[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81944-81945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33293]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed information collection
project: ``MEPS Cancer Self Administrated Questionnaire.'' In
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, AHRQ
invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection.
This proposed information collection was previously published in
the Federal Register on November 2nd, 2011 and allowed 60 days for
public comment. No comments were received. The purpose of this notice
is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 30, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: AHRQ's OMB Desk
Officer by fax at (202) 395-6974 (attention: AHRQ's desk officer) or by
email at [email protected] (attention: AHRQ's desk officer).
Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection
instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be
obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by email at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
MEPS Cancer SAQ
The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) is a nationally
representative survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized population
of all ages in the United States that collects comprehensive data on
health care and health care expenditures from all payors (including
private payors, Medicaid, the VA, and out-of-pocket) over a two-year
period. The MEPS has been conducted annually since 1996. The OMB
Control Number for the MEPS is 0935-0118, with an expiration date of
January 31st, 2013. All of the supporting documents for the MEPS can be
downloaded from http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewDocument?ref_nbr=200910-0935-001.
The purpose of this request is to integrate the new self-
administered questionnaire (SAQ) entitled, ``Experiences with Cancer,''
into the MEPS. Once the SAQ is integrated it will be completed by MEPS
participants identified as ever having cancer. The Cancer SAQ will be
included in the MEPS in 2012; it will be subsequently removed from the
MEPS in 2013.
The work is being conducted by AHRQ through its contractor, Westat,
pursuant to AHRQ's statutory authority to conduct and support research
on healthcare and on systems for the delivery of such care, including
the use of surveys to collect data on the cost, use and quality of such
care. 42 U.S.C. 299b-2; 42 U.S.C. 299a(a)(1), (2), (3), and (8).
Method of Collection
MEPS respondents identified as having cancer will be given the
paper questionnaire to complete themselves. If the cancer SAQ
respondent is available at the time of the MEPS interview, we ask that
he/she complete the SAQ and give it to the interviewer before she
leaves the household after completing the MEPS interview. If the cancer
SAQ is not collected before the interviewer leaves the household
(including those cases where the SAQ respondent is not available at the
time of the MEPS interview), he/she will either arrange a time to come
back to pick it up (if it is mutually convenient for the respondent and
interviewer) or we ask that the SAQ be returned in a postage-paid
envelope left at the household.
There are several benefits to administering this SAQ nationally as
a supplement to the MEPS. First, the accompanying oversample of persons
with cancer will improve the cost estimates for patients with this
disease and will allow AHRQ to conduct analysis on the long term costs
of cancer for survivors. Since the survey is about the lasting effects
of cancer and cancer treatments on the lives of those who have been
diagnosed with cancer, the data will also allow research directed at
long-term consequences of cancer and overall medical expenses. Finally,
this activity will allow AHRQ to examine the feasibility of using MEPS
as a vehicle for in depth analysis of other specific conditions. The
questionnaire is being funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
and was developed through a collaboration among the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, NCI, the National Institutes of Health, AHRQ,
the American Cancer Society, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours for
respondents' time to participate in this research. The Cancer SAQ will
be completed by 3,500 persons and is estimated to require 30 minutes to
complete. The total annualized burden is estimated to be 1,750 hours.
[[Page 81945]]
Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden associated
with respondents' time to participate in this research. The total cost
burden is estimated to be $37,363 annually.
Exhibit 1--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Activity Number of responses per Hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEPS Cancer SAQ................................. 3,500 1 30/60 1750
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................................... 3,500 n/a n/a 1750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Total burden Average hourly Total cost
Activity respondents hours wage rate* burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEPS Cancer SAQ................................. 3,500 1,750 $21.35 $37,363
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................................... 3,500 1,750 n/a 37,363
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Based on the mean average hourly rate for all occupations (00-0000), National Compensation Survey:
Occupational Wages in the United States May 2010, ``U.S. Department of labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics''.
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
Exhibit 3 shows the estimated total cost for the Cancer SAQ. Since
the SAQ will only be used once in 2012 the total and annual costs are
identical. The total cost is approximately $1,050,000.
Exhibit 3--Estimated Total and Annualized Cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annualized
Cost component Total cost cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sampling Activities..................... $20,000 $20,000
Interviewer Recruitment and Training.... 0 0
Data Collection Activities.............. 300,000 300,000
Data Processing......................... 600,000 600,000
Production of Public Use Data Files..... 80,000 80,000
Project Management...................... 50,000 50,000
-------------------------------
Total............................... 1,050,000 1,050,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Comments
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ's
information collection are requested with regard to any of the
following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ healthcare research and
healthcare information dissemination functions, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's
estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed
collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information upon the
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of
public record.
Dated: December 21, 2011.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-33293 Filed 12-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M