Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement for the opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects [Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13], the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer at (301) 443-1129.

Comments are invited on (a) whether the agency needs to collect the proposed information to properly perform its functions and whether the information has any practical utility; (b) whether the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information is accurate; (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 for respondents (e.g., by using automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology).

Proposed Project: Ryan White CARE Act Dental Reimbursement Program (OMB No. 0915-0151)—Revision

The Dental Reimbursement Program (DRP) under Part F of the Ryan White CARE Act offers grants to accredited dental schools and programs that provide non-reimbursed oral health care to patients with HIV disease. The Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2000 expanded eligibility of this program to accredited schools of dental hygiene, in addition to previously funded schools of dentistry and post-doctoral dental education programs.

HRSA requests clearance to revise the DRP Application as the Dental Services Report that schools and programs will use, either to apply for funding of non-reimbursed costs incurred in providing oral health care to patients with HIV, or to report annual program data. Awards are authorized under section 2692(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 300ff-111(b). The Dental Services Report is intended to collect data in four different areas: program information, patient demographics and services, funding, and training. It also requests applicants to provide narrative descriptions of their services and facilities, as well as their links and collaboration with community-based providers of oral health services.

The primary purpose of collecting this information annually, as part of the Dental Services Report, is to verify eligibility and determine reimbursement amounts for DRP applicants as well as to document the program accomplishments of Community-Based Dental Partnership Program (CBDPP) grant recipients. This information also allows HRSA to learn about (1) the extent of the involvement of dental schools and programs in treating patients with HIV, (2) the number and characteristics of clients who receive CARE Act-supported oral health services, (3) the types and frequency of the provision of these services, (4) the non-reimbursed costs of oral health care provided to patients with HIV, and (5) the scope of grant recipients' community-based collaborations and training of providers. In addition to meeting the goal of accountability to Congress, clients, advocacy groups, and the general public, information collected in the Dental Services Report is critical for HRSA, State and local grantees, and individual providers, to help assess the status of existing HIV-related health service delivery systems.

The reporting burden for reviewing the Dental Services Report Instructions and completing the Report is estimated as:

Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 14-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.