Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 6630-6631 [E9-2679]
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6630
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 10, 2009 / Notices
is not an admission of liability on the
part of the Respondent. Respondent
neither admits nor denies ORI’s finding
of scientific misconduct. Respondent
acknowledges that original data relating
to the above referenced falsified figures
are missing.
Dr. Tanaka has voluntarily agreed, for
a period of three (3) years, beginning on
January 14, 2009:
(1) To exclude himself from any
contracting or subcontracting with any
agency of the United States Government
and from eligibility or involvement in
nonprocurement programs of the United
States Government referred to as
‘‘covered transactions’’ pursuant to
HHS’ Implementation (2 CFR Part 376 et
seq.) of OMB Guidelines to Agencies on
Government wide Debarment and
Suspension (2 CFR, Part 180); and
(2) To exclude himself from serving in
any advisory capacity to PHS, including
but not limited to service on any PHS
advisory committee, board, and/or peer
review committee, or as a consultant.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Director, Division of Investigative
Oversight, Office of Research Integrity,
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750,
Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453–8800.
Chris B. Pascal,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. E9–2720 Filed 2–9–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150–31–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
erowe on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
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:
‘‘Evaluation of Phase I Demonstrations
of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance.’’ In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–
13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ
invites the public to comment on this
proposed information collection.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by April 13, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz,
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:17 Feb 09, 2009
Jkt 217001
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by email at doris.lefkowitz@ahrq.hhs.gov.
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
e-mail at doris.lefkowitz@ahrq.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Evaluation of Phase I Demonstrations of
the Pharmacy Quality Alliance
AHRQ proposes to conduct an
independent evaluation of five Phase I
demonstrations undertaken by the
Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA). The
PQA launched the five demonstration
projects to test the feasibility of
implementing a pharmacy provider
report card system, which will be used
to provide feedback to pharmacies on
their performance. The goals of the
demonstrations are to obtain feedback
from pharmacists on the credibility of
the performance reports and their utility
in performance improvement, and to
identify the most efficient and useful
ways to implement a performance-based
quality reporting system. The evaluation
will be conducted for AHRQ by its
contractor, the CNA Corporation and
Thomas Jefferson Medical College.
The purpose of this evaluation is to
identify problems associated with the
implementation of a performance-based
quality reporting system. The evaluation
of the Phase I demonstrations will:
• Test the feasibility and utility of (1)
using 15 PQA claims-based measures on
pharmacy performance and (2) a survey
of consumers about their experience
with pharmacy services, which was
developed by the PQA;
• Determine the resource (time and
cost) requirements for collecting the
data and generating the pharmacy
performance reports; and
• Provide a base of knowledge that
enables the PQA to improve the
implementation process, increase
operational efficiency, reduce
operational costs, and enhance the
utility and validity of the performance
measures.
This project is being conducted
pursuant to AHRQ’s statutory authority
to conduct and support research and
evaluations on health care and on
systems for the delivery of such care,
including activities with respect to (1)
the quality, effectiveness, efficiency,
appropriateness and value of health care
services and (2) quality measurement
and improvement. 42 U.S.C. 299a(a)(1)
and (2).
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Method of Collection
The project will include the following
three data collections: (1) On-site
interviews with key personnel involved
in the demonstration; (2) a pre-interview
questionnaire for the on site interview
participants; and (3) a survey of
pharmacy staff. The data will be
collected to obtain the following types
of information necessary for the
evaluation:
• Organizational background related
to quality measurement, organizational
resources for quality measurement;
• Measurement methodology;
• Opinions on the performance
measures;
• The process for disseminating the
performance measures;
• Incentives and penalties for
participation in pharmacy quality
improvement;
• Usability of the performance
reports;
• Future directions for quality
measurement in the organization; and
• Respondent characteristics.
Onsite Interviews With Key
Demonstration Participants
On-site interviews will be conducted
with up to six persons at each of the five
demonstration sites. The study will try
to interview representatives from the
following job functions: (1) Pharmacy
operations management; (2) clinical
pharmacy staff; (3) qualityimprovement; (4) utilization
management; (5) analytics management
responsible for oversight of performance
report analyses; (6) analytics staff
assigned to complete the performance
reports; (7) information technology (IT)
staff responsible for developing and/or
coordinating Internet components of the
project; and (8) senior management
(executive leadership, i.e., Vice
President level and above).
Pre-Interview Questionnaire
In addition to the on-site interview, a
brief written questionnaire will be used
to collect information from interview
participants prior to the interview.
There will be two different versions of
this questionnaire, one for the
demonstration project leaders and one
for all on-site interview participants.
Survey of Pharmacy Staff
A pharmacy staff survey will be
developed to yield additional
quantitative data about the
demonstration projects. The sample will
consist of practicing pharmacists who
are participating in the demonstration
sites and who received one or more of
the performance reports. It will also
include field managers and supervisors.
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
6631
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 10, 2009 / Notices
At each of the five sites, up to 100
pharmacy staff members will be
sampled, with an expected response rate
of 75 percent, yielding 75 respondents
per site.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
Exhibit 1 show the estimated
annualized burden hours for the
respondents’ time to participate in this
evaluation. The on-site interviews will
require about 1 hour to complete for a
total of 30 burden hours. The preinterview questionnaire is expected to
take 15 minutes to complete for a total
of 9 burden hours. The phannacy staff
survey will take about 30 minutes to
complete for a total of 188 burden
hours. The total burden hours for all
data collections is estimated to be 227
hours.
Exhibit 2 shows the estimated
annualized cost burden associated with
the respondents’ time to participate in
this project. The cost burden is
estimated to be $10,800.
EXHIBIT 1—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS
Number of
responses per
site
Number of
sites
Form name
Hours per
response
Total burden
hours
On-Site Interviews ...........................................................................................
Pre-Interview Questionnaire for Demonstration Project Leaders .............
Pre-Interview Questionnaire for All Interview Participants .......................
Survey of Pharmacy Staff ................................................................................
5
5
5
5
6
1
6
75
1.00
15/60
15/60
30/60
30
1
8
188
Total ...................................................................................................
20
........................
........................
227
EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST BURDEN
Number of
sites
Form name
Total burden
hours
Average hourly wage rate*
Total cost
burden
On-Site Interviews ...........................................................................................
Pre-Interview Questionnaire for Demonstration Project Leaders .............
Pre-Interview Questionnaire for All Interview Participants .......................
Survey of Pharmacy Staff ................................................................................
5
5
5
5
30
1
8
188
$47.58
47.58
47.58
47.58
$1,427
48
380
8,945
Total ...................................................................................................
20
227
........................
$10,800
*Based on the national average wage for pharmacists (29–1051), National Compensation Survey: Occupational wages in the United States
May 2007, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal
Government
The estimated total cost to the Federal
government for this one year evaluation
is $208,874. Exhibit 3 shows a
breakdown of the costs.
EXHIBIT 3—ESTIMATED ANNUAL COSTS
TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Component
Total
Developing the interview guide
and survey instrument ..............
Preparing OMB clearance submission ......................................
Site visits to each demonstration
Analyzing the data from each
demonstration site .....................
Preparing a final report .................
erowe on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Total ...............................
$33,905
6,704
73,368
54,835
40,062
208,874
Request for Comments
In accordance with the above-cited
Paperwork Reduction Act legislation,
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
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:17 Feb 09, 2009
Jkt 217001
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: February 2, 2009.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E9–2679 Filed 2–9–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160–90–M
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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.
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:
‘‘Reducing Waste and Inefficiency
through Process Redesign: Lean/Toyota
Production System (TPS)
Implementation.’’ In accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), AHRQ invites
the public to comment on this proposed
information collection.
This proposed information collection
was previously published in the Federal
Register on November 21, 2008 and
allowed 60 days for public comment. No
comments were received. The purpose
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6630-6631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2679]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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: ``Evaluation of Phase I Demonstrations of the Pharmacy Quality
Alliance.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to
comment on this proposed information collection.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 13, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz,
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by e-mail at
doris.lefkowitz@ahrq.hhs.gov.
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 e-mail at
doris.lefkowitz@ahrq.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Evaluation of Phase I Demonstrations of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance
AHRQ proposes to conduct an independent evaluation of five Phase I
demonstrations undertaken by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA). The
PQA launched the five demonstration projects to test the feasibility of
implementing a pharmacy provider report card system, which will be used
to provide feedback to pharmacies on their performance. The goals of
the demonstrations are to obtain feedback from pharmacists on the
credibility of the performance reports and their utility in performance
improvement, and to identify the most efficient and useful ways to
implement a performance-based quality reporting system. The evaluation
will be conducted for AHRQ by its contractor, the CNA Corporation and
Thomas Jefferson Medical College.
