Request for Information on Strategies for Improving Work Outcomes for Individuals With Musculoskeletal Disabilities, 64254-64256 [2016-22404]
Download as PDF
64254
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 181 / Monday, September 19, 2016 / Notices
Council on Underserved Communities
(CUC) Advisory Board.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Friday, October 14, 2016, at 2:00 p.m.
EST.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the U.S. Small Business Administration,
in the Administrator’s Large Conference
Room, located at 409 3rd St. SW., Suite
7000, Washington, DC 20416.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The
meeting is open to the public however
advance notice of attendance is
requested. Anyone wishing to be a
listening participant must contact
Amadi Anene by phone or email. His
contact information is Amadi Anene,
Senior Advisor to the Administrator,
409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC
20416, Phone, 202–205–0067 or email,
amadi.anene@sba.gov.
Additionally, if you need
accommodations because of a disability
or require additional information, please
contact Amadi Anene at the information
above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2),
SBA announces the meeting of the
Council on Underserved Communities
Advisory Board. This Board provides
advice and counsel to the SBA
Administrator and Associate
Administrator. CUC members will
examine the obstacles facing small
businesses in underserved communities
and recommend to SBA policy and
programmatic changes to help
strengthen SBA’s programs and services
to these communities.
The purpose of this meeting is to
discuss following issues pertaining to
the CUC Advisory Board.:
—Provide updates on Action Items from
the May 24, 2016 CUC meeting
—Determine the 2016/2017 CUC
Agenda
—Discuss SBA plans to increase lending
in underserved markets
Dated: September 8, 2016.
Miguel L’ Heureux,
White House Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2016–22411 Filed 9–16–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
[Docket No. SSA–2016–0036]
Request for Information on Strategies
for Improving Work Outcomes for
Individuals With Musculoskeletal
Disabilities
Social Security Administration.
Request for information.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:47 Sep 16, 2016
Jkt 238001
The Bipartisan Budget Act of
2015 amended section 234 of the Social
Security Act, which authorizes us to
plan and implement new demonstration
projects that waive certain Social
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
program requirements in order to
evaluate strategies for improving work
outcomes for SSDI beneficiaries and
applicants. This request for information
(RFI) seeks public input on possible
demonstration projects designed to
improve employment and earnings
outcomes for individuals with
musculoskeletal impairments. The input
we receive will inform our deliberations
about the possible design of a future
demonstration project using the section
234 authority.
DATES: Comments must be received by
November 18, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any one of three methods—Internet,
fax, or mail. Do not submit the same
comments multiple times or by more
than one method. Regardless of which
method you choose, please state that
your comments refer to Docket No.
SSA–2016–0036 so that we may
associate your comments with the
correct docket.
Caution: You should be careful to
include in your comments only
information that you wish to make
publicly available. We strongly urge you
not to include in your comments any
personal information, such as Social
Security numbers or medical
information.
1. Internet: We strongly recommend
that you submit your comments via the
Internet. Please visit the Federal
eRulemaking portal at https://
www.regulations.gov. Use the ‘‘Search’’
function to find docket number SSA–
2016–0036. The system will issue a
tracking number to confirm your
submission. You will not be able to
view your comment immediately
because we must post each comment
manually. It may take up to a week for
your comment to be viewable.
2. Fax: Fax comments to (410) 966–
2830.
3. Mail: Mail your comments to the
Office of Regulations and Reports
Clearance, Social Security
Administration, 3100 West High Rise
Building, 6401 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21235–6401.
Comments are available for public
viewing on the Federal eRulemaking
portal at https://www.regulations.gov or
in person, during regular business
hours, by arranging with the contact
person identified below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Wilschke, Deputy Associate
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00129
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Commissioner for Research,
Demonstration, and Employment
Support, Office of Retirement and
Disability Policy, Social Security
Administration, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235–6401,
(410) 966–8906, for information about
this notice. For information on
eligibility or filing for benefits, call our
national toll-free number, 1–800–772–
1213 or TTY 1–800–325–0778, or visit
our Internet site, Social Security Online,
at https://www.socialsecurity.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose
The SSDI program provides financial
support for disabled individuals and
their dependents. In 2015, the SSDI
program provided more than $140
billion in benefits to 10.8 million
Americans.1 Given the large number of
individuals who rely on SSDI and the
interest in supporting employment
efforts of those with disabilities when
possible, policymakers need a strong
evidentiary base from which to consider
future program improvements and
innovations that can strengthen the
ability of individuals with disabilities to
work.
