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 ICR should be received no later than July 18, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to paperwork@hrsa.gov or mail the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14A39, 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: The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart OMB 0915-0367—REVISION

Abstract: The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program, Section 340H of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, was established by Section 5508 of Public Law 111-148. Public Law 114-10, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) provided continued funding for the THCGME Program. The THCGME Program awards payment for both direct and indirect expenses to support training for primary care residents in community-based ambulatory patient care settings. The THCGME Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart, published in the THCGME Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), is a means for determining the number of eligible resident/fellow full-time equivalents (FTEs) in an applicant's primary care residency program. The current THCGME Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart received OMB clearance on September 16, 2013. HRSA is revising the chart to provide clearer projections over a longer period of time.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The THCGME Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart requires applicants to provide data related to the size and/or growth of the residency program over previous academic years, the number of residents enrolled in the program during the baseline academic year, and a projection of the program's proposed expansion over the next 5 academic years. It is imperative that applicants complete this chart and provide evidence of a planned expansion, as per the statute, THCGME funding may only be used to support an expanded number of residents in a residency program or to establish a new residency training program. Utilization of a chart to gather this important information has decreased the number of errors in the eligibility review process resulting in a more accurate review and funding process. In the proposed revisions, the content of the information collected has not changed; however, the order in which the information is presented on the chart has been modified to provide clearer projections over a longer period of time. This extended time frame would allow programs the flexibility to project the variations that occur during the natural expansion and scaling up of residency programs. This would better equip HRSA to make more accurate future funding projections.

Likely Respondents: Teaching Health Centers applying for THCGME funding through a THCGME FOA, which may include new applicants and existing awardees.

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.

Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours:

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.