67734 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 2, 2011 / Notices 

EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COSY BURDEN—Continued 

Form name 

Number of 

respondents/ 

POCs 

Total burden 

hours 

Average hourly 

wage rate* Total cost burden 

Data Submission .............................................................................. 85 468 41.39 19,371 

Total .......................................................................................... 340 511 NA 21,152 

* The wage rate in Exhibit 2 is based on May 2009 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Bureau o Labor 

Statistics, U.S. Dept of Labor. Mean hourly wages for nursing home POCs are located at http://www.bls.gov/oes/2009/may/naics4 623100.htm 

and http://www.bls.gov/oes/2009/may/naics2 62.htm. The hourly wage of $41.39 is the weighted mean of $41.94 (General and Operations Managers; N = 25), $37.29 (Medical and Health Services Managers; N = 25), $42.89 (General and Operations Managers; N = 30) and $50.00 (Computer and Information Systems Managers; N = 5). 

Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal 

Government 

The estimated annualized cost to the 

government for developing, 

maintaining, and managing the database 

and analyzing the data and producing 

reports is shown below. The cost is 

estimated to be $310,000 annually. The 

total cost over the three years of this 

information collection request is 

$930,000. 

EXHIBIT 3—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST

Cost component Total cost Annualized cost 

Project Development ............................................................................................................................... $59,715 $19,905 

Data Collection Activities ......................................................................................................................... 82,107 27,369 

Data Processing and Analysis ................................................................................................................. 111,963 37,321 

Publication of Results .............................................................................................................................. 111,966 37,322 

Project Management ................................................................................................................................ 7,464 2,488 

Overhead ................................................................................................................................................. 556,785 185,595 

Total .................................................................................................................................................. 930,000 310,000 

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 healthcare 

research and healthcare 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: October 25, 2011. 

Carolyn M. Clancy, 

Director. 

[FR Doc. 2011–28403 Filed 11–1–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4160–90–M 

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 

information collection project: ‘‘MEPS 

Cancer Self Administrated 

Questionnaire.’’ In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 

3501–3521, AHRQ invites the public to 

comment on this proposed information 

collection. 

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received by January 3, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments should 

be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, 

Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by 

email at dorislefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov. 

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 

MEPS Cancer SAQ 

The Medical Expenditure Panel 

Survey (MEPS) is a nationally 

representative survey of the civilian 

noninstitutionalized population of all 

ages in the United States that collects 

comprehensive data on health care and 

health care expenditures from all payors 

(including private payors, Medicaid, the 

VA, and out-of-pocket) over a two-year 

period. The MEPS has been conducted 

annually since 1996. The OMB Control 

Number for the MEPS is 0935–0118, 

with an expiration date of January 31st, 

2013. All of the supporting documents 

for the MEPS can be downloaded from 

http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRAViewDocument?ref_nbr=200910- 

0935-001. 

The purpose of this request is to 

integrate the new self-administered 

questionnaire (SAQ) entitled, 

‘‘Experiences with Cancer,’’ into the 

MEPS. Once the SAQ is integrated it 

will be completed by MEPS participants 

identified as ever having cancer. The 


emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 2, 2011 / Notices 67735 

Cancer SAQ will be included in the 

MEPS in 2012; it will be subsequently 

removed from the MEPS in 2013. 

The work is being conducted by 

AHRQ through its contractor, Westat, 

pursuant to AHRQ’s statutory authority 

to conduct and support research on 

healthcare and on systems for the 

delivery of such care, including the use 

of surveys to collect data on the cost, 

use and quality of such care. 42 U.S.C. 

299b–2; 42 U.S.C. 299a(a)(1), (2), (3), 

and (8). 

Method of Collection 

MEPS respondents identified as 

having cancer will be given the paper 

questionnaire to complete themselves. If 

the cancer SAQ respondent is available 

at the time of the MEPS interview, we 

ask that he/she complete the SAQ and 

give it to the interviewer before she 

leaves the household after completing 

the MEPS interview. If the cancer SAQ 

is not collected before the interviewer 

leaves the household (including those 

cases where the SAQ respondent is not 

available at the time of the MEPS 

interview), he/she will either arrange a 

time to come back to pick it up (if it is 

mutually convenient for the respondent 

and interviewer) or we ask that the SAQ 

be returned in a postage-paid envelope 

left at the household. 