This request for information offers
interested parties, including States,
community-based and other non-profit
organizations, philanthropic
organizations, researchers, and members
of the public, the opportunity to provide
information and recommendations on
effective approaches for improving
employment and earnings outcomes for
individuals with musculoskeletal
impairments. For the purposes of this
notice, ‘‘musculoskeletal impairments’’
means any impairment included in
section 1.00 of our Listing of
Impairments, 20 CFR part 404, app. 1,
affecting the musculoskeletal system
and connective tissue. Impairments in
this section include, but are not limited
to, major joint dysfunction, spinal
disorders, amputation, and soft tissue
injuries.
Background
Musculoskeletal impairments are the
primary diagnosis for 31 percent of all
SSDI disabled workers and for 36
percent of disabled workers awarded
SSDI in 2014.2 A small, growing body of
research involving studies of workers
compensation and occupational health
programs in the United States and in
other countries suggests that the
1 https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/
table4a6.html; https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/
OASDIbenies.html.
2 https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/di_
asr/, Tables 21 and 40.
E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM
19SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 181 / Monday, September 19, 2016 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
withdrawal of individuals with
musculoskeletal impairments from the
labor force is preventable with
appropriate services, such as health care
and work supports provided at the onset
of a work disruption.
Researchers and policy experts have
suggested that it we may find it useful
to conduct a demonstration project
related to musculoskeletal impairments.
For example, as part of the Committee
for a Responsible Federal Budget’s
(CRFB) SSDI Solutions series, several
researchers proposed a demonstration
project involving health care and work
supports for approximately 12 weeks
after an individual’s work is disrupted,
but before he or she applies for SSDI.3
This proposal notes that
musculoskeletal impairments do not
necessarily prevent individuals from
working if those individuals have
appropriate health care and work
supports.
We expect that public input provided
in response to this request will provide
us with information that will allow us
to determine if a musculoskeletal
demonstration project will be useful
and, if so, what interventions may be
most valuable to consider in the
demonstration project design. For
example, a demonstration project could
test whether coordinating and providing
services can have a positive impact on
a worker’s ability to remain in the
workforce. Those services may include
case management, care coordination,
and communication assistance between
the employer, worker, medical
providers, and others. Importantly, a
potential demonstration project related
to musculoskeletal impairments would
improve the evidentiary base for future
potential SSDI program reforms.
If we decide to pursue a
musculoskeletal demonstration project,
we would likely issue a contract for
demonstration project implementation
and evaluation.
Request for Information
Through this notice, we are soliciting
feedback from interested parties on the
potential value of a demonstration
project related to providing health and
work supports to individuals with
musculoskeletal impairments, and on
design aspects of a demonstration
project aimed at improving employment
and earnings outcomes for these
individuals. Responses to this request
3 Jennifer Christian, Thomas Wickizer, and A.
Kim Burton, Proposal to the CRFB SSDI Solutions
Initiative for a Community-Focused Health and
Work Service (HWS) (2015) (available at: https://
www.webility.md/SSDI-HWS/
Health%20and%20Work%20Servicesubmitted%20by%20Webility%202015-07-15.pdf).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:47 Sep 16, 2016
Jkt 238001
will inform our decisions about whether
to pursue a new demonstration project,
and how such a project may be
designed. This notice is for our internal
planning purposes only and should not
be construed as a solicitation or as an
obligation on our part or on the part of
any participating Federal agencies. We
ask respondents to address the
following questions, where possible, in
the context of the discussion in this
document. You do not need to address
every question and should focus on
those that relate to your expertise or
perspectives. To the extent possible,
please clearly indicate which
question(s) you address in your
response.
General Questions
1. What specific programs or practices
have shown promise at the State or local
level to assist workers with
musculoskeletal impairments to remain
in or re-enter the workforce?
2. What programs and practices might
be especially applicable to individuals
who might be enrolled in SSDI in the
absence of interventions, and how might
those programs and practices be
incorporated into a potential
demonstration project?
