[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56585-56586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22214]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative 
Feedback on Agency Service Delivery

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the 
process to seek feedback from the public on service delivery, AHRQ [has 
submitted a Generic Information Collection Request (Generic ICR): 
``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on 
Agency Service Delivery,'' to OMB for approval under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.).
    This proposed information collection was previously published in 
the Federal Register on June 4th 2014 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 October 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, 
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information, 
please contact: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 
427-1477, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback 
on Agency Service Delivery.
    Abstract: The information collection activity will gamer 
qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely 
manner, in accordance with the Administration's commitment to improving 
service delivery. By qualitative feedback we mean information that 
provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but which is not 
based on statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can 
be generalized to the population of study. This feedback will provide 
insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and 
expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service, or focus 
attention on areas where communication, training or changes in 
operations might improve delivery of products or services. These 
collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and actionable 
communications between the Agency and its customers and stakeholders. 
It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the improvement 
of program management. The current clearance was approved on July 24th, 
2011 (OMB Control Number 0935-0179) and will expire on July 31st, 2014.
    Feedback collected under this generic clearance will provide useful 
information, but it will not yield data that can be generalized to the 
overall population. This type of generic clearance for qualitative 
information does not apply to quantitative information collections that 
are designed to yield reliable results, such as monitoring trends over 
time or documenting program performance. Such data uses require more 
rigorous

[[Page 56586]]

designs that address: The target population to which generalizations 
will be made, the sampling frame, the sample design (including 
stratification and clustering), the precision requirements or power 
calculations that justify the proposed sample size, the expected 
response rate, methods for assessing potential non-response bias, the 
protocols for data collection, and any testing procedures that were or 
will be undertaken prior fielding the study. Depending on the degree of 
influence the results are likely to have, such collections may still be 
eligible for submission for other generic mechanisms that are designed 
to yield quantitative results.
    Below we provide AHRQ's projected average annual estimates for the 
next three years:
    Current Actions: New collection of information.
    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals and Households, Businesses and 
Organizations, State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Average Expected Annual Number of activities: 10.
    Respondents: 10,900.
    Annual responses: 10,900.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request.
    The total number of respondents across all 10 activities in a given 
year is 10,900.
    Average minutes per response: 19.
    Burden hours: 3,452.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid Office of Management and Budget control number.

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 health care research and 
health care 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: September 11, 2014.
Richard Kronick,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-22214 Filed 9-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M