Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 1, 2024 / Notices 79927 

Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Background and Brief Description 

Surgical smoke produced during 

tissue cutting and cauterizing tissues 

and blood vessels generates hazardous 

gaseous compounds and aerosols that 

are associated with cancer and 

respiratory irritation; however, no 

research has characterized surgical 

smoke generated from animal tissue in 

clinical veterinary settings. Surgical 

smoke exposure is an emerging concern 

in human operating rooms, and several 

states have either passed or are 

considering bills requiring surgical 

smoke evacuation systems in human 

operating rooms to mitigate this 

occupational hazard. Surgical suites in 

veterinary clinics are often multiple bay 

suites or have less effective ventilation 

systems than human operating rooms, 

potentially leading to higher exposure 

levels, yet no research has examined 

barriers and aids to the use of surgical 

smoke evacuation systems among 

veterinary medicine/animal care (VM/ 

AC) personnel. 

The proposed project will 

characterize occupational exposure to 

surgical smoke and related respiratory 

health effects in clinical veterinary 

settings. Data will be used to examine: 

(1) work-related factors that contribute 

to exposure to surgical smoke in clinical 

veterinary settings; (2) relationships 

between surgical smoke exposure in 

clinical veterinary settings and 

respiratory health; and (3) barriers and 

aids to implementing surgical smoke 

extraction systems that reduce 

occupational exposures to surgical 

smoke. Findings from this study will 

help to provide guidance on engineering 

controls to improve air quality in VM/ 

AC personnel’s work environment by 

reducing exposure to surgical smoke. 

Three veterinary teaching hospitals 

and a national network of community 

veterinary clinics have been recruited to 

participate in this research. VM/AC 

personnel at collaborating field study 

sites will have the opportunity to 

voluntarily express interest in 

participating by completing a brief 

expression of interest form. Study 

participants will complete: (1) a 

baseline questionnaire that collects data 

on demographics, work history, job 

tasks, exposures to respiratory hazards 

(including surgical smoke), use of 

personal protective equipment, 

workplace safety climate, and 

respiratory health and symptoms; and 

(2) a post-shift questionnaire assessing 

acute respiratory symptoms and job 

tasks during the work shift. 

This is a new data collection, with 

approval requested for three years. CDC 

requests OMB approval for an estimated 

107 annual burden hours. There are no 

costs to respondents other than their 

time to participate. 

ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS

Type of respondents Form name Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses 

per 

respondent 

Average 

burden per 

response 

(in hours) 

VM/AC personnel ............................................ Expression of Interest Form ........................... 50 1 3/60 

VM/AC personnel ............................................ Informed Consent ........................................... 50 1 15/60 

VM/AC personnel ............................................ Baseline Questionnaire .................................. 50 1 28/60 

VM/AC personnel ............................................ Post-shift Questionnaire ................................. 50 10 8/60 

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. 2024–22471 Filed 9–30–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention 

[30Day–24–0950] 

Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork 

Reduction Act Review 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

has submitted the information 

collection request titled ‘‘National 

Health and Nutrition Examination 

Survey (NHANES)’’ to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review and approval. CDC previously 

published a ‘‘Proposed Data Collection 

Submitted for Public Comment and 

Recommendations’’ notice on May 13, 

2024 to obtain comments from the 

public and affected agencies. CDC did 

not receive comments related to the 

previous notice. This notice serves to 

allow an additional 30 days for public 

and affected agency comments. 

CDC will accept all comments for this 

proposed information collection project. 

The Office of Management and Budget 

is particularly interested in comments 

that: 

(a) 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; 

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the 

agencies estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; 

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; 

(d) 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 submission of 

responses; and 

(e) Assess information collection 

costs. 

To request additional information on 

the proposed project or to obtain a copy 

of the information collection plan and 

instruments, call (404) 639–7570. 

Comments and recommendations for the 

proposed information collection should 

be sent within 30 days of publication of 

this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/ 

do/PRAMain. Find this particular 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. Direct written 

comments and/or suggestions regarding 

the items contained in this notice to the 

Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of 

Management and Budget, 725 17th 

Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by 

fax to (202) 395–5806. Provide written 

comments within 30 days of notice 

publication. 

Proposed Project 

National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey (NHANES) (OMB 

Control No. 0920–0950, Exp. 04/30/ 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
79928 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 1, 2024 / Notices 

2025)—Revision — 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. 242k) 

authorizes that the Secretary of Health 

and Human Services (DHHS), acting 

through NCHS, collect statistics on 

subjects in the United States, such as 

the extent and nature of illness and 

disability of the population; 

environment, social, and other health 

hazards; determinants of health; health 

resources; and utilization of healthcare. 

The National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey (NHANES) has 

been conducted periodically between 

1970 and 1994, and continuously since 

1999 by the National Center for Health 

Statistics, CDC. 

NHANES produces descriptive 

statistics, which measure the health and 

nutritional status of the general 

population. With personal interviews, 

physical examinations, and laboratory 

assessments, NHANES studies the 

relationship between diet, nutrition, and 

health in a representative sample of the 

United States. NHANES monitors the 

prevalence of chronic conditions and 

risk factors and is used to produce 

national reference data on height, 

weight, and nutrient levels in the blood. 

Results from more recent NHANES can 

be compared to findings reported from 

previous surveys to monitor changes in 

the health of the U.S. population over 

time. In 2025–2026, the program is not 

considering any substantive changes to 

NHANES content or procedures. As in 

previous years, the base sample will 

remain at approximately 5,000 

individuals interviewed and examined, 

annually. Children 0–17 years of age, 

persons 65 years of age or older, and 

non-Hispanic Black persons will be 

oversampled in the 2025–2026 survey. 

NCHS collects personally identifiable 

information (PII). Participant level data 

items will include basic demographic 

information, name, address, social 

security number, Medicare number and 

participant health information to allow 

for linkages to other data sources such 

as the National Death Index and data 

from the Centers for Medicare and 

Medicaid Services. 

A variety of agencies sponsor data 

collection components on NHANES. In 

the 2025–2026 clearance proposal, the 

Program modified, added, or removed 

various components that were included 

in the August 2021–August 2023 

NHANES to update and modernize 

processes for data collection. NHANES 

staff conducted a thorough review of the 

survey participant and household 

questionnaire content and made 

changes to focus on retaining questions 

that are to be used in combination with 

specific exam or lab data collected in 

the survey, as independent prevalence 

estimates, or as covariates in statistical 

analyses (e.g., sociodemographic 

characteristics). Further review of all 

data collection instruments was done to 

update wording, update age restrictions 

for the respondent universe, align 

wording across instruments, eliminate 

duplicate questions, improve interview 

flow, and reduce respondent burden. 

With the construction of a new fleet 

of five mobile examination centers 

(MECs) with updated designs, the 2025– 

2026 exam components will include 

post consent-questions, anthropometry, 

oscillometer measurements, 

venipuncture, urine collection, MEC 

CAPI and ACASI questions, body 

composition, respiratory health, 

audiometry, visual acuity and 

ophthalmology, oral health, HPV oral 

rinse and DNA genital swab collection, 

and water fluoride testing. Liver 

elastography, urine testing for several 

sexually transmitted infections, serology 

testing for HPV and CMV antibodies, 

and MEC follow-up questionnaires were 

dropped. 

First Dietary Recall interviews, the 

Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey, 

and the Second Dietary Recall 

interviews will be conducted via 

telephone either before or after the MEC 

visit, which is a new approach for the 

2025–2026 survey. If the participant 

does not schedule their dietary 

interviews at the end of their household 

interview, the MEC staff will attempt to 

schedule these appointments at the end 

of the examination. This option 

provides more flexibility to complete 

the interviews, which may improve 

completion rates. Program staff will 

monitor response rates closely to assess 

whether scheduling dietary interviews 

after the household interviews has an 

impact on response rates for dietary 

interviews and/or MEC exams. 

Although a few laboratory tests are 

new or have been removed in 2025– 

2026, most remain but have been 

modified. Predominantly, modifications 

are the result of adjustments in age 

eligibility. Several laboratory tests that 

have not been modified include CBC, 

hemoglobin variants, HIV, cadmium, 

and lead. RBC folate forms, LDC 

cholesterol, and chlamydia are 

examples of tests that have been 

removed for 2025–2026. New laboratory 

tests include B vitamins, choline and 

metabolites, and aldosterone. The 

biospecimens collected for laboratory 

tests include urine and blood. Serum, 

plasma, DNA, and urine specimens will 

be stored for future testing if the 

participant provides consent. 

NHANES may conduct developmental 

projects during NHANES 2025–2026, 

with a focus on planning for NHANES 

2027 and beyond. These may include 

activities such as tests of new 

equipment, crossover studies between 

current and proposed methods, tests of 

different study modes, settings or 

technology, outreach materials, 

incentive strategies, sample storage and 

processing or sample designs. 

Burden for individuals in 2025–2026 

NHANES will vary based on their level 

of participation. For example, infants 

and children tend to have shorter 

interviews and exams than adults. This 

is because young people may have fewer 

health conditions or medications to 

report so their interviews take less time 

or because certain exams are only 

conducted on survey participants 18 

and older, etc. In addition, adults often 

serve as proxy respondents for young 

people in their families. 

Participation in NHANES is voluntary 

and confidential. The Program is 

requesting a three-year approval, with 

36,540 annualized hours of burden in 

this clearance proposal. 

ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS

Type of respondents Form name Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses per 

respondent 

Average 

burden per 

response 

(in hours) 

Individuals in households ....... Household Screener Questionnaire ....................................... 6,398 1 7/60 

Individuals in households ....... Survey Participant Questionnaire; & Household Questionnaire.5,882 1 1 

Individuals in households ....... MEC Examination & Interview Data Collection Forