collections; (b) the accuracy of the Agency'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 record.

Copies of these proposed collection plans and instruments can be obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer (see above).

Dated: September 27, 2001.
John M. Eisenberg,
Director.
[FR Doc. 0124744 Filed 10201; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 416090M

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Cynthia D. McMichael, AHRQ, Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 5943132.