Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Public Comment Request; National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants, 17153-17156 [2021-06740]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 61 / Thursday, April 1, 2021 / Notices
Dated: March 26, 2021.
Alison Barkoff,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary
for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2021–06741 Filed 3–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
[OMB # 0985–0023]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission for OMB
Review; Public Comment Request;
National Survey of Older Americans
Act Participants
Administration for Community
Living, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Administration for
Community Living is announcing that
the proposed collection of information
listed above has been submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and clearance as
required under section 506(c)(2)(A) of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
This 30-Day notice collects comments
on the information collection
requirements related to the information
collection requirements for consumer
assessment surveys used by ACL to
measure program performance for
programs funded under Title III of the
Older Americans Act. This notice
solicits comments on a proposed
revision of a currently approved
collection with the addition of a new
rotating module to the National Survey
of Older Americans Act Participants.
DATES: Submit written comments on the
collection of information by May 3,
2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
and recommendations for the proposed
information collection within 30 days of
publication of this notice to
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find the information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function. By mail to
the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, OMB, New Executive Office
Bldg., 725 17th St. NW, Rm. 10235,
Washington, DC 20503, Attn: OMB Desk
Officer for ACL.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Jenkins, Administration for
Community Living, Washington, DC
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SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:02 Mar 31, 2021
Jkt 253001
20201, by email at Susan.Jenkins@
acl.hhs.gov or by telephone at 202–795–
7369.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
compliance with 44 U.S.C. 3507, ACL
has submitted the following proposed
collection of information to OMB for
review and clearance. The
Administration for Community Living
(ACL) is requesting approval to collect
data for the National Survey of Older
Americans Act (OAA) Participants
information collection to include
consumer assessment surveys for the
Congregate and Home-delivered meal
nutrition programs; Case Management,
Homemaker, and Transportation
Services; and the National Family
Caregiver Support Program.
This survey builds on earlier national
pilot studies and surveys, as well as
performance measurement tools
developed by ACL grantees in the
Performance Outcomes Measures
Project (POMP). Changes identified as a
result of these initiatives were
incorporated into the last data collection
package that was approved by OMB and
are included in this proposed extension
of a currently approved collection. This
information will be used by ACL to
track performance outcome measures;
support budget requests; comply with
the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010
(GPRMA) reporting requirements;
provide national benchmark
information; and inform program
development and management
initiatives.
In addition to the proposed extension
of the existing collection of information,
ACL is requesting approval for a module
on COVID–19 to be added to the
currently approved NSOAAP data
collection effort. This module supplants
the module on Emergency Preparedness
that was included in the 60-day FRN
due to the ongoing health crisis older
adults are experiencing as a result of
COVID–19. The Emergency
Preparedness module will be added to
the 2022 collection instrument.
As part of a nationwide effort to slow
transmission of COVID–19,
communities have closed locations such
as senior centers, adult day care centers,
and congregate meal facilities where
many older adults received vital homeand community-based services. In
addition, many of the in-home services
that help older adults to remain in their
homes, such as home-delivered meals,
homemaker services, and respite care
have been curtailed due to fear of
spreading COVID–19. This, combined
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17153
with families and friends unable to
assist loved ones due to the fear of
spreading the virus, have left many
older adults isolated and without the
programs and services they need to
remain living safely in the community.
The purpose of adding questions on
COVID–19 to the NSOAAP is to
measure the effect COVID–19 has had
on older adults’ access to and use of
Older Americans Act programs and
services during the past year.
The results of this information
collection will be used by ACL/AoA to:
• Provide refined national
benchmarks for use by states and AAAs.
• Provide secondary data for analysis
of various Title III program evaluations.
• Provide performance information
for key demographic subgroups,
geographical sub regions, and different
types of AAAs which will enable ACL/
AoA to identify variations in
performance and examine the need for
additional targeted technical assistance.
