Notice2026-10039
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 20, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29494-29496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10039]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30Day-26-1030]
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information
collection request titled ``Developmental Studies to improve the
National Health Care Surveys'' to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a ``Proposed
Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations''
notice on February 24, 2026 to obtain comments from the public and
affected agencies. CDC received two comments related to the previous
notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public
and affected agency comments.
CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly
interested in comments that:
(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected;
(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses; and
(e) Assess information collection costs.
To request additional information on the proposed project or to
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call
(404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Direct
written
[[Page 29495]]
comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this
notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and
Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202)
395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice
publication.
Proposed Project
Developmental Studies to improve the National Health Care Surveys
(OMB Control No. 0920-1030)--Reinstatement--National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
Section 306 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C.
242k), as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human
Services (DHHS), acting through the Division of Health Care Statistics
(DHCS) within the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), shall
collect statistics on the extent and nature of illness and disability
of the population of the United States. The DHCS conducts the National
Health Care Surveys, a family of nationally representative surveys of
encounters and health care providers in inpatient, outpatient,
ambulatory, and post-acute and long-term care settings. This
information collection request (ICR) is for the Reinstatement of a
Generic Clearance to conduct developmental studies to improve this
family of surveys. This three-year clearance period will include
studies to evaluate and improve upon existing survey design and
operations, as well as to examine the feasibility of, and address
challenges that may arise with, future expansions of the National
Health Care Surveys.
Specifically, this request covers developmental research with the
following aims: (1) to explore ways to refine and improve upon existing
survey designs and procedures; and (2) to explore and evaluate proposed
survey designs and alternative approaches to data collection. The goal
of these research studies is to further enhance DHCS existing and
future data collection protocols to increase research capacity and
improve health care data quality for the purpose of monitoring public
health and well-being at the national, state and local levels, thereby
informing health policy decision-making processes. The information
collected through this Generic ICR will not be used to make
generalizable statements about the population of interest or to inform
public policy; however, methodological findings may be reported.
This Generic ICR would include studies conducted in person, via
telephone or web surveys, and by postal or electronic mail. Methods
covered would include qualitative (e.g., usability testing, focus
groups, ethnographic studies, and respondent debriefing questionnaires)
and/or quantitative (e.g., pilot tests, pre-tests and split sample
experiments) research methodologies. Examples of studies to improve
existing survey designs and procedures may include evaluation of
incentive approaches to improve recruitment and increase participation
rates; testing of new survey items to obtain additional data on
providers, patients, residents, and their encounters while minimizing
misinterpretation and human error in data collection; testing data
collection in panel surveys; triangulating and validating survey
responses from multiple data sources; assessment of the feasibility of
data retrieval; and development of protocols that will locate,
identify, and collect accurate survey data in the least labor-intensive
and burdensome manner at the sampled practice site.
To explore and evaluate proposed survey designs and alternative
approaches to collecting data, especially with the nationwide adoption
of electronic health records, studies may expand the evaluation of data
extraction of electronic health records and submission via continuity
of care documentation to small/mid-size/large medical providers and
hospital networks, managed care health plans, retail health clinics,
and other inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and long-term care
settings that are currently either in-scope or out-of-scope of the
National Health Care Surveys. Research on feasibility, data quality and
respondent burden also may be carried out in the context of developing
new surveys of health care providers and establishments that are
currently out-of-scope of the National Health Care Surveys.
Specific motivations for conducting developmental studies include:
(1) within the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), new
clinical groups may be expanded to include dentists, psychologists,
podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists), mid-level providers, and
allied-health professionals (e.g., certified nursing aides, medical
assistants, radiology technicians, laboratory technicians, pharmacists,
dieticians/nutritionists). Although not currently used, sampling frames
such as state and organizational listings of other licensed providers
may be studied; (2) within the National Study of Post-Acute and Long-
Term Care Providers, additional new frames may be sought, developed,
and evaluated and data items from home care agencies, long-term care
hospitals, and facilities exclusively serving individuals with
intellectual or developmental disability may be tested. Similarly, data
may be obtained from lists compiled by states and other organizations.
Data about the facilities as well as residents and their visits will be
investigated; (3) in the inpatient and outpatient care settings, the
National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS) may investigate the addition of
facility and patient information especially as it relates to insurance
and electronic medical records.
The National Health Care Surveys collect critical, accurate data
that are used to produce reliable national estimates--and in recent
years, state-level estimates--of clinical services and of the providers
who delivered those services in inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and
long-term care settings. The data from these surveys are used by
providers, policy makers and researchers to address important topics of
interest, including the quality and disparities of care among
populations, epidemiology of medical conditions, diffusion of
technologies, effects of policies and practice guidelines, and changes
in health care over time. Research studies need to be conducted to
improve existing and proposed survey design and procedures of the
National Health Care Surveys, as well as to evaluate alternative data
collection approaches particularly due to the expansion of electronic
health record use, and to develop new sample frames of currently out-
of-scope providers and settings of care.
The average burden on respondents for the individual projects under
this Generic Clearance are designed to cover 15-40 min interviews as
well as 90-minute focus groups, longer on-site visits, and situations
where organizations may be preparing electronic data files. CDC
requests OMB approval for a total estimated annual burden of 3,000
hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their time to
participate.
[[Page 29496]]
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Avg. burden
Type of respondents Form name Number of responses per per response
respondents respondent (in hours)
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Health Care Providers and Business Interviews, surveys, 2,582 1 1
entities. focus groups,
experiments (in person,
phone, internet, postal/
electronic mail).
Health Care Providers, State/local Interviews, surveys, 167 1 2.5
government agencies, and business focus groups,
entities. experiments (in person,
phone, internet, postal/
electronic mail).
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2026-10039 Filed 5-19-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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