Detailed Questions
I. Target Population and Sites
1. Should we target specific types of
musculoskeletal impairments in a
demonstration project? If so, which
ones, and why those?
2. What is an appropriate age range of
individuals with musculoskeletal
impairments for us to consider targeting
for a demonstration project? Why?
3. Which populations should we
consider targeting? How can we identify
these populations? How many
individuals enter these populations per
year?
4. What types of sites (for example,
State vocational rehabilitation agencies,
medical practices, etc.) would be the
most beneficial for us to consider
including in a demonstration project?
5. Are there sites we could look to as
exemplars based on current practices for
serving individuals with
musculoskeletal impairments? What
evidence exists to suggest these sites are
effectively providing early intervention
services for workers with
musculoskeletal impairments?
6. How might we consider structuring
a demonstration project to investigate
the potential for screening workers for
their likelihood of responding to
employment supports?
PO 00000
Frm 00130
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
64255
II. Health Services
7. What types of health services
should we consider for workers with
musculoskeletal impairments?
8. When should these services be
provided?
9. To what extent should we prioritize
certain services, whether case
management, care coordination, or other
on-site work support services?
10. Are there rehabilitative and pain
management healthcare delivery models
that we should consider combining with
other work support services? What
specific healthcare practices and models
should we avoid or discourage?
11. What are the best ways to involve
workers with disabilities in planning
and implementing a demonstration
project in order to ensure that
demonstration project services will be
effective in meeting their needs?
12. What health service program
designs and interventions demonstrate
promise for improving long-term
employment outcomes for workers with
musculoskeletal impairments? What
evidence supports these interventions?
III. Employment and Job-Related
Services
13. What specific employment related
interventions related to skill
development, job training, job
placement, or pre- and post-placement
services should we consider for
individuals with musculoskeletal
impairments?
14. What employment program
designs and interventions demonstrate
promise for improving long-term
employment outcomes for workers with
musculoskeletal impairments? What
evidence supports these interventions?
Guidance for Submitting Documents
We ask that each respondent include
the name and address of his or her
institution or affiliation, if any, and the
name, title, mailing and email
addresses, and telephone number of a
contact person for his or her institution
or affiliation, if any.
Rights to Materials Submitted
By submitting material in response to
this notice, you agree to grant us a
worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual,
irrevocable, nonexclusive license to use
the material, and to post it publicly.
Further, you agree that you own, have
a valid license, or are otherwise
authorized to provide the material to us.
You should not provide any material
you consider confidential or proprietary
in response to this notice. We will not
E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM
19SEN1
64256
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 181 / Monday, September 19, 2016 / Notices
provide any compensation for material
submitted in response to this notice.
Carolyn W. Colvin,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.
BILLING CODE 4191–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 9725]
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
U.S. National Commission for UNESCO
Notice of Teleconference Meeting
The U.S. National Commission for
UNESCO (‘‘Commission’’) will hold a
conference call on Tuesday, October 11,
2016, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time. The purpose of
the teleconference meeting is to
consider the recommendations of the
Commission’s World Heritage
Subcommittee. The Subcommittee was
asked to provide recommendations of
sites for consideration to be listed on the
U.S. World Heritage Tentative List. This
list will be the basis for U.S.
nominations for inscription onto
UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The
recommendations resulting from this
discussion will be forwarded from the
Department of State to the Department
of the Interior. More information on the
World Heritage Tentative List process
can be found at https://www.nps.gov/
subjects/internationalcooperation/
revised_tentative_list.htm. The
Commission will accept brief oral
comments during a portion of this
conference call. The public comment
period will be limited to approximately
20 minutes in total, with two minutes
allowed per speaker. Please note that
there might be an opportunity for
extended comments later if the
Department of the Interior posts draft
tentative sites in the Federal Register.
For more information, or to arrange to
participate in the conference call,
individuals must make arrangements
with the Executive Director of the
National Commission by October 7,
2016.
The National Commission may be
contacted via email at DCUNESCO@
state.gov or Telephone (202) 663–2685;
Fax (202) 663–3194. The Web site can
be accessed at: https://www.state.gov/p/
io/unesco/.