• Provide secondary data for analysis
of the effect of COVID–19 on access to
and use of OAA programs and services
among older adults that will be shared
with states and AAAs to help structure
their programs and services in response
to COVID-related changes.
The data will be used by the
Administrator of the Administration for
Community Living/Assistant Secretary
for Aging in testimony and
presentations; it will be incorporated
into the agency’s Annual Report; and it
will be used by program staff to identify
areas that may need attention at the
national level.
Descriptions of previous National
Surveys of OAA Participants can be
found under the section on OAA
Performance Information on ACL’s
website at: https://acl.gov/programs/
performance-older-americans-actprograms. Copies of the survey
instruments and data from previous
National Surveys of OAA Participants
can be found and queried using the
Aging, Independence, and Disability
(AGID) Program Data Portal at https://
www.agid.acl.gov/.
Comments in Response to the 60-Day
Federal Register Notice
A notice published in the Federal
Register on Tuesday, November 17,
2020 in 85 FR No. 222 page 73273.
There were thirteen public comments
received during the 60-day FRN, please
see ACLs response to comment listed
below.
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01APN1
17154
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 61 / Thursday, April 1, 2021 / Notices
Topic/issue
Food insecurity in older
adults.
Risk of malnutrition ..............
Medically-tailored meals for
participants requiring special diets.
Ethnic and cultural barriers
to communication and nutritional preferences.
Nutrition counselor: Rephrase question to improve clarity.
Modify item response in nutrition modules to include
positive as well as negative changes.
Consistent language in
meals program.
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Living independently ............
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:02 Mar 31, 2021
Comment
ACL response
‘‘We support the inclusion of the USDA module to provide national estimates of the rate of food insecurity
among OAA program participants. We recommend
this module be continuously included in future administration of this survey.’’
‘‘We suggest that ACL consider adding malnutrition
screening questions in addition to the USDA module’s food insecurity questions, such as:
• Do you ever eat only one meal daily?’’ .......................
• Do limits on chewing, swallowing or physical mobility
ever prevent you from eating your home-delivered
meals, even though you may be hungry?’’
• Do limits on chewing, swallowing or physical mobility
ever prevent you from getting to your local congregate meal site and eating your meal, even though
you may be hungry?’’
‘‘We suggest that ACL consider adding a question
about the need for therapeutic diets or texture-modified meals to better understand the needs of participants as it relates to medically tailored meals.’’
ACL concurs and plans to maintain the USDA module
and associated questions for the foreseeable future.
‘‘We suggest that ACL consider including a question
about communication barriers to both the congregate
and home-delivered meals modules, such as:
• Do you have language or cultural barriers to talking
with staff at your congregate meal site/your home delivery staff?
We also suggest that ACL consider adding a question
to both the congregate and home-delivered meals
modules about meals meeting cultural preferences.
‘‘SVC1(k) asks whether the respondent has access to a
‘‘nutrition counselor’’ who is providing dietary advice
based on the respondent’s condition, medications,
and related factors. We question why the survey
would not specify ‘‘a qualified nutrition professional
such as a registered dietitian’’ (or registered dietitian
nutritionist), since these professionals are the most
qualified to answer such questions. Moreover, in 28
states, only licensed professionals are legally eligible
to provide such advice. The term ‘‘nutrition counselor’’ allows for substantial subjective interpretations,
and could theoretically include food service staff or
other program participants who may be providing
such advice against state law.’’
‘‘We note that the survey asks about changes in meals,
but almost all coding options for the interviewer are
about reductions or negative changes with few opportunities for interviewers to code any positive
changes reported by participants. In addition to coding for both reductions and improvements in quality
of the food, we recommend adding the corresponding
‘‘positive’’ option for all other codes.’’
‘‘Ensure that consistent language is used to describe
the program, particularly for congregate or senior dining meals. Some questions use the term ‘‘meals program’’ while others use the term ‘‘lunch program’’ or,
generically, ‘‘this service’’, including CNR20–23
where three different terms are used across four consecutive questions. This also applies to SVC1 question in Additional Services module. We recommend
using the term ‘‘meals program’’ unless exclusively
referring to lunch, as some programs serve breakfast
or dinner meals rather than lunch meals.’’
