82_FR_35350 82 FR 35206 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

82 FR 35206 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 144 (July 28, 2017)

Page Range35206-35208
FR Document2017-15884

This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reapprove the proposed information collection project: ``Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance Component.'' This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2017, and allowed 60 days for public comment. No substantive comments were received; however changes have been made to the burden estimates in Exhibit 1, resulting in an increase of 1,316 burden hours. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 144 (Friday, July 28, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 144 (Friday, July 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35206-35208]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15884]


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 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.

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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) reapprove the proposed information 
collection project: ``Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance 
Component.''
    This proposed information collection was previously published in 
the Federal Register on April 28, 2017, and allowed 60 days for public 
comment. No substantive comments were received; however changes have 
been made to the burden estimates in Exhibit 1, resulting in an 
increase of 1,316 burden hours. The purpose of this notice is to allow 
an additional 30 days for public comment.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 28, 2017.

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:

[[Page 35207]]

Proposed Project

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance Component

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-
3521, AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information 
collection. Employer-sponsored health insurance is the source of 
coverage for 84.4 million current and former workers, plus many of 
their family members, and is a cornerstone of the U.S. health care 
system. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance Component 
(MEPS-IC) measures the extent, cost, and coverage of employer-sponsored 
health insurance on an annual basis. These statistics for private 
industry are produced at the National, State, and sub-State 
(metropolitan area) level. Statistics are also produced for State and 
Local governments.
    This research has the following goals:
    (1) Provide data for Federal policymakers evaluating the effects of 
National and State health care reforms.
    (2) Provide descriptive data on the current employer-sponsored 
health insurance system and data for modeling the differential impacts 
of proposed health policy initiatives.
    (3) Supply critical State and National estimates of health 
insurance spending for the National Health Accounts and Gross Domestic 
Product.
    The MEPS-IC is conducted pursuant to AHRQ's statutory authority to 
conduct surveys to collect data on the cost, use and quality of health 
care, including types and costs of private insurance, 42 U.S.C. 299b-
2(a), and to conduct research on health care, 42 U.S.C. 299a.

Method of Collection

    To achieve the goals of this project, following data collections 
will be implemented for both private sector and state and local 
government employers:
    (1) Pre-screener Questionnaire--The purpose of the Pre-screener 
Questionnaire, which is collected via telephone, varies depending on 
the insurance status of the establishment contacted. Establishment is 
defined as a single, physical location in the private sector and a 
governmental unit in state and local governments. For establishments 
that do not offer health insurance to their employees, the Pre-screener 
Questionnaire is used to collect basic information, such as number of 
employees. For establishments that do offer health insurance, the Pre-
screener Questionnaire collects contact name and address information 
for the person in the establishment best equipped to complete the full 
questionnaire.
    (2) Establishment Questionnaire--The purpose of the mailed 
Establishment Questionnaire is to obtain general information from 
employers that provide health insurance to their employees, including 
total active enrollment in health insurance, other employee benefits, 
demographic characteristics of employees, and retiree health insurance.
    (3) Plan Questionnaire--The purpose of the mailed Plan 
Questionnaire is to collect plan-specific information on each plan (up 
to four plans) offered by establishments. This questionnaire obtains 
information on total premiums, employer and employee contributions to 
the premium, and plan enrollment for each type of coverage offered--
single, employee-plus-one, and family--within a plan. It also asks for 
information on deductibles, copays, and other plan characteristics.
    The primary objective of the MEPS-IC is to collect information on 
employer-sponsored health insurance. Such information is needed in 
order to provide the tools for Federal, State, and academic researchers 
to evaluate current and proposed health policies and to support the 
production of important statistical measures for other Federal 
agencies.

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden

    Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours for the 
respondent's time to participate in the MEPS-IC. The Pre-screener 
questionnaire will be completed by 30,041 respondents and takes 5 
minutes to complete. The Establishment questionnaire will be completed 
by 25,914 respondents and takes 23 minutes to complete. The Plan 
questionnaire will be completed by 22,943 respondents and will require 
an average of 2.5 responses per respondent. Each Plan questionnaire 
takes 11 minutes to complete. The total annualized burden hours are 
estimated to be 22,952 hours.
    Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden associated 
with the respondents' time to participate in this data collection. The 
annualized cost burden is estimated to be $733,776.

                     Exhibit 1--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours for the 2018-2019 MEPS-IC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of
                    Form name                        Number of     responses per     Hours per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prescreener Questionnaire.......................          30,041               1            5/60           2,503
Establishment Questionnaire.....................          25,914               1         * 23/60           9,934
Plan Questionnaire..............................          22,943             2.5           11/60          10,515
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................          78,898              na              na          22,952
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The burden estimate printed on the establishment questionnaire is 45 minutes which includes the burden
  estimate for completing the establishment questionnaire and two plan questionnaires (on average, each
  establishment completes 2.5 plan questionnaires). The establishment and plan questionnaires are sent to the
  respondent as a package and are completed by the respondent at the same time.