[FR Doc. 2016–22505 Filed 9–16–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–19–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:47 Sep 16, 2016
Jkt 238001
[Public Notice: 9723]
E.O. 13224 Designation of Omar Diaby,
aka Omar al-Diaby, aka Omar Omsen,
aka Omar Oumsen, aka Oumar Diaby
as a Specially Designated Global
Terrorist
[FR Doc. 2016–22404 Filed 9–16–16; 8:45 am]
Dated: September 13, 2016.
Allison Wright,
Executive Director, U.S. National
Commission, for UNESCO, Department of
State.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Acting under the authority of and in
accordance with section 1(b) of
Executive Order 13224 of September 23,
2001, as amended by Executive Order
13268 of July 2, 2002, and Executive
Order 13284 of January 23, 2003, I
hereby determine that the entity known
as Omar Diaby, also known as Omar alDiaby, also known as Omar Omsen, also
known as Omar Oumsen, also known as
Oumar Diaby, committed, or poses a
significant risk of committing, acts of
terrorism that threaten the security of
U.S. nationals or the national security,
foreign policy, or economy of the United
States.
Consistent with the determination in
section 10 of Executive Order 13224 that
prior notice to persons determined to be
subject to the Order who might have a
constitutional presence in the United
States would render ineffectual the
blocking and other measures authorized
in the Order because of the ability to
transfer funds instantaneously, I
determine that no prior notice needs to
be provided to any person subject to this
determination who might have a
constitutional presence in the United
States, because to do so would render
ineffectual the measures authorized in
the Order.
This notice shall be published in the
Federal Register.
Dated: September 8, 2016.
John F. Kerry,
Secretary of State.
[FR Doc. 2016–22500 Filed 9–16–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–AD–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 9722]
E.O. 13224 Designation of Fathi Ahmad
Mohammad Hammad, aka Fathi Ahmad
Hammad, aka Fathy Ahmed Hamad,
aka Fathi Hamad as a Specially
Designated Global Terrorist
Acting under the authority of and in
accordance with section 1(b) of
Executive Order 13224 of September 23,
2001, as amended by Executive Order
13268 of July 2, 2002, and Executive
Order 13284 of January 23, 2003, I
hereby determine that the individual
known as Fathi Ahmad Mohammad
Hammad, also known as Fathi Ahmad
PO 00000
Frm 00131
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Hammad, also known as Fathy Ahmed
Hamad, also known as Fathi Hamad,
committed or poses a significant risk of
committing, acts of terrorism that
threaten the security of U.S. nationals or
the national security, foreign policy, or
economy of the United States.
Consistent with the determination in
section 10 of Executive Order 13224 that
prior notice to persons determined to be
subject to the Order who might have a
constitutional presence in the United
States would render ineffectual the
blocking and other measures authorized
in the Order because of the ability to
transfer funds instantaneously, I
determine that no prior notice needs to
be provided to any person subject to this
determination who might have a
constitutional presence in the United
States, because to do so would render
ineffectual the measures authorized in
the Order.
This notice shall be published in the
Federal Register.
Dated: August 12, 2016.
John F. Kerry,
Secretary of State.
[FR Doc. 2016–22497 Filed 9–16–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–AD–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 9724]
U.S. Department of State Advisory
Committee on Private International
Law: Public Meeting on Micro-,
Small-, and Medium Sized Enterprises
The Office of the Assistant Legal
Adviser for Private International Law,
Department of State, gives notice of a
public meeting to discuss ongoing work
in the United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
related to micro, small, and medium
sized enterprises. The public meeting
will take place on Thursday, September
29, 2016, from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
EDT. This is not a meeting of the full
Advisory Committee.
In 2013 UNCITRAL established a
working group aimed at reducing the
legal obstacles faced by MSMEs
throughout their life cycle, and in
particular those in developing countries.
UNCITRAL further directed that the
work should start with a focus on the
legal issues surrounding the
simplification of incorporation. At its
upcoming session, the UNCITRAL
MSME Working Group will consider
draft recommendations on a legislative
guide for a limited liability organization
(UN Doc. A/CN.9/WG.I/WP.99 and
Add.1). The draft text, along with the
reports of earlier sessions of the
E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM
19SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 181 (Monday, September 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64254-64256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22404]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA-2016-0036]
Request for Information on Strategies for Improving Work Outcomes
for Individuals With Musculoskeletal Disabilities
AGENCY: Social Security Administration.
