Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public Comment Request

AGENCY:

Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with Section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Comments submitted during the first public review of this ICR will be provided to OMB. OMB will accept further comments from the public during the review and approval period.

DATES:

Comments on this ICR should be received no later than December 16, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, including the Information Collection Request Title, to the desk officer for HRSA, either by email to OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov or by fax to 202-395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request a copy of the clearance requests submitted to OMB for review, email the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer at paperwork@hrsa.gov or call (301) 443-1984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Information Collection Request Title: National Health Service Corps Scholar/Students to Service Travel Worksheet.

OMB No. 0915-0278—Extension.

Abstract: Clinicians participating in the HRSA National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program and the Students to Service (S2S) Loan Repayment Program use the online Travel Request Worksheet to receive travel funds from the federal government to visit eligible NHSC sites to which they may be assigned in accordance with the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), section 331(c)(1).

The travel approval process is initiated when an NHSC scholar or S2S participant notifies the NHSC of an impending interview at one or more NHSC-approved practice sites. The Travel Request Worksheet is also used to initiate the relocation process after an NHSC scholar or S2S participant has successfully been matched to an approved practice site in accordance with the PHSA, section 331(c)(3). Upon receipt of the Travel Request Worksheet, the NHSC will review and approve or disapprove the request and promptly notify the scholar or S2S participant, and the NHSC logistics contractor regarding travel arrangements and authorization of the funding for the site visit or relocation.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: This information will facilitate NHSC scholar and S2S clinicians' receipt of federal travel funds that are used to visit high-need NHSC sites. The Travel Request Worksheet is also used to initiate the relocation process after an NHSC scholar or S2S participant has successfully been matched to an approved practice site. This information will be used by the NHSC in order to make travel arrangements for NHSC scholar and S2S clinicians to potential practice sites and to assist them in relocation arrangements once clinicians have secured employment at one of these sites.

Likely Respondents: Clinicians participating in the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the Students to Service Loan Repayment Program

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.