There are several benefits to 

administering this SAQ nationally as a 

supplement to the MEPS. First, the 

accompanying over sample of persons 

with cancer will improve the cost 

estimates for patients with this disease 

and will allow AHRQ to conduct 

analysis on the long term costs of cancer 

for survivors. Since the survey is about 

the lasting effects of cancer and cancer 

treatments on the lives of those who 

have been diagnosed with cancer, the 

data will also allow research directed at 

long-term consequences of cancer and 

overall medical expenses. Finally, this 

activity will allow AHRQ to examine 

the feasibility of using MEPS as a 

vehicle for in depth analysis of other 

specific conditions. The questionnaire is 

being funded by the National Cancer 

Institute (NCI) and was developed 

through a collaboration among the 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, NCI, the National Institutes 

of Health, AHRQ, the American Cancer 

Society, and the Lance Armstrong 

Foundation. 

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden 

Exhibit 1 shows the estimated 

annualized burden hours for 

respondents’ time to participate in this 

research. The Cancer SAQ will be 

completed by 3,500 persons and is 

estimated to require 30 minutes to 

complete. The total annualized burden 

is estimated to be 1,750 hours. 

Exhibit 2 shows the estimated 

annualized cost burden associated with 

respondents’ time to participate in this 

research. The total cost burden is 

estimated to be $37,363 annually. 

EXHIBIT 1—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS

Activity Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses 

per 

respondent 

Hours per 

response 

Total burden 

hours 

MEPS Cancer SAQ ......................................................................................... 3,500 1 30/60 1,750 

Total .......................................................................................................... 3,500 n/a n/a 1,750 

EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST BURDEN

Activity Number of 

respondents 

Total burden 

hours 

Average 

hourly wage 

rate* 

Total cost 

burden 

MEPS Cancer SAQ ......................................................................................... 3,500 1,750 $21.35 $37,363 

Total .......................................................................................................... 3,500 1,750 n/a 37,363 

* Based on the mean average hourly rate for all occupations (00–0000), National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United 

States May 2010, ‘‘U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics’’. 

Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal 

Government 

Exhibit 3 shows the estimated total 

cost for the Cancer SAQ. Since the SAQ 

will only be used once in 2012 the total 

and annual costs are identical. The total 

cost is approximately $1,050,000. 

EXHIBIT 3—ESTIMATED TOTAL AND ANNUALIZED COST

Cost component Total cost Annualized cost 

Sampling Activities ................................................................................................................................... $20,000 $20,000 

Interviewer Recruitment and Training ..................................................................................................... 0 0 

Data Collection Activities ......................................................................................................................... 300,000 300,000 

Data Processing ...................................................................................................................................... 600,000 600,000 

Production of Public Use Data Files ....................................................................................................... 80,000 80,000 

Project Management ................................................................................................................................ 50,000 50,000 

Total .................................................................................................................................................. 1,050,000 1,050,000 


emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
67736 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 2, 2011 / Notices 

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 healthcare 

research and healthcare 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: October 27, 2011. 

Carolyn M. Clancy, 

Director. 

[FR Doc. 2011–28402 Filed 11–1–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4160–90–M 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention 

[Docket NIOSH–219] 

Implementation of Section 2695 (42 

U.S.C. 300ff–131) of Public Law 111– 

87: Infectious Diseases and 

Circumstances Relevant to Notification 

Requirements 

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, Department of Health and 

Human Services. 

ACTION: Final notice. 

SUMMARY: The Ryan White HIV/AIDS 

Treatment Extension Act of 2009 (Pub. 

L. 111–87) addresses notification 

procedures for medical facilities and 

state public health officers and their 

designated officers regarding exposure 

of emergency response employees 

(EREs) to potentially life-threatening 

infectious diseases. The Secretary of 

Health and Human Services (Secretary) 

has delegated authority to the Director 

of the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC) to issue a list of 

potentially life-threatening infectious 

diseases, including emerging infectious 

diseases, to which EREs may be exposed 

in responding to emergencies (including 

a specification of those infectious 

diseases that are routinely transmitted 

through airborne or aerosolized means); 

guidelines describing circumstances in 

which employees may be exposed to 

these diseases; and guidelines 

describing the manner in which medical 

facilities should make determinations 

about exposures. On December 13, 2010, 

CDC invited comment on a draft list of 

covered infectious diseases and both 

sets of guidelines (75 FR 77642). In 

consideration of the comments received, 

this notice sets forth CDC’s final list of 

diseases, final guidelines describing 

circumstances under which exposure to 

listed diseases may occur, and final 

guidelines for determining whether an 

exposure to the listed diseases has 

occurred. 