ACTION: Request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 amended section 234 of the
Social Security Act, which authorizes us to plan and implement new
demonstration projects that waive certain Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) program requirements in order to evaluate strategies
for improving work outcomes for SSDI beneficiaries and applicants. This
request for information (RFI) seeks public input on possible
demonstration projects designed to improve employment and earnings
outcomes for individuals with musculoskeletal impairments. The input we
receive will inform our deliberations about the possible design of a
future demonstration project using the section 234 authority.
DATES: Comments must be received by November 18, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any one of three methods--
Internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times
or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose,
please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA-2016-0036 so
that we may associate your comments with the correct docket.
Caution: You should be careful to include in your comments only
information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge
you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as
Social Security numbers or medical information.
1. Internet: We strongly recommend that you submit your comments
via the Internet. Please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Use the ``Search'' function to find docket number
SSA-2016-0036. The system will issue a tracking number to confirm your
submission. You will not be able to view your comment immediately
because we must post each comment manually. It may take up to a week
for your comment to be viewable.
2. Fax: Fax comments to (410) 966-2830.
3. Mail: Mail your comments to the Office of Regulations and
Reports Clearance, Social Security Administration, 3100 West High Rise
Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401.
Comments are available for public viewing on the Federal
eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov or in person, during
regular business hours, by arranging with the contact person identified
below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Wilschke, Deputy Associate
Commissioner for Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support,
Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Social Security
Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401,
(410) 966-8906, for information about this notice. For information on
eligibility or filing for benefits, call our national toll-free number,
1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778, or visit our Internet site,
Social Security Online, at https://www.socialsecurity.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose
The SSDI program provides financial support for disabled
individuals and their dependents. In 2015, the SSDI program provided
more than $140 billion in benefits to 10.8 million Americans.\1\ Given
the large number of individuals who rely on SSDI and the interest in
supporting employment efforts of those with disabilities when possible,
policymakers need a strong evidentiary base from which to consider
future program improvements and innovations that can strengthen the
ability of individuals with disabilities to work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/table4a6.html; https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/OASDIbenies.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This request for information offers interested parties, including
States, community-based and other non-profit organizations,
philanthropic organizations, researchers, and members of the public,
the opportunity to provide information and recommendations on effective
approaches for improving employment and earnings outcomes for
individuals with musculoskeletal impairments. For the purposes of this
notice, ``musculoskeletal impairments'' means any impairment included
in section 1.00 of our Listing of Impairments, 20 CFR part 404, app. 1,
affecting the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. Impairments
in this section include, but are not limited to, major joint
dysfunction, spinal disorders, amputation, and soft tissue injuries.
Background
Musculoskeletal impairments are the primary diagnosis for 31
percent of all SSDI disabled workers and for 36 percent of disabled
workers awarded SSDI in 2014.\2\ A small, growing body of research
involving studies of workers compensation and occupational health
programs in the United States and in other countries suggests that the
[[Page 64255]]
withdrawal of individuals with musculoskeletal impairments from the
labor force is preventable with appropriate services, such as health
care and work supports provided at the onset of a work disruption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/di_asr/,
Tables 21 and 40.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Researchers and policy experts have suggested that it we may find
it useful to conduct a demonstration project related to musculoskeletal
impairments. For example, as part of the Committee for a Responsible
Federal Budget's (CRFB) SSDI Solutions series, several researchers
proposed a demonstration project involving health care and work
supports for approximately 12 weeks after an individual's work is
disrupted, but before he or she applies for SSDI.\3\ This proposal
notes that musculoskeletal impairments do not necessarily prevent
individuals from working if those individuals have appropriate health
care and work supports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Jennifer Christian, Thomas Wickizer, and A. Kim Burton,
Proposal to the CRFB SSDI Solutions Initiative for a Community-
Focused Health and Work Service (HWS) (2015) (available at: https://www.webility.md/SSDI-HWS/Health%20and%20Work%20Service-submitted%20by%20Webility%202015-07-15.pdf).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We expect that public input provided in response to this request
will provide us with information that will allow us to determine if a
musculoskeletal demonstration project will be useful and, if so, what
interventions may be most valuable to consider in the demonstration
project design. For example, a demonstration project could test whether
coordinating and providing services can have a positive impact on a
worker's ability to remain in the workforce. Those services may include
case management, care coordination, and communication assistance
between the employer, worker, medical providers, and others.
Importantly, a potential demonstration project related to
musculoskeletal impairments would improve the evidentiary base for
future potential SSDI program reforms.
If we decide to pursue a musculoskeletal demonstration project, we
would likely issue a contract for demonstration project implementation
and evaluation.
Request for Information
Through this notice, we are soliciting feedback from interested
parties on the potential value of a demonstration project related to
providing health and work supports to individuals with musculoskeletal
impairments, and on design aspects of a demonstration project aimed at
improving employment and earnings outcomes for these individuals.
Responses to this request will inform our decisions about whether to
pursue a new demonstration project, and how such a project may be
designed. This notice is for our internal planning purposes only and
should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on our
part or on the part of any participating Federal agencies. We ask
respondents to address the following questions, where possible, in the
context of the discussion in this document. You do not need to address
every question and should focus on those that relate to your expertise
or perspectives. To the extent possible, please clearly indicate which
question(s) you address in your response.
General Questions
1. What specific programs or practices have shown promise at the
State or local level to assist workers with musculoskeletal impairments
to remain in or re-enter the workforce?
2. What programs and practices might be especially applicable to
individuals who might be enrolled in SSDI in the absence of
interventions, and how might those programs and practices be
incorporated into a potential demonstration project?
Detailed Questions
I. Target Population and Sites
1. Should we target specific types of musculoskeletal impairments
in a demonstration project? If so, which ones, and why those?
2. What is an appropriate age range of individuals with
musculoskeletal impairments for us to consider targeting for a
demonstration project? Why?
3. Which populations should we consider targeting? How can we
identify these populations? How many individuals enter these
populations per year?
4. What types of sites (for example, State vocational
rehabilitation agencies, medical practices, etc.) would be the most
beneficial for us to consider including in a demonstration project?
5. Are there sites we could look to as exemplars based on current
practices for serving individuals with musculoskeletal impairments?
What evidence exists to suggest these sites are effectively providing
early intervention services for workers with musculoskeletal
impairments?
6. How might we consider structuring a demonstration project to
investigate the potential for screening workers for their likelihood of
responding to employment supports?
II. Health Services
7. What types of health services should we consider for workers
with musculoskeletal impairments?
8. When should these services be provided?
9. To what extent should we prioritize certain services, whether
case management, care coordination, or other on-site work support
services?
10. Are there rehabilitative and pain management healthcare
delivery models that we should consider combining with other work
support services? What specific healthcare practices and models should
we avoid or discourage?
11. What are the best ways to involve workers with disabilities in
planning and implementing a demonstration project in order to ensure
that demonstration project services will be effective in meeting their
needs?
12. What health service program designs and interventions
demonstrate promise for improving long-term employment outcomes for
workers with musculoskeletal impairments? What evidence supports these
interventions?
III. Employment and Job-Related Services
13. What specific employment related interventions related to skill
development, job training, job placement, or pre- and post-placement
services should we consider for individuals with musculoskeletal
impairments?
14. What employment program designs and interventions demonstrate
promise for improving long-term employment outcomes for workers with
musculoskeletal impairments? What evidence supports these
interventions?
Guidance for Submitting Documents
We ask that each respondent include the name and address of his or
her institution or affiliation, if any, and the name, title, mailing
and email addresses, and telephone number of a contact person for his
or her institution or affiliation, if any.
Rights to Materials Submitted
By submitting material in response to this notice, you agree to
grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable,
nonexclusive license to use the material, and to post it publicly.
Further, you agree that you own, have a valid license, or are otherwise
authorized to provide the material to us. You should not provide any
material you consider confidential or proprietary in response to this
notice. We will not
[[Page 64256]]
provide any compensation for material submitted in response to this
notice.
Carolyn W. Colvin,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. 2016-22404 Filed 9-16-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P