Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request; Information Collection Request Title; Black Lung Clinics Program Performance Measures; OMB No. 0915-0292, Extension

AGENCY:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 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 must be received no later than May 6, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to paperwork@hrsa.gov or mail the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N136B, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 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 Lisa Wright-Solomon, 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: Black Lung Clinics Program Performance Measures, OMB No. 0915-0292—Extension.

Abstract: HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy conducts an annual data collection of user information for the Black Lung Clinics Program, which has been ongoing with OMB approval since 2004. The purpose of the Black Lung Clinics Program is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with occupationally-related coal mine dust lung disease through the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of active, inactive, retired, and/or disabled coal miners. Collecting this data provides HRSA with information on how well each grantee is meeting the needs of these miners in their communities.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Data from the annual report provides quantitative information about the clinics, specifically: (a) The characteristics of the patients they serve (gender, age, disability level, and occupation type); (b) the characteristics of services provided (medical encounters, non-medical encounters, benefits counseling, and outreach); and (c) the number of patients served. This assessment enables HRSA to provide data required by Congress under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. It also ensures that funds are effectively used to provide services that meet the target population needs. HRSA does not plan to make any changes to the performance measures at this time.

Likely Respondents: Black Lung Clinics Program Grantees.

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 ICR 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.