### 26261 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 88 / Thursday, May 7, 2015 / Notices

development and has been convened to discuss the proposed changes to the HSOPS survey and supplemental items. Upon completion of the pilot test, results will be reviewed with the TEP and the survey will be finalized. This TEP activity does not impose a burden on the public and is therefore not included in the burden estimates in Exhibits 1 and 2.

(4) Dissemination activities—The final HSOPS 2.0 instrument and supplemental items will be made publicly available through the AHRQ Web site. A report from the bridge study will also be made public as a resource to hospitals making the transition to the new survey. This dissemination activity does not impose a burden on the public and is therefore not included in the burden estimates in Exhibits 1 and 2. Estimated Annual Respondent Burden

Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours for the participants’ time to take part in this research. Cognitive interviews for the draft HSOPS 2.0 will be conducted with 36 individuals and will take about one hour and 30 minutes to complete. Cognitive interviews for the supplemental items will be conducted with 36 individuals and take about one hour to complete. We will recruit 40 hospitals for the pilot test and bridge study, sampling approximately 500 staff members in each (250 taking the original survey and 250 taking the HSOPS 2.0 and supplemental item set). Because we require such a large sample within each hospital, we will target only hospitals with 49 or more beds. For hospitals with fewer than 500 providers and staff, we will conduct a census in the hospital (assuming on average 375 providers and staff in these hospitals this will yield a total of 18,375 sample members assuming all 40 hospitals participate. Assuming a response rate of 50 percent, this will yield a total of 9,188 completed questionnaires. The total annualized burden is estimated to be 2,387 hours.

Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden associated with the participants’ time to take part in this research. The total cost burden is estimated to be $83,533.26.



### EXHIBIT 

### 1—E STIMATED 

### A NNUALIZED 

### B URDEN 

### H OURS

Form name/activity Number of respondents Hours per response Total burden hours

Cognitive interviews—HSOPS 2.0 .............................................................................................. 36 1.5 54 Cognitive interviews—Supplemental Items ................................................................................. 36 1.0 36 Pilot test and bridge study .................................................................................................... ....... 9,188 0.25 2,297

Total .......................................................................................................................... ............ 9,260 na 2,387



### EXHIBIT 

### 2—E STIMATED 

### A NNUALIZED 

### C OST 

### B URDEN

Form name/activity Total burden hours Average hourly wage rate * Total cost burden

Cognitive interviews (HSOPS 2.0 and supplemental items) ....................................................... 90 a $35.38 $3,184.20 Pilot test and bridge study .................................................................................................... ....... 2,297 b 34.98 80,349.06

Total .......................................................................................................................... ............ 2,387 na 83,533.26

a Based on the weighted average hourly wage in hospitals for one physician (29–1060; $101.53), one registered nurse (29–1141; $30.22), one general and operations manager (11–1021; $52.64), and six clinical lab techs (29–2010; $22.34) whose hourly wage is meant to re present wages for other hospital employees who may participate in cognitive interviews.

b Based on the weighted average hourly wage in hospitals for 1,981 registered nurses, 209 clinical lab techs, 176 physicians and surgeons, and 21 general and operations managers.

* National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2013, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (available at http:// www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4

_ 621100.htm [for general medical and surgical hospitals, NAICS 622100]).

Request for Comments

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ’s information collection are requested with regard to any of the following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ health care research and health care information dissemination functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ’s estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information upon the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the Agency’s subsequent request for OMB approval of the proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Dated: April 27, 2015. Sharon B. Arnold, Deputy Director, AHRQ.
[FR Doc. 2015–10982 Filed 5–6–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4160–90–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND**  **HUMAN SERVICES**

**Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality** 

**National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality:**  **Request for Nominations for Public Members** 

**AGENCY :**  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

**ACTION :**  Notice of request for nominations for public members.

**SUMMARY :**  42 U.S.C. 299c establishes a National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality (the Council). The Council is to advise the Secretary of HHS (Secretary) and the


### 26262 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 88 / Thursday, May 7, 2015 / Notices

Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on matters related to activities of the Agency to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.

Seven current members’ terms will expire in November 2015. To fill these positions, we are seeking individuals who are distinguished in: (1) The conduct of research, demonstration projects, and evaluations with respect to health care; (2) the fields of health care quality research or health care improvement; (3) the practice of medicine; (4) other health professions; (5) representing the private health care sector (including health plans, providers, and purchasers) or administrators of health care delivery systems; (6) the fields of health care economics, information systems, law, ethics, business, or public policy; and, (7) representing the interests of patients and consumers of health care. 42 U.S.C. 299c(c)(2). Individuals are particularly sought with experience and success in activities specified in the summary above.

**DATES :**  Nominations should be received on or before 60 days after date of publication.

**ADDRESSES :**  Nominations should be sent to Ms. Karen Brooks, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Room 3006, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Nominations may also be emailed to Karen.Brooks@ ahrq.hhs.gov

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Jaime Zimmerman, AHRQ, at (301) 427–
1456.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  42 U.S.C. 299c provides that the Secretary shall appoint to the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality twenty one appropriately qualified individuals. At least seventeen members shall be representatives of the public and at least one member shall be a specialist in the rural aspects of one or more of the professions or fields listed in the above summary. In addition, the Secretary designates, as ex officio members, representatives from other Federal agencies, principally agencies that conduct or support health care research, as well as Federal officials the Secretary may consider appropriate. 42 U.S.C. 299c(c)(3). The Council meets in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, generally in Rockville, Maryland, approximately three times a year to provide broad guidance to the Secretary and AHRQ’s Director on the direction of and programs undertaken by AHRQ.

Seven individuals will be selected by the Secretary to serve on the Council beginning with the meeting in the spring of 2016. Members generally serve 3-year terms. Appointments are staggered to permit an orderly rotation of membership.

Interested persons may nominate one or more qualified persons formembership on the Council. Selfnominations are accepted. Nominations shall include: (1) A copy of the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae; and (2) a statement that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the Council. Selected candidates will be asked to provide detailed information concerning their financial interests, consultant positions and research grants and contracts, to permit evaluation of possible sources of conflict of interest. Please note that once a candidate is nominated, AHRQ may consider that nomination for future positions on the Council. Federally registered lobbyists are not permitted to serve on this advisory board pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum entitled ‘‘Lobbyists on Agency Boards and Commissions’’ dated June 10, 2010, and the Office of Management and Budget’s ‘‘Final Guidance on Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal Boards and Commissions,’’ 76 FR 61756 (October 5, 2011).

The Department seeks a broad geographic representation. In addition, AHRQ conducts and supports research concerning priority populations, which include: low-income groups; minority groups; women; children; the elderly; and individuals with special health care needs, including individuals with disabilities and individuals who need chronic care or end-of-life health care. See 42 U.S.C. 299(c). Nominations of persons with expertise in health care for these priority populations are encouraged.

Sharon B. Arnold, Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2015–10983 Filed 5–6–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4160–90–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES** 

**Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality** 

**Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;**  **Comment Request**

**AGENCY :**  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS. **ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed changes to the currently approved information collection project: ‘‘Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Insurance Component.’’ In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501–3521, AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection.

This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on February 18th, 2015 and allowed 60 days for public comment. No comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.

**DATES :**  Comments on this notice must be received by June 8, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  Written comments should be submitted to: AHRQ’s OMB Desk Officer by fax at (202) 395–6974 (attention: AHRQ’s desk officer) or by email at OIRA

_submission@omb.eop.gov (attention: AHRQ’s desk officer).

Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 427–1477, or by email at doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Proposed Project Medical Expenditure Panel Survey— Insurance Component

Employer-sponsored health insurance is the source of coverage for 78 million current and former workers, plus many of their family members, and is a cornerstone of the U.S. health care system. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Insurance Component (MEPS– IC) measures on an annual basis theextent, cost, and coverage of employersponsored health insurance. These statistics are produced at the National, State, and sub-State (metropolitan area) level for private industry. Statistics are also produced for State and local governments. The MEPS–IC was last approved by OMB on November 21, 2013 and will expire on November 30, 2016. The OMB control number for the MEPS–IC is 0935–0110. All of the supporting documents for the current MEPS–IC can be downloaded from OMB’s Web site at http:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/