[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1424-1426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00383]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30Day-16-15ADW]
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted
the following information collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public
and affected agencies.
Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a)
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the
accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or
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other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses; and (e) Assess information collection costs.
To request additional information on the proposed project or to
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Written comments and/or
suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be
directed to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and
Budget, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written
comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.
Proposed Project
Employer Perspective of an Insurer-Sponsored Wellness Grant--New--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) is to promote safety and health at work for all people
through research and prevention. Under Public Law 91-596, sections 20
and 22 (Section 20-22, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970),
NIOSH has the responsibility to conduct research to advance the health
and safety of workers. In this capacity, NIOSH proposes to conduct a
study among employers in Ohio insured by the Ohio Bureau of Workers'
Compensation (OHBWC) to: (1) Assess the effectiveness and cost-benefit
of an intervention that funds workplace wellness programs and (2)
understand the impact of integrating of wellness with traditional
occupational safety and health (OSH) programs.
Work-related injuries and illnesses are common among US workers and
result in pain, disability, and substantial cost to workers and
employers. A recent, comprehensive analysis of the economic burden of
work-related injuries and illnesses estimated that in 2007, alone,
medical and indirect costs for work-related injuries and illnesses were
$250 billion. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were
4,609 occupational fatalities in 2011 and approximately 2 million work-
related injuries and illnesses that involved some lost work in 2010.
Workers' health is affected not only by workplace safety and health
hazards but also workers' own health behaviors. Reflecting this, two
different, yet, complementary approaches exist in the workplace: OSH
programs and wellness programs. Both types of programs aim to improve
worker health and reduce costs to employers, workers' compensation (WC)
insurers, and society. Since 2004, NIOSH has advocated an approach that
coordinates wellness programs with OSH programs because emerging
evidence suggests that integrating these two fields may have a
synergistic effect on worker safety and health.
NIOSH has established an intramural program for protecting and
promoting Total Worker Health\TM\. The NIOSH Total Worker Health\TM\
Cross-Sector Program promotes the integration of health and safety
protection with health and wellness promotion through research,
interventions, partnerships, and capacity building to meet the needs of
the 21st century workforce. The proposed project addresses three
priority goals of the NIOSH Total Worker Health\TM\ Program: (1)
Investigate the costs/benefits associated with comprehensive,
coordinated work-based health protection/health promotion
interventions, (2) improve the understanding of how the work
environment influences the effectiveness of health programs and
identify opportunities for workplace interventions to prevent, control,
recognize and manage common chronic conditions, and (3) conduct
scientific research that more holistically investigates organizational
and worker health and safety outcomes associated with emerging issues
and addresses gaps in knowledge in the health protection/health
promotion field.
There is a need for research to demonstrate a `business case' for
both wellness programs and integrated OSH-wellness programs and
identify OSH organizational and management policies, programs and
practices that effectively reduce work-related injuries, illnesses,
disabilities and WC costs. To date, small employers have been largely
ignored in these areas and many studies have focused on the
manufacturing industry. Real-world examples of effective interventions
that apply to employers of all sizes and industries will ultimately
improve workers' health and safety.
For the current study, NIOSH and OHBWC are collaborating on a
project to determine the effectiveness and economic return of the
Workplace Wellness Grant Program (WWGP) and to understand the impact of
integrating of wellness with traditional OSH programs. In early 2012
OHBWC took steps to integrate wellness and OSH programs by launching
the WWGP, in which an estimated 400 (currently 321) employers and
13,000 employees will be provided a total of $4 million in funds over
four years to implement wellness programs.
The majority of the study aims will be accomplished through
secondary analysis of pre- and post-intervention data being collected
by OHBWC and shared with NIOSH. For the overall study, data for
participating employers will include aggregate health risk appraisal
data; aggregate biometric data; turnover data; health care utilization
costs; information about occupational safety and health, wellness, and
integrated occupational safety and health-wellness program elements;
OHBWC WWGP expense records; yearly WC claims and cost data; data that
details employer participation in other OHBWC programs; industry codes,
and employer size. For the annual case study verification interviews, a
sample of no more than 50 employers will be selected among grantees for
1-2 brief phone calls to confirm responses on an annual survey
administered by OHBWC. Therefore, up to 100 key informants may be
contacted if we do not speak to the same person each time, as reflected
in the Estimated Annualized Burden table below.
In addition, NIOSH will supplement the cost data extracted from
existing sources with information collected through in-depth, semi-
structured interviews with no more than 25, randomly selected,
participating employers. Data gathered from these employer interviews
are critical to compute ratios of total savings to total costs for the
grant-supported wellness programs from the perspective of the
participating employers.
NIOSH will ask key informant from the employer a series of
questions that will be used to estimate direct and indirect costs that
were not directly funded by the WWGP during and after the grant funding
period. This will be accomplished by collecting as detailed information
as possible about the employer's wellness program and occupational and
safety program costs. Topics will include questions about: The timeline
and confirmation of grant funding, non-grant funds used for wellness
program costs after receiving the first grant, and other questions
about their wellness program.
The results of these interview-supplemented case studies will be
used to estimate the proportion by which total employer costs exceed
the cost of the primary wellness program vendor, as well as the
proportion of these costs attributable to establishing the program in
the first year versus operating the program in subsequent years. These
estimates will be applied to generate total employer costs for all of
the WWGP recipients, with sensitivity analysis based on the observed
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variability of employer costs in the case studies.
If the WWGP is effective at improving worker health, reducing WC
claims and demonstrating a positive economic return, then other
employers and insurance carriers may develop similar programs and drive
the optimization of integrated OSH-wellness approaches. NIOSH expects
to complete data collection in 2017. It is estimated that a maximum of
100 individuals will be interviewed (up to 50 for the semi-structured
economic interviews and up to 100 for the annual case study
verification interviews). The hour-burden estimates include the time
for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering
and maintaining the data needed, and participating in the interview.
There are no costs to interviewees other than their time. The total
estimated annual burden hours are 150.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Average
Number of Number of burden per
Type of respondents Form name respondents responses per response (in
respondent hrs.)
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Wellness Program Coordinators...... Employers interview on cost 25 1 2
of wellness and
occupational safety and
health program.
Occupational Safety and Health Employers interview on cost 25 1 2
Specialists. of wellness and
occupational safety and
health program.
The person in charge of the Annual case study 100 1 30/60
employer's wellness program. verification interview.
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Leroy A. Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2016-00383 Filed 1-11-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P