The purpose of this evaluation is to identify problems associated
with the implementation of a performance-based quality reporting
system. The evaluation of the Phase I demonstrations will:
Test the feasibility and utility of (1) using 15 PQA
claims-based measures on pharmacy performance and (2) a survey of
consumers about their experience with pharmacy services, which was
developed by the PQA;
Determine the resource (time and cost) requirements for
collecting the data and generating the pharmacy performance reports;
and
Provide a base of knowledge that enables the PQA to
improve the implementation process, increase operational efficiency,
reduce operational costs, and enhance the utility and validity of the
performance measures.
This project is being conducted pursuant to AHRQ's statutory
authority to conduct and support research and evaluations on health
care and on systems for the delivery of such care, including activities
with respect to (1) the quality, effectiveness, efficiency,
appropriateness and value of health care services and (2) quality
measurement and improvement. 42 U.S.C. 299a(a)(1) and (2).
Method of Collection
The project will include the following three data collections: (1)
On-site interviews with key personnel involved in the demonstration;
(2) a pre-interview questionnaire for the on site interview
participants; and (3) a survey of pharmacy staff. The data will be
collected to obtain the following types of information necessary for
the evaluation:
Organizational background related to quality measurement,
organizational resources for quality measurement;
Measurement methodology;
Opinions on the performance measures;
The process for disseminating the performance measures;
Incentives and penalties for participation in pharmacy
quality improvement;
Usability of the performance reports;
Future directions for quality measurement in the
organization; and
Respondent characteristics.
Onsite Interviews With Key Demonstration Participants
On-site interviews will be conducted with up to six persons at each
of the five demonstration sites. The study will try to interview
representatives from the following job functions: (1) Pharmacy
operations management; (2) clinical pharmacy staff; (3) quality-
improvement; (4) utilization management; (5) analytics management
responsible for oversight of performance report analyses; (6) analytics
staff assigned to complete the performance reports; (7) information
technology (IT) staff responsible for developing and/or coordinating
Internet components of the project; and (8) senior management
(executive leadership, i.e., Vice President level and above).
Pre-Interview Questionnaire
In addition to the on-site interview, a brief written questionnaire
will be used to collect information from interview participants prior
to the interview. There will be two different versions of this
questionnaire, one for the demonstration project leaders and one for
all on-site interview participants.
Survey of Pharmacy Staff
A pharmacy staff survey will be developed to yield additional
quantitative data about the demonstration projects. The sample will
consist of practicing pharmacists who are participating in the
demonstration sites and who received one or more of the performance
reports. It will also include field managers and supervisors.
[[Page 6631]]
At each of the five sites, up to 100 pharmacy staff members will be
sampled, with an expected response rate of 75 percent, yielding 75
respondents per site.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
Exhibit 1 show the estimated annualized burden hours for the
respondents' time to participate in this evaluation. The on-site
interviews will require about 1 hour to complete for a total of 30
burden hours. The pre-interview questionnaire is expected to take 15
minutes to complete for a total of 9 burden hours. The phannacy staff
survey will take about 30 minutes to complete for a total of 188 burden
hours. The total burden hours for all data collections is estimated to
be 227 hours.
Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden associated
with the respondents' time to participate in this project. The cost
burden is estimated to be $10,800.
Exhibit 1--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Form name Number of responses per Hours per Total burden
sites site response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On-Site Interviews.............................. 5 6 1.00 30
Pre-Interview Questionnaire for 5 1 15/60 1
Demonstration Project Leaders..............
Pre-Interview Questionnaire for All 5 6 15/60 8
Interview Participants.....................
Survey of Pharmacy Staff........................ 5 75 30/60 188
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................... 20 .............. .............. 227
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Total burden Average hourly Total cost
Form name sites hours wage rate* burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On-Site Interviews.............................. 5 30 $47.58 $1,427
Pre-Interview Questionnaire for 5 1 47.58 48
Demonstration Project Leaders..............
Pre-Interview Questionnaire for All 5 8 47.58 380
Interview Participants.....................
Survey of Pharmacy Staff........................ 5 188 47.58 8,945
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................... 20 227 .............. $10,800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Based on the national average wage for pharmacists (29-1051), National Compensation Survey: Occupational wages
in the United States May 2007, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
The estimated total cost to the Federal government for this one
year evaluation is $208,874. Exhibit 3 shows a breakdown of the costs.
Exhibit 3--Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Component Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Developing the interview guide and survey instrument......... $33,905
Preparing OMB clearance submission........................... 6,704
Site visits to each demonstration............................ 73,368
Analyzing the data from each demonstration site.............. 54,835
Preparing a final report..................................... 40,062
----------
Total.................................................... 208,874
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Comments
In accordance with the above-cited Paperwork Reduction Act
legislation, 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: February 2, 2009.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E9-2679 Filed 2-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