DATES: The list of diseases and 

guidelines in this notice will be 

effective December 2, 2011. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

James Spahr, Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention, National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health, 1600 

Clifton Road, NE., M/S E20, Atlanta, GA 

30333, telephone (404) 498–6185. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Preamble Table of Contents 

Introduction 

Response to Comments 

Implementation of Section 2695 (42 U.S.C. 

300ff–131): Infectious Diseases and 

Circumstances Relevant to Notification 

Requirements 

Contents 

Definitions 

Part I. List of Potentially Life-Threatening 

Infectious Diseases to Which Emergency 

Response Employees May Be Exposed 

Part II. Guidelines Describing the 

Circumstances in Which Emergency 

Response Employees May Be Exposed to 

Such Diseases 

Part III. Guidelines Describing the Manner in 

Which Medical Facilities Should Make 

Determinations for Purposes of Section 

2695B(d) [42 U.S.C. 300ff–133(d)] 

Introduction 

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment 

Extension Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111–87) 

amended the Public Health Service Act 

(PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. 201–300ii), 

including the addition of a Part G to 

Title XXVI, which addresses 

notification procedures and 

requirements for medical facilities and 

state public health officers and their 

designated officers regarding exposure 

of EREs to potentially life-threatening 

infectious diseases. (See Title XXVI, 

Part G of the PHS Act, codified as 

amended at 42 U.S.C. 300ff–131 to 

300ff–140.) 

For purposes of these notification 

requirements, sec. 2695 [42 U.S.C. 

300ff–131] requires the Secretary to 

develop and disseminate: 

1. A list of potentially life-threatening 

infectious diseases, including emerging 

infectious diseases, to which EREs may 

be exposed in responding to 

emergencies (including a specification 

of those infectious diseases on the list 

that are routinely transmitted through 

airborne or aerosolized means); 

2. guidelines describing the 

circumstances in which such employees 

may be exposed to such diseases, taking 

into account the conditions under 

which emergency response is provided; 

and 

3. guidelines describing the manner in 

which medical facilities should make 

determinations for purposes of sec. 

2695B(d) [Evaluation and Response 

Regarding Request to Medical Facility, 

42 U.S.C. 300ff–133(d)]. 

On July 7, 2010, the Secretary issued 

a PHS Act Delegation of Authority 

(Delegation of Authority), which 

assigned to the Director of CDC the 

authority vested in the Secretary of HHS 

(Secretary) under sec. 2695 of Title 

XXVI (42 U.S.C. 300ff–131) ‘‘as it 

pertains to the functions assigned to the 

[CDC]’’ (75 FR 40842, July 14, 2010). On 

December 13, 2010, CDC invited 

comment on a draft list of covered 

infectious diseases and two sets of 

guidelines developed pursuant to this 

Delegation of Authority and 42 U.S.C. 

300ff–131 through a general notice and 

request for comments published in the 

Federal Register (75 FR 77642). 

Response to Comments 

In response to the December 2010 

notice, CDC received a total of 83 

comments from 22 individuals and/or 

organizations. The comments are 

addressed below. 

Emergency Response Employees (EREs) 

Comment: CDC received two 

comments regarding EREs. One 

commenter wanted to make it clear that 

police were included among the group 

of people considered EREs. The other 

commenter wanted there to be a 

specification that EREs included 

volunteer and paid emergency medical 

services. 

CDC response: ‘‘Emergency response 

employee’’ is not defined in the PHS 

Act, and CDC’s authority for purposes of 

this notice is limited to those duties set 

out in the Delegation of Authority (75 

FR 40842). The duties of an individual 

considered an ERE are described in 42 

U.S.C. 300ff–133(a): 


emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES