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) Onsite 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:

Onsite interviews with key demonstration participants.

Onsite 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. Onsite 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.
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Exhibit 1Estimated 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 2Estimated 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 (291051), 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 3Estimated 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 abovecited 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. E99248 Filed 42309; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 416090M

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 4271477, or by email at
doris.lefkowitz@ahrg.hhs.gov.