‘‘SVC3 asks about continuing to ‘‘live independently’’
vs. ‘‘living at home’’ (as they do in CS15, CNR23,
HNR28, HC9 and TR20). The terminology ‘‘living
independently’’ is preferred. Simply continuing to live
‘‘at home’’ does not mean that the person is living
independently, is living in their own home (vs that of
a relative), or has autonomy over where he or she
lives.’’
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ACL recognizes the importance of reducing and assessing risk for malnutrition. However, further deliberation is needed to ensure that we select the most
appropriate and universally accepted language. ACL
will call upon the expertise of a nutrition workgroup to
make recommendations to ACL on selecting the best
language to use. The workgroup’s recommendation
will inform a redesign of future NSOAAP survey collection efforts.
ACL recognizes the importance of capturing data on
the capability of OAA nutrition programs to accommodate special diets. ACL will call upon nutrition experts to make recommendations and inform a redesign of future NSOAAP collection efforts.
ACL recognizes that ethnic and cultural barriers may
affect participants in the nutrition programs. ACL will
call upon nutrition experts to make recommendations
and inform a redesign of future NSOAAP collection
efforts.
ACL is considering a special topical module related to
equity and underserved populations.
ACL recognizes ‘‘nutrition counselor’’ may offer subjective responses. However, respondents may not know
if the qualifications of the person providing dietary
advice. ACL will call upon nutrition experts to make
recommendations and inform a redesign of future
NSOAAP collection efforts. The use of terminology
for this item will be tested.
ACL concurs with this suggested change. The requested change has been made to the survey instrument.
ACL recognizes that the language used to describe the
meals programs may need to be revised to be more
consistent. ACL will call upon nutrition experts to
make recommendations and inform a redesign of future NSOAAP collection efforts.
The term ‘‘meals program’’ will be used at this time due
to the variety of food services during the COVID–19
pandemic.
ACL concurs with this suggested change. The requested change has been made to the survey instrument.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 61 / Thursday, April 1, 2021 / Notices
17155
Topic/issue
Comment
ACL response
Context of ‘‘secure’’ .............
‘‘SVC3(b) should be more specific with regard to the
context of ‘‘secure.’’ We are unsure whether the context is financial, food-based, or related to physical
safety.’’
Multiple meals ......................
‘‘HNR5 should be re-phrased to reflect the fact that
many HDM clients receive more than one meal and
may consume multiple HDMs in a day.’’
Care recipients under age
60 with dementia.
The 2020 reauthorization of OAA allows ‘‘individuals living with dementia under the age of 60 to access certain OAA supports like nutritional services and respite
care through the National Family Caregiver Support
program. We respectfully request that ACL analyze
the data collected on these younger individuals and
the services they receive so that those services can
be tailored and improved.’’
The advocacy organizations ‘‘support ACL’s request to
add an emergency preparedness module to the survey. . .’’
‘‘I encourage the modification of the questions about
participant sex to include response options (which
are recorded but not verbally offered as options) to
include ‘‘transgender’’ and or ‘‘other’’ with a write-in
option.
The questions this relates to are: DE1 (DEGENDR);
CGC (CGPMF); CG83 (CGPMF)—both of the last
have the same variable labels and this should be
corrected in the survey construction.’’
The question refers to how participants feel about additional services that they or their care recipient receive. ACL recognizes that the use of the word ‘‘secure’’ may be ambiguous. ACL will call upon experts
in the aging network to make recommendations to inform a redesign of future NSOAAP collection efforts.
ACL recognizes that the question may need to be
modified. ACL will call upon nutrition experts to make
recommendations and inform a redesign of future
NSOAAP collection efforts.
