Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request

AGENCY:

Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

DATES:

Comments on this Information Collection Request must be received no later than July 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to paperwork@hrsa.gov or mail the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N-39, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, email paperwork@hrsa.gov or call the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer at (301) 443-1984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

When submitting comments or requesting information, please include the information request collection title for reference.

Information Collection Request Title: Data Use Agreement and Supplement for 2014 Health Center Patient Survey.

OMB No.: 0915-xxxx-New.

Abstract: The Health Center Patient Survey (HCPS), sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC), surveys patients who use health centers funded under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. HCPS collects data on health center patients' sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, health behaviors, access to and utilization of health care services, and satisfaction with their health care. Survey results come from in-person, one-on-one interviews with patients and are nationally representative of the Health Center Program patient population. To inform BPHC and HHS policy, funding, and planning decisions, the survey investigated how well HRSA-supported sites meet health care needs of the medically underserved and assessed how patients perceive the quality of their care. HCPS is unique because it focused on comprehensive patient-level data. These and other features of the data will provide researchers and policymakers the capacity to empirically explore policy topics relevant to the Health Center Program using up-to-date information.

Prior to releasing information from the survey, BPHC will request prospective users to complete the “Data Use Agreement” (DUA). BPHC uses DUAs as legal binding agreements when an external entity (e.g., contractor, private industry, academic institution, other federal government agency, or state agency) requests the use of BPHC personally/organizationally identifiable data that is covered by the Privacy Act of 1974. The agreement delineates the confidentiality requirements of the Privacy Act, security safeguards, and BPHC's data use policies and procedures. The DUA will serve as both a means of informing data users of these requirements and a means of obtaining their agreement to abide by these requirements.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Before allowing access to unrestricted data that contains sensitive grantee and patient information that is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, prospective users will submit a signed DUA and describe what proposed research they intend to undertake in using the dataset. A BPHC workgroup will determine whether the project is an appropriate and legitimate use of the data. The criteria to determine admissible projects will include: (1) Relevance of the topic of study to BPHC/HHS policy; (2) feasibility of the project given the parameters described in DUA supplemental; and (3) the proposed end-use of the research that will be undertaken.

Likely Respondents: Prospective researchers in academia, private contractors, and Primary Care Associations/Health Center Program grantee organizations.

Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide the information requested. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for this Information Collection Request are summarized in the table below.

HRSA specifically requests comments on (1) the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.