                      Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden for the 2018-2019 MEPS-IC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                    Form name                        Number of     Total burden    hourly  wage     Total cost
                                                    respondents        hours          rate *          burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prescreener Questionnaire.......................          30,041           2,503           31.97         $80,021
Establishment Questionnaire.....................          25,914           9,934           31.97         317,590
Plan Questionnaire..............................          22,943          10,515           31.97         336,165
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 35208]]

 
    Total.......................................          78,898          22,952              na         733,776
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Based upon the mean hourly wage for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists occupation code 13-
  1141, at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131141.htm (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

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.

Sharon B. Arnold,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2017-15884 Filed 7-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4160-90-P

35206 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices EXHIBIT 1—ESTIMATED BURDEN HOURS OVER 3 YEARS Number of Number of Hours per Total burden Type of information collection responses per respondents response hours respondent Mail/email * ....................................................................................................... 6,000 1 20/60 2,000 Telephone ........................................................................................................ 600 1 40/60 400 Web-based ....................................................................................................... 3,000 1 10/60 500 Focus Groups .................................................................................................. 1,500 1 2.0 3,000 In-person .......................................................................................................... 600 1 1.0 600 Automated ** .................................................................................................... 1,500 1 1.0 1,500 Cognitive Testing *** ........................................................................................ 600 1 1.5 900 Totals ........................................................................................................ 13,800 na na 8,900 * May include telephone non-response follow-up in which case the burden will not change. ** May include testing of database software, CAPI software or other automated technologies. *** May include cognitive interviews for questionnaire or toolkit development, or ‘‘think aloud’’ testing of prototype Web sites. EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED COST BURDEN OVER 3 YEARS Average Number of Total burden Total cost Type of information collection hourly respondents hours burden wage rate * Mail/email ......................................................................................................... 6,000 2,000 $38.06 $76,120 Telephone ........................................................................................................ 600 400 38.06 15,224 Web-based ....................................................................................................... 3,000 500 38.06 19,030 Focus Groups .................................................................................................. 1,500 3,000 38,06 114,180 In-person .......................................................................................................... 600 600 38.06 22,836 Automated ........................................................................................................ 1,500 1,500 38.06 57,090 Cognitive Testing ............................................................................................. 600 900 38.06 34,254 Totals ........................................................................................................ 13,800 8,900 na 338,734 * Based upon the average wages for 29–000 (Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Occupations), ‘‘National Compensation Survey: Occupa- tional Wages in the United States, May 2016,’’ U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ nat.htm#29-0000. Request for Comments comments will become a matter of 60 days for public comment. No public record. substantive comments were received; In accordance with the Paperwork however changes have been made to the Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ’s Sharon B. Arnold, burden estimates in Exhibit 1, resulting information collection are requested Deputy Director. in an increase of 1,316 burden hours. with regard to any of the following: (a) [FR Doc. 2017–15883 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am] The purpose of this notice is to allow an Whether the proposed collection of BILLING CODE 4160–90–P additional 30 days for public comment. information is necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ health care DATES: Comments on this notice must be research and health care information DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND received by August 28, 2017. dissemination functions, including HUMAN SERVICES ADDRESSES: Written comments should whether the information will have Agency for Healthcare Research and be submitted to: AHRQ’s OMB Desk practical utility; (b) the accuracy of Quality Officer by fax at (202) 395–6974 AHRQ’s estimate of burden (including (attention: AHRQ’s desk officer) or by hours and costs) of the proposed Agency Information Collection email at OIRA_submission@ collection(s) of information; (c) ways to Activities: Proposed Collection; omb.eop.gov (attention: AHRQ’s desk enhance the quality, utility, and clarity Comment Request officer). of the information to be collected; and AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research Copies of the proposed collection (d) ways to minimize the burden of the and Quality, HHS. plans, data collection instruments, and collection of information upon the ACTION: Notice. specific details on the estimated burden respondents, including the use of can be obtained from the AHRQ Reports automated collection techniques or SUMMARY: This notice announces the Clearance Officer. other forms of information technology. intention of the Agency for Healthcare asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES Comments submitted in response to Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: this notice will be summarized and that the Office of Management and Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports included in the Agency’s subsequent Budget (OMB) reapprove the proposed Clearance Officer, (301) 427–1477, or by request for OMB approval of the information collection project: ‘‘Medical email at doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov. Expenditure Panel Survey—Insurance proposed information collection. All SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Component.’’ This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2017, and allowed VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:50 Jul 27, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM 28JYN1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices 35207 Proposed Project conduct research on health care, 42 obtains information on total premiums, U.S.C. 299a. employer and employee contributions to Medical Expenditure Panel Survey— the premium, and plan enrollment for Insurance Component Method of Collection each type of coverage offered—single, In accordance with the Paperwork To achieve the goals of this project, employee-plus-one, and family—within Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501–3521, following data collections will be a plan. It also asks for information on AHRQ invites the public to comment on implemented for both private sector and deductibles, copays, and other plan this proposed information collection. state and local government employers: characteristics. Employer-sponsored health insurance is (1) Pre-screener Questionnaire—The The primary objective of the MEPS– the source of coverage for 84.4 million purpose of the Pre-screener IC is to collect information on employer- current and former workers, plus many Questionnaire, which is collected via sponsored health insurance. Such of their family members, and is a telephone, varies depending on the information is needed in order to cornerstone of the U.S. health care insurance status of the establishment provide the tools for Federal, State, and system. The Medical Expenditure Panel contacted. Establishment is defined as a academic researchers to evaluate current Survey—Insurance Component (MEPS– single, physical location in the private and proposed health policies and to IC) measures the extent, cost, and sector and a governmental unit in state support the production of important coverage of employer-sponsored health and local governments. For statistical measures for other Federal insurance on an annual basis. These establishments that do not offer health agencies. statistics for private industry are insurance to their employees, the Pre- produced at the National, State, and screener Questionnaire is used to collect Estimated Annual Respondent Burden sub-State (metropolitan area) level. basic information, such as number of Exhibit 1 shows the estimated Statistics are also produced for State employees. For establishments that do annualized burden hours for the and Local governments. offer health insurance, the Pre-screener respondent’s time to participate in the This research has the following goals: Questionnaire collects contact name and MEPS–IC. The Pre-screener (1) Provide data for Federal address information for the person in questionnaire will be completed by policymakers evaluating the effects of the establishment best equipped to 30,041 respondents and takes 5 minutes National and State health care reforms. complete the full questionnaire. to complete. The Establishment (2) Provide descriptive data on the (2) Establishment Questionnaire—The questionnaire will be completed by current employer-sponsored health purpose of the mailed Establishment 25,914 respondents and takes 23 insurance system and data for modeling Questionnaire is to obtain general minutes to complete. The Plan the differential impacts of proposed information from employers that questionnaire will be completed by health policy initiatives. provide health insurance to their 22,943 respondents and will require an (3) Supply critical State and National employees, including total active average of 2.5 responses per respondent. estimates of health insurance spending enrollment in health insurance, other Each Plan questionnaire takes 11 for the National Health Accounts and employee benefits, demographic minutes to complete. The total Gross Domestic Product. characteristics of employees, and retiree annualized burden hours are estimated The MEPS–IC is conducted pursuant health insurance. to be 22,952 hours. to AHRQ’s statutory authority to (3) Plan Questionnaire—The purpose Exhibit 2 shows the estimated conduct surveys to collect data on the of the mailed Plan Questionnaire is to annualized cost burden associated with cost, use and quality of health care, collect plan-specific information on the respondents’ time to participate in including types and costs of private each plan (up to four plans) offered by this data collection. The annualized cost insurance, 42 U.S.C. 299b–2(a), and to establishments. This questionnaire burden is estimated to be $733,776. EXHIBIT 1—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS FOR THE 2018–2019 MEPS–IC Number of Number of Hours per Total burden Form name responses per respondents response hours respondent Prescreener Questionnaire .............................................................................. 30,041 1 5/60 2,503 Establishment Questionnaire ........................................................................... 25,914 1 * 23/60 9,934 Plan Questionnaire .......................................................................................... 22,943 2.5 11/60 10,515 Total .......................................................................................................... 78,898 na na 22,952 * The burden estimate printed on the establishment questionnaire is 45 minutes which includes the burden estimate for completing the estab- lishment questionnaire and two plan questionnaires (on average, each establishment completes 2.5 plan questionnaires). The establishment and plan questionnaires are sent to the respondent as a package and are completed by the respondent at the same time. EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST BURDEN FOR THE 2018–2019 MEPS–IC Average asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES Number of Total burden Total cost Form name hourly respondents hours burden wage rate * Prescreener Questionnaire .............................................................................. 30,041 2,503 31.97 $80,021 Establishment Questionnaire ........................................................................... 25,914 9,934 31.97 317,590 Plan Questionnaire .......................................................................................... 22,943 10,515 31.97 336,165 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:50 Jul 27, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM 28JYN1

35208 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST BURDEN FOR THE 2018–2019 MEPS–IC—Continued Average Number of Total burden Total cost Form name hourly respondents hours burden wage rate * Total .......................................................................................................... 78,898 22,952 na 733,776 * Based upon the mean hourly wage for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists occupation code 13–1141, at https:// www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131141.htm (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.) Request for Comments This proposed information collection promoting leadership and frontline staff was previously published in the Federal engagement, close teamwork among In accordance with the Paperwork Register titled ‘‘The AHRQ Safety surgeons, anesthesia providers, and Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ’s Program for Enhancing Surgical Care nurses, as well as enhancing patient information collection are requested and Recovery,’’ on May 18, 2017 and communication and engagement. with regard to any of the following: (a) allowed 60 days for public comment. Interested hospitals will voluntarily Whether the proposed collection of AHRQ did not receive any substantive participate. information is necessary for the proper This project has the following goals: comments. The purpose of this notice is performance of AHRQ health care • Improve outcomes of surgical to allow an additional 30 days for public research and health care information patients by disseminating and comment. dissemination functions, including supporting implementation of evidence- whether the information will have DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 28, 2017. based enhanced recovery practices practical utility; (b) the accuracy of within the CUSP framework. AHRQ’s estimate of burden (including ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: AHRQ’s OMB Desk • Develop a bundle of technical and hours and costs) of the proposed adaptive interventions and associated collection(s) of information; (c) ways to Officer by fax at (202) 395–6974 (attention: AHRQ’s desk officer) or by tools and educational materials to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity support implementation. of the information to be collected; and email at OIRA_submission@ omb.eop.gov (attention: AHRQ’s desk • Provide technical assistance and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the training to hospitals for implementing collection of information upon the officer). enhanced recovery practices. respondents, including the use of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: • Assess the adoption, and evaluate automated collection techniques or Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports the effectiveness of, the intervention other forms of information technology. Clearance Officer, (301) 427–1477, or by among the participating hospitals. Comments submitted in response to email at doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov. This project is being conducted by this notice will be summarized and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AHRQ through its contractor Johns included in the Agency’s subsequent Hopkins University; with subcontractors request for OMB approval of the Proposed Project Westat, and the American College of proposed information collection. All In accordance with the Paperwork Surgeons. The AHRQ Safety Program for comments will become a matter of Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501–3521, Improving Surgical Care and Recovery public record. AHRQ invites the public to comment on is being undertaken pursuant to AHRQ’s Sharon B. Arnold, this proposed information collection. mission to enhance the quality, Deputy Director. The AHRQ Safety Program for appropriateness, and effectiveness of Improving Surgical Care and Recovery health services, and access to such [FR Doc. 2017–15884 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am] is a quality improvement project that services, through the establishment of a BILLING CODE 4160–90–P aims to provide technical assistance to broad base of scientific research and hospitals to help them implement through the promotion of improvements evidence-based practices to improve in clinical and health systems practices, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND outcomes and prevent complications including the prevention of diseases and HUMAN SERVICES among patients who undergo surgery. other health conditions. 42 U.S.C. 299. Agency for Healthcare Research and Enhanced recovery pathways are a constellation of preoperative, Method of Collection Quality intraoperative, and postoperative To achieve the goals of this project the Agency Information Collection practices that decrease complications following data collections will be Activities: Proposed Collection; and accelerate recovery. A number of implemented: Comment Request studies and meta-analyses have (1) Safety Culture Survey. Hospitals demonstrated successful results. In will assess the impact of participation in AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research order to facilitate broader adoption of the project on perioperative safety and Quality, HHS. these evidence-based practices among culture by having their staff members ACTION: Notice. U.S. hospitals, this AHRQ project will who will be part of the enhanced asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES adapt the Comprehensive Unit-based recovery program complete a survey SUMMARY: This notice announces the Safety Program (CUSP), which has been adapted from the AHRQ Surveys on intention of the Agency for Healthcare demonstrated to be an effective Patient Safety Culture (SOPS) at the Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request approach to reducing other patient beginning and end of the program. The that the Office of Management and harms, to enhanced recovery of surgical hospital’s enhanced recovery project Budget (OMB) approve the proposed patients. The approach uses a team will receive their survey results information collection project: ‘‘The combination of clinical and cultural and then debrief their staff on their AHRQ Safety Program for Improving (i.e., technical and adaptive) safety culture and identify opportunities Surgical Care and Recovery.’’ intervention components which include for further improvement. The national VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:50 Jul 27, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM 28JYN1


Document Created: 2017-07-28 03:10:59
Document Modified: 2017-07-28 03:10:59
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesComments on this notice must be received by August 28, 2017.
ContactDoris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 35206 
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