[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 20 (Monday, February 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 5824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2198]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket ID: DoD-2009-HA-0013]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health 
Affairs, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense 
for Health Affairs announces the proposed extension of a public 
information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions 
thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed extension of 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the information collection; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received April 3, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and 
title, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160 
Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1160.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency 
name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The 
general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the 
public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without 
change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and 
associated collection instruments, please write to Office of the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (OASD), TRICARE--
Health Program Analysis and Evaluation, ATTN: LtCol Lorraine Babeu, 
5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810A, Falls Church, VA 22041-3206, or call 
(703) 681-0039.
    Title Associated With Form, and OMB Number: Public Perceptions of 
Military Health Care System; OMB No. 0720-0038.
    Needs and Uses: The goal of this survey effort is to determine the 
public's perceptions of Military Health Care and compare and contrast 
that with their perceptions of U.S. Health Care.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Annual Burden Hours: 133.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Annual Responses: 1,000.
    Average Burden per Response: .133 (8 minutes).
    Frequency: Annually.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

    The goal of this survey effort is to understand and compare the 
public's perceptions of Military health care to that of Health Care in 
general in the United States. The Military Health Care System's vision 
statement is--``A world class health system that supports the military 
mission by fostering, protecting, sustaining and restoring health''. 
Recent developments have tarnished that vision. The media have focused 
attention on the plight of wounded military personnel in the direct 
care environment. They have published various articles and stories on 
the shortfalls of Military Health Care to include support services 
(Medical Evaluation Boards, Physical Evaluation Boards, Housing, Pay, 
etc.) as provided in accounts from beneficiary and other sources. There 
are numerous and ongoing anecdotal accounts of red tape, bureaucracy, 
physician shortages (particularly mental health care workers), 
substandard care, neglect, problems with consults and appointments, and 
overall perceived deep and systemic failures of the Military Health 
Care System. HA/TMA is very concerned about the implications of these 
negative accounts of Military Health Care on the perceptions of the 
public regarding the provision of health care, ancillary and support 
services. HA/TMA would like to understand the extent to which the 
public holds negative perceptions of the system, what their perceptions 
were/are about Military Health Care in general and what can be done, if 
anything, to help regain the public's trust in this important resource 
since this current breech occurred. We would also like to compare and 
contrast the public's perceptions of Military Health Care with those of 
Health Care in the public arena as a way to gain more insight into the 
issue. Moreover, health care for military personnel and their family 
members has often been cited as one of the key recruitment and 
retention tools for the Department. Data from this survey will help 
establish a baseline for understanding the public's attitude about 
Military Health Care and help determine if changes in the system based 
on recommended interventions such as increased staffing, computerized 
medical records, streamlined processes and procedures, etc., will 
improve the public's perceptions or attitudes. For the purposes of this 
survey, Military Health Care is defined as medical and dental care for 
individuals entitled to health care under 10 U.S.C., Chapter 55.

    Dated: January 27, 2009.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
 [FR Doc. E9-2198 Filed 1-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P