[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31243-31244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11657]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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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

[[Page 31244]]

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 July 18, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14A39, 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 [email protected] 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: The Teaching Health Center 
Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program Eligible Resident/Fellow 
FTE Chart OMB 0915-0367--REVISION

    Abstract: The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education 
(THCGME) Program, Section 340H of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, 
was established by Section 5508 of Public Law 111-148. Public Law 114-
10, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) 
provided continued funding for the THCGME Program. The THCGME Program 
awards payment for both direct and indirect expenses to support 
training for primary care residents in community-based ambulatory 
patient care settings. The THCGME Program Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE 
Chart, published in the THCGME Funding Opportunity Announcements 
(FOAs), is a means for determining the number of eligible resident/
fellow full-time equivalents (FTEs) in an applicant's primary care 
residency program. The current THCGME Program Eligible Resident/Fellow 
FTE Chart received OMB clearance on September 16, 2013. HRSA is 
revising the chart to provide clearer projections over a longer period 
of time.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The THCGME Program 
Eligible Resident/Fellow FTE Chart requires applicants to provide data 
related to the size and/or growth of the residency program over 
previous academic years, the number of residents enrolled in the 
program during the baseline academic year, and a projection of the 
program's proposed expansion over the next 5 academic years. It is 
imperative that applicants complete this chart and provide evidence of 
a planned expansion, as per the statute, THCGME funding may only be 
used to support an expanded number of residents in a residency program 
or to establish a new residency training program. Utilization of a 
chart to gather this important information has decreased the number of 
errors in the eligibility review process resulting in a more accurate 
review and funding process. In the proposed revisions, the content of 
the information collected has not changed; however, the order in which 
the information is presented on the chart has been modified to provide 
clearer projections over a longer period of time. This extended time 
frame would allow programs the flexibility to project the variations 
that occur during the natural expansion and scaling up of residency 
programs. This would better equip HRSA to make more accurate future 
funding projections.
    Likely Respondents: Teaching Health Centers applying for THCGME 
funding through a THCGME FOA, which may include new applicants and 
existing awardees.
    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.
    Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours:

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                                                                                      Average
                                     Number of       Number of         Total        burden per     Total burden
            Form name               respondents    responses per     responses     response  (in       hours
                                                    respondent                        hours)
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Teaching Health Center GME                    90               1              90             0.5              45
 Program Eligible Resident/
 Fellow FTE Chart...............
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    Total.......................              90  ..............              90  ..............              45
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    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.

Jason E. Bennett,
Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2016-11657 Filed 5-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P