While ACL recognizes the value of collecting data on
care recipients of the NFCSP who are under 60, that
is not the focus of the NSOAAP. The focus of the
NSOAAP is the service recipients, that is, the caregivers.
Emergency preparedness ....
Question on participant sex
(gender identity).
ACL is not going to add this module for the 2021 administration but still plans to use it in the future.
In order to improve demographic data collection related
to the LGBT community, ACL is supporting the
Measuring Sex, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation for the National Institutes of Health an ad hoc
panel of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine which will review current
measures and the methodological issues related to
measuring sex as a non-binary construct, gender
identity, and sexual orientation. The panel will
produce a consensus report which is expected in December 2021. ACL will use the report as a foundation
for testing new survey questions and administrative
data elements.
The variable label in the survey instrument for CGPMF
was corrected to RGENDER.
Estimated Program Burden
ACL estimates the burden associated
with this collection of information as
follows:
Respondent/data collection activity
Area Agency on Aging: Respondent selection process.
Service Recipients (i.e., Congregate
and Home-delivered meal nutrition
programs;
Case
Management,
Homemaker,
and
Transportation
Services) + Rotating Module.
National Family Caregiver Support Program Clients + Rotating Module.
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Total ...............................................
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Number of
respondents
Responses per
respondent
Hours per
response
Annual burden
hours
Cost per hour
Annual burden
(cost)
350
1
4.0 ..................
1,400
$44 .................
$61,600
4,400
1
.75 ..................
3,300
$25 .................
82,500
2,200
1
.75 ..................
1,650
$25 .................
41,250
6,950
1
.914 (weighted
mean).
6,350
Varies .............
185,350
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E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM
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17156
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 61 / Thursday, April 1, 2021 / Notices
Dated: March 26, 2021.
Alison Barkoff,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary
for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2021–06740 Filed 3–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA–2013–N–0520]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission for Office of
Management and Budget Review;
Comment Request; Substances
Prohibited From Use in Animal Food or
Feed
AGENCY:
Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
ACTION:
Notice.
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is announcing
that a proposed collection of
information has been submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and clearance under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
SUMMARY:
Submit written comments
(including recommendations) on the
collection of information by May 3,
2021.
DATES:
To ensure that comments on
the information collection are received,
OMB recommends that written
comments be submitted to https://
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find this particular information
collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function. The OMB
control number for this information
collection is 0910–0627. Also include
the FDA docket number found in
brackets in the heading of this
document.
ADDRESSES:
Ila
S. Mizrachi, Office of Operations, Food
and Drug Administration, Three White
Flint North, 10A–12M, 11601
Landsdown St., North Bethesda, MD
20852, 301–796–7726, PRAStaff@
fda.hhs.gov.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
In
compliance with 44 U.S.C. 3507, FDA
has submitted the following proposed
collection of information to OMB for
review and clearance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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19:02 Mar 31, 2021
Jkt 253001
Substances Prohibited From Use in
Animal Food or Feed—21 CFR Part 589
OMB Control Number 0910–0627—
Extension
This information collection supports
Agency regulations regarding substances
prohibited from use in animal food or
feed. Bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE) is a progressive
and fatal neurological disorder of cattle
that results from an unconventional
transmissible agent. BSE belongs to the
family of diseases known as
transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies (TSEs). All TSEs
affect the central nervous system of
infected animals. Our regulation at
§ 589.2001 (21 CFR 589.2001), entitled
‘‘Cattle materials prohibited in animal
food or feed to prevent the transmission
of bovine spongiform encephalopathy,’’
is designed to further strengthen
existing safeguards against the
establishment and amplification of BSE
in the United States through animal
feed. The regulation prohibits the use of
certain cattle origin materials in the
food or feed of all animals. These
materials are referred to as ‘‘cattle
materials prohibited in animal feed’’ or
CMPAF.
Under § 589.2001, no animal feed or
feed ingredient can contain CMPAF. As
a result, we impose requirements on
renderers of specifically defined cattle
materials, including reporting and
recordkeeping requirements. For
purposes of the regulation, we define a
renderer as any firm or individual that
processes slaughter byproducts; animals
unfit for human consumption, including
carcasses of dead cattle; or meat scraps.
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements are necessary because
once materials are separated from an
animal it may not be possible, without
records, to know whether the cattle
material meets the requirements of our
regulation.
Reporting: Under our regulations, we
may designate a country from which
cattle materials are not considered
CMPAF. Section 589.2001(f) provides
that a country seeking to be so
designated must send a written request
to the Director of the Center for
Veterinary Medicine. The country is
required to submit information about its
BSE case history, risk factors, measures
to prevent the introduction and
transmission of BSE, and any other
information relevant to determining
whether the cattle materials from the
requesting country do or do not meet
the definitions set forth in
§ 589.2001(b)(1). We use the
information to determine whether to
grant a request for designation and to
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impose conditions if a request is
granted. Section 589.2001(f) further
states that countries designated under
that section will be subject to our future
review to determine whether their
designations remain appropriate. As
part of this process, we may ask
designated countries from time to time
to confirm that their BSE situation and
the information submitted by them in
support of their original application
remains unchanged. We may revoke a
country’s designation if we determine
that it is no longer appropriate.
Therefore, designated countries may
respond to our periodic requests by
submitting information to confirm their
designations remain appropriate. We
use the information to ensure their
designations remain appropriate.
Recordkeeping: Renderers that
receive, manufacture, process, blend, or
distribute CMPAF, or products that
contain or may contain CMPAF, must
take measures to ensure that the
materials are not introduced into animal
feed, including maintaining adequate
written procedures specifying how such
processes are to be carried out
(§ 589.2001(c)(2)(ii)). Renderers that
receive, manufacture, process, blend, or
distribute CMPAF are required to
establish and maintain records
sufficient to track the CMPAF to ensure
that they are not introduced into animal
feed (§ 589.2001(c)(2)(vi)).
Renderers that receive, manufacture,
process, blend, or distribute any cattle
materials must establish and maintain
records sufficient to demonstrate that
material rendered for use in animal feed
was not manufactured from, processed
with, or does not otherwise contain,
CMPAF (§ 589.2001(c)(3)(i)).
Renderers that receive, manufacture,
process, blend, or distribute any cattle
materials must, if these materials were
obtained from an establishment that
segregates CMPAF from other materials,
establish and maintain records to
demonstrate that the supplier has
adequate procedures in place to
effectively exclude CMPAF from any
materials supplied (§ 589.2001(c)(3)(i)).
Records will meet this requirement if
they include either: (1) Certification or
other documentation from the supplier
that materials supplied do not include
CMPAF (§ 589.2001(c)(3)(i)(A)), or (2)
documentation of another method
acceptable to FDA, such as third-party
certification (§ 589.2001(c)(3)(i)(B)).
Description of Respondents:
Respondents to this information
collection include rendering facilities,
feed manufacturers, livestock feeders,
and foreign governments seeking
designation under § 589.2001(f).
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 61 (Thursday, April 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17153-17156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06740]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
[OMB # 0985-0023]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB
Review; Public Comment Request; National Survey of Older Americans Act
Participants
AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living is announcing that the
proposed collection of information listed above has been submitted to
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance as
required under section 506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995. This 30-Day notice collects comments on the information
collection requirements related to the information collection
requirements for consumer assessment surveys used by ACL to measure
program performance for programs funded under Title III of the Older
Americans Act. This notice solicits comments on a proposed revision of
a currently approved collection with the addition of a new rotating
module to the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants.
DATES: Submit written comments on the collection of information by May
3, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find the information collection by
selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments''
or by using the search function. By mail to the Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, New Executive Office Bldg., 725 17th St.
NW, Rm. 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Jenkins, Administration for
Community Living, Washington, DC 20201, by email at
[email protected] or by telephone at 202-795-7369.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In compliance with 44 U.S.C. 3507, ACL has
submitted the following proposed collection of information to OMB for
review and clearance. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is
requesting approval to collect data for the National Survey of Older
Americans Act (OAA) Participants information collection to include
consumer assessment surveys for the Congregate and Home-delivered meal
nutrition programs; Case Management, Homemaker, and Transportation
Services; and the National Family Caregiver Support Program.
This survey builds on earlier national pilot studies and surveys,
as well as performance measurement tools developed by ACL grantees in
the Performance Outcomes Measures Project (POMP). Changes identified as
a result of these initiatives were incorporated into the last data
collection package that was approved by OMB and are included in this
proposed extension of a currently approved collection. This information
will be used by ACL to track performance outcome measures; support
budget requests; comply with the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRMA)
reporting requirements; provide national benchmark information; and
inform program development and management initiatives.
In addition to the proposed extension of the existing collection of
information, ACL is requesting approval for a module on COVID-19 to be
added to the currently approved NSOAAP data collection effort. This
module supplants the module on Emergency Preparedness that was included
in the 60-day FRN due to the ongoing health crisis older adults are
experiencing as a result of COVID-19. The Emergency Preparedness module
will be added to the 2022 collection instrument.
As part of a nationwide effort to slow transmission of COVID-19,
communities have closed locations such as senior centers, adult day
care centers, and congregate meal facilities where many older adults
received vital home- and community-based services. In addition, many of
the in-home services that help older adults to remain in their homes,
such as home-delivered meals, homemaker services, and respite care have
been curtailed due to fear of spreading COVID-19. This, combined with
families and friends unable to assist loved ones due to the fear of
spreading the virus, have left many older adults isolated and without
the programs and services they need to remain living safely in the
community. The purpose of adding questions on COVID-19 to the NSOAAP is
to measure the effect COVID-19 has had on older adults' access to and
use of Older Americans Act programs and services during the past year.
The results of this information collection will be used by ACL/AoA
to:
Provide refined national benchmarks for use by states and
AAAs.
Provide secondary data for analysis of various Title III
program evaluations.
Provide performance information for key demographic
subgroups, geographical sub regions, and different types of AAAs which
will enable ACL/AoA to identify variations in performance and examine
the need for additional targeted technical assistance.
Provide secondary data for analysis of the effect of
COVID-19 on access to and use of OAA programs and services among older
adults that will be shared with states and AAAs to help structure their
programs and services in response to COVID-related changes.
The data will be used by the Administrator of the Administration
for Community Living/Assistant Secretary for Aging in testimony and
presentations; it will be incorporated into the agency's Annual Report;
and it will be used by program staff to identify areas that may need
attention at the national level.
Descriptions of previous National Surveys of OAA Participants can
be found under the section on OAA Performance Information on ACL's
website at: https://acl.gov/programs/performance-older-americans-act-programs. Copies of the survey instruments and data from previous
National Surveys of OAA Participants can be found and queried using the
Aging, Independence, and Disability (AGID) Program Data Portal at
https://www.agid.acl.gov/.
Comments in Response to the 60-Day Federal Register Notice
A notice published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, November 17,
2020 in 85 FR No. 222 page 73273. There were thirteen public comments
received during the 60-day FRN, please see ACLs response to comment
listed below.
[[Page 17154]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Topic/issue Comment ACL response
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food insecurity in older ``We support the ACL concurs and
adults. inclusion of the plans to maintain
USDA module to the USDA module and
provide national associated
estimates of the questions for the
rate of food foreseeable future.
insecurity among
OAA program
participants. We
recommend this
module be
continuously
included in future
administration of
this survey.''
Risk of malnutrition........ ``We suggest that ACL recognizes the
ACL consider adding importance of
malnutrition reducing and
screening questions assessing risk for
in addition to the malnutrition.
USDA module's food However, further
insecurity deliberation is
questions, such as: needed to ensure
Do you ever that we select the
eat only one meal most appropriate
daily?''. and universally
Do limits accepted language.
on chewing, ACL will call upon
swallowing or the expertise of a
physical mobility nutrition workgroup
ever prevent you to make
from eating your recommendations to
home-delivered ACL on selecting
meals, even though the best language
you may be to use. The
hungry?''. workgroup's
Do limits recommendation will
on chewing, inform a redesign
swallowing or of future NSOAAP
physical mobility survey collection
ever prevent you efforts.
from getting to
your local
congregate meal
site and eating
your meal, even
though you may be
hungry?''.
Medically-tailored meals for ``We suggest that ACL recognizes the
participants requiring ACL consider adding importance of
special diets. a question about capturing data on
the need for the capability of
therapeutic diets OAA nutrition
or texture-modified programs to
meals to better accommodate special
understand the diets. ACL will
needs of call upon nutrition
participants as it experts to make
relates to recommendations and
medically tailored inform a redesign
meals.'' of future NSOAAP
collection efforts.
Ethnic and cultural barriers ``We suggest that ACL recognizes that
to communication and ACL consider ethnic and cultural
nutritional preferences. including a barriers may affect
question about participants in the
communication nutrition programs.
barriers to both ACL will call upon
the congregate and nutrition experts
home-delivered to make
meals modules, such recommendations and
as: inform a redesign
Do you have of future NSOAAP
language or collection efforts.
cultural barriers
to talking with
staff at your
congregate meal
site/your home
delivery staff?.
We also suggest that ACL is considering a
ACL consider adding special topical
a question to both module related to
the congregate and equity and
home-delivered underserved
meals modules about populations.
meals meeting
cultural
preferences.
Nutrition counselor: ``SVC1(k) asks ACL recognizes
Rephrase question to whether the ``nutrition
improve clarity. respondent has counselor'' may
access to a offer subjective
``nutrition responses. However,
counselor'' who is respondents may not
providing dietary know if the
advice based on the qualifications of
respondent's the person
condition, providing dietary
medications, and advice. ACL will
related factors. We call upon nutrition
question why the experts to make
survey would not recommendations and
specify ``a inform a redesign
qualified nutrition of future NSOAAP
professional such collection efforts.
as a registered The use of
dietitian'' (or terminology for
registered this item will be
dietitian tested.
nutritionist),
since these
professionals are
the most qualified
to answer such
questions.
Moreover, in 28
states, only
licensed
professionals are
legally eligible to
provide such
advice. The term
``nutrition
counselor'' allows
for substantial
subjective
interpretations,
and could
theoretically
include food
service staff or
other program
participants who
may be providing
such advice against
state law.''
Modify item response in ``We note that the ACL concurs with
nutrition modules to survey asks about this suggested
include positive as well as changes in meals, change. The
negative changes. but almost all requested change
coding options for has been made to
the interviewer are the survey
about reductions or instrument.
negative changes
with few
opportunities for
interviewers to
code any positive
changes reported by
participants. In
addition to coding
for both reductions
and improvements in
quality of the
food, we recommend
adding the
corresponding
``positive'' option
for all other
codes.''
Consistent language in meals ``Ensure that ACL recognizes that
program. consistent language the language used
is used to describe to describe the
the program, meals programs may
particularly for need to be revised
congregate or to be more
senior dining consistent. ACL
meals. Some will call upon
questions use the nutrition experts
term ``meals to make
program'' while recommendations and
others use the term inform a redesign
``lunch program'' of future NSOAAP
or, generically, collection efforts.
``this service'', The term ``meals
including CNR20-23 program'' will be
where three used at this time
different terms are due to the variety
used across four of food services
consecutive during the COVID-19
questions. This pandemic.
also applies to
SVC1 question in
Additional Services
module. We
recommend using the
term ``meals
program'' unless
exclusively
referring to lunch,
as some programs
serve breakfast or
dinner meals rather
than lunch meals.''
Living independently........ ``SVC3 asks about ACL concurs with
continuing to this suggested
``live change. The
independently'' vs. requested change
``living at home'' has been made to
(as they do in the survey
CS15, CNR23, HNR28, instrument.
HC9 and TR20). The
terminology
``living
independently'' is
preferred. Simply
continuing to live
``at home'' does
not mean that the
person is living
independently, is
living in their own
home (vs that of a
relative), or has
autonomy over where
he or she lives.''
[[Page 17155]]
Context of ``secure''....... ``SVC3(b) should be The question refers
more specific with to how participants
regard to the feel about
context of additional services
``secure.'' We are that they or their
unsure whether the care recipient
context is receive. ACL
financial, food- recognizes that the
based, or related use of the word
to physical ``secure'' may be
safety.'' ambiguous. ACL will
call upon experts
in the aging
network to make
recommendations to
inform a redesign
of future NSOAAP
collection efforts.
Multiple meals.............. ``HNR5 should be re- ACL recognizes that
phrased to reflect the question may
the fact that many need to be
HDM clients receive modified. ACL will
more than one meal call upon nutrition
and may consume experts to make
multiple HDMs in a recommendations and
day.'' inform a redesign
of future NSOAAP
collection efforts.
Care recipients under age 60 The 2020 While ACL recognizes
with dementia. reauthorization of the value of
OAA allows collecting data on
``individuals care recipients of
living with the NFCSP who are
dementia under the under 60, that is
age of 60 to access not the focus of
certain OAA the NSOAAP. The
supports like focus of the NSOAAP
nutritional is the service
services and recipients, that
respite care is, the caregivers.
through the
National Family
Caregiver Support
program. We
respectfully
request that ACL
analyze the data
collected on these
younger individuals
and the services
they receive so
that those services
can be tailored and
improved.''
Emergency preparedness...... The advocacy ACL is not going to
organizations add this module for
``support ACL's the 2021
request to add an administration but
emergency still plans to use
preparedness module it in the future.
to the survey. .
.''
Question on participant sex ``I encourage the In order to improve
(gender identity). modification of the demographic data
questions about collection related
participant sex to to the LGBT
include response community, ACL is
options (which are supporting the
recorded but not Measuring Sex,
verbally offered as Gender Identity,
options) to include and Sexual
``transgender'' and Orientation for the
or ``other'' with a National Institutes
write-in option. of Health an ad hoc
The questions this panel of the
relates to are: DE1 National Academies
(DEGENDR); CGC of Sciences,
(CGPMF); CG83 Engineering, and
(CGPMF)--both of Medicine which will
the last have the review current
same variable measures and the
labels and this methodological
should be corrected issues related to
in the survey measuring sex as a
construction.''. non-binary
construct, gender
identity, and
sexual orientation.
The panel will
produce a consensus
report which is
expected in
December 2021. ACL
will use the report
as a foundation for
testing new survey
questions and
administrative data
elements.
The variable label
in the survey
instrument for
CGPMF was corrected
to RGENDER.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Program Burden
ACL estimates the burden associated with this collection of
information as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Responses per Annual burden Annual burden
Respondent/data collection activity respondents respondent Hours per response hours Cost per hour (cost)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area Agency on Aging: Respondent 350 1 4.0..................... 1,400 $44..................... $61,600
selection process.
Service Recipients (i.e., 4,400 1 .75..................... 3,300 $25..................... 82,500
Congregate and Home-delivered meal
nutrition programs; Case
Management, Homemaker, and
Transportation Services) +
Rotating Module.
National Family Caregiver Support 2,200 1 .75..................... 1,650 $25..................... 41,250
Program Clients + Rotating Module.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.......................... 6,950 1 .914 (weighted mean).... 6,350 Varies.................. 185,350
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 17156]]
Dated: March 26, 2021.
Alison Barkoff,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2021-06740 Filed 3-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P
