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 Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
 AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Health and Human Services.
 ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection.
 SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to allow the proposed information collection project “Continuance of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Household and Medical Provider Component through 2009.” In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed collection. This proposed information collection was previously published in the 
                        **Federal Register**
                         on June 2, 2006 and allowed 60 days for public comment. No public 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 September 20, 2006.
 ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ, Reports Clearance Officer, 540 Gaither Road, Suite 5036, Rockville, MD 20850. Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection instruments and specific details of the estimated burden can be obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ, Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Project “Continuance of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Household and Medical Provider Component through 2009.” AHRQ has conducted an annual panel survey of U.S. households and their associated medical providers since 1996 through the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS)-Household (MEPS-HC) and Medical Provider Component (MEPS-MPC). This clearance requests continuance of this annual survey through 2009. The MEPS is jointly sponsored by the AHRQ and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The MEPS is conducted using a sample of households that responded to a prior year's National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) which is sponsored by the NCHS. The NHIS surveys approximately 40,000 households (110,000 persons) each year. The NHIS is used as a sampling frame for the MEPS and other surveys to increase efficiency of data collection efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services. Data to be collected from each household is completed through the MEPS-HC and includes detailed information on demographics, health conditions, health status, use of health care services, charges and payments for medical care, medications, and employment and health insurance. Data to be collected from medical providers including hospitals, physicians, and pharmacies is completed through the MEPS-MPC which supplements and verifies information provided by the households. With the written permission of household members of the MEPS-HC, the MEPS-MPC collects actual dates of services, diagnosis and service codes, as well as charges and payments for services. Subject to AHRQ NCHS confidentiality statutes, data will be made available through Agency publications, journals, public use files and Web-based statistical tools. The data are intended for multiple purposes including: Generating national estimates of individual and family health care use and expenditures, private and public health insurance coverage, and the availability, cost and scope of private health benefits among Americans.
                Examining the quality of care for Americans, especially those with chronic conditions.
                Examining access to and costs of health care for common diseases and conditions, health care quality, prescribed medications and other health issues. Statisticians and researchers will use these data to make important generalizations about the civilian non-institutionalized population of the United States and to conduct research in which the family is the unit of analysis. Data Confidentiality The confidentiality of MEPS data is protected under the NCHS and AHRQ confidentiality statutes, found in sections 934(c) and 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299c-3(c) and 42 U.S.C. 242m).  
                    ( print page 48549) Methods of Collection AHRQ introduces the study to respondents of the Household Component through an advance mailing. This first contact will provide the respondent with information on the importance and uses of the data. Once consent for participation is established, AHRQ, through its contractors will conduct five, in person, interviews over a 30-month time period with each participating household to obtain information to support two years of national estimates. Computer-assisted personal interviewing will be used. In uncommon instances, the identical interview may be administered over the phone. Respondents may also be asked to complete one or more short, self-administered questionnaires over the course of the study. The Medical Provider Component is completed predominately by telephone and mail. A substantial portion of the pharmacy providers elect to submit their responses electronically. MEPS-HC Annual Data Collection Estimated Burden
Activity
Unit
Number of 
                             responses
House per 
                             response
Burden in hours**Jan-July**07 panel interview
Households
7,900
2.0
15,80006 panel interview
Households
7,650
1.5
11,47506 panel DCS
Persons 18+ with diabetes
800
0.1
8005 panel interview
Households
7,400
1.5
11,10005 panel DCS
Persons 18+ with diabetes
750
0.1
75Re-interview
responses
2,065
0.1
207**Aug-Dec**07 Panel interview
Households
7,700
1.5
11,55007 Panel SAQ
Persons 18+
6,950 × 1.8
0.2
2,50206 panel interview
Households
7,550
1.5
11,32506 Panel SAQ
Persons 18+
6,800 × 1.8
0.2
2,448Reinterview
responses
1,373
0.1
138Total



66,700
 MEPS-MPC Annual Data Collection Estimated Burden—Pair Level Calculation
Type
Number of patient/provider pairs
Events per pair
Total events
Response time/event (minutes)
Burden in hoursHospitals
10,500
3.2
33,600
5
2800HMO
450
5.0
2250
5
187SBD
15,500
1.4
21,700
3
1085Home health
440
5.8
2552
5
212OBDS
23,210
3.5
81,235
5
6770Pharmacy
14,410
10.3
148,423
3
7421Institutions
100
1.2
120
5
1018,485
 MEPS Summary Data Collection Burden 2007-2009
Unit type
2007
2008
2009
TotalHouseholds
66,700
66,700
66,700
200,100Medical provider
18,485
18,485
18,485
55,455Total
85,185
85,185
85,185
255,555
 Request for Comments In accordance with the above cited legislation, 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 functions of AHRQ, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection 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 request for OMB approval of the proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of public records. Dated: August 14, 2006. Carolyn M. Clancy, Director.


[FR Doc. 06-7068  Filed 8-17-06; 9:08 am] BILLING CODE 4160-90-M