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 August 22, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to paperwork@hrsa.gov or mail the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N-39, 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 Collection Tool for State Offices of Rural Health Grant Program

OMB No. 0915-0322—Extension

Abstract: The mission of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is to sustain and improve access to quality care services for rural communities. In its authorizing language (section 711 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 912]), Congress charged FORHP with administering grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to provide technical assistance and other activities as necessary to support activities related to improving health care in rural areas. In accordance with the Public Health Service Act, section 338J (42 U.S.C. 254r), HRSA proposes to continue the State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) Grant Program—Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and Forms for the Application. The FOA is used by 50 states in preparing applications for grants under the SORH Grant Program of the Public Health Service Act, and in preparing the required report.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: FORHP seeks to continue gathering information from grantees on their efforts to provide technical assistance to clients within their states. SORH grantees submit a Technical Assistance Report that includes: (1) The total number of technical assistance encounters provided directly by the grantee, and (2) the total number of unduplicated clients that received direct technical assistance from the grantee. The Technical Assistance Report is submitted via the HRSA Electronic Handbook no later than 30 days after the end of each 12-month budget period.

Likely Respondents: Fifty State Offices of Rural Health.

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.