Notice2026-17624
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
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
August 28, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled the National Death Index (NDI). The NDI allows NCHS to collect mortality data to support epidemiological research and to furnish mortality information to approved public health and medical investigators.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55594-55596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17624]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-26-0215; Docket No. CDC-2026-1453]
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice with comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part
of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the
utility of government information, invites the general public and other
federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This
notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project
titled the National Death Index (NDI). The NDI allows NCHS to collect
mortality data to
[[Page 55595]]
support epidemiological research and to furnish mortality information
to approved public health and medical investigators.
DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before October 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2026-
1453 by either of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road
NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments
to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking
portal (<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>) or by U.S. mail to the address listed
above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton
Road NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; Telephone: 404-639-7570;
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0dfddd2f0d3d4d39ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="026d6f60426166612c656d74">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of
information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires
federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new
proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of
information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information
collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To
comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a
proposed data collection as described below.
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
1. 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;
2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected;
4. 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
submissions of responses; and
5. Assess information collection costs.
Proposed Project
Application Form and Related Forms for the Operation of the
National Death Index (NDI) (OMB Control No. 0920-0215)--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.), as
amended, authorizes that the Secretary of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), acting through NCHS, shall collect statistics on the extent and
nature of illness and disability of the population of the United
States. The National Death Index (NDI) is a database containing
identifying death record information submitted annually to NCHS by all
the jurisdiction (states and territories) vital statistics offices,
beginning with deaths in 1979. Searches against the NDI file provide
the jurisdictions and dates of death, and the death certificate numbers
of deceased study subjects.
Using the NDI Plus service, researchers have the option of also
receiving cause of death information for deceased subjects, thus
reducing the need to request copies of death certificates from the
jurisdictions. The NDI Plus option currently provides the International
Classification of Disease (ICD) codes for the underlying and multiple
causes of death. Health researchers must complete administrative forms
in order to apply for NDI services and submit records of study subjects
for computer matching against the NDI file. A three-year approval is
requested to continue the use of the two administrative forms (the
application form and transmittal form) utilized in the operation of the
NDI program, along with worksheets used to calculate related fees, the
NDI Data Use Agreement, the Supplemental NDI Data Use Agreement (only
needed by some NDI Users), and the Data Destruction Form. These forms
are submitted by NDI users when applying for use of the NDI, when
actually using the service and when completing the service. In
addition, this request includes the electronic versions that replace
paper documents, one of which will include a minor reduction in the
number of data collection items.
The total estimated annual burden hours requested by CDC are 1,374.
This represents an increase of 308 hours from 1,066, due primarily to
the increase in applications, and transmittal forms. There is no cost
to respondents other than their time.
Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Average burden
Type of respondent Form name Number of responses per per response Total burden
respondents respondent (in hours) hours
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Researcher.................... Application 282 1 2.5 705
Form--electroni
c.
Researcher.................... Transmittal 400 3 18/60 360
Form--Paper/
Electronic.
Researcher.................... Early 100 3 18/60 90
Transmittal
Form--Paper/
Electronic.
Researcher.................... Fee Worksheet... 450 1 15/60 113
Researcher.................... Early Release 100 1 5/60 8
Fee Worksheet.
Researcher.................... Data Destruction 282 1 2/60 9
Form.
Researcher.................... NDI Data Use 282 1 5/60 24
Agreement.
Researcher.................... Supplemental NDI 130 1 30/60 65
Data Use
Agreement.
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Total..................... ................ .............. .............. .............. 1,374
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[[Page 55596]]
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. 2026-17624 Filed 8-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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