Federal Register: October 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 202)
DOCID: fr19oc07-61 FR Doc 07-5156
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr19oc07-61
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 19, 2007.
DOCUMENT 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 10413 (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.
SUMMARY:
Reader Aids; ; Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,
SUPPLEMENTAL 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/pilottest 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 nonparticipation 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
Estimated time
Type of research activity Number of per respondent Total burden
respondents (min) hours
FacetoFace 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
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 abovecited 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. 075156 Filed 101807; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 416090M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ, Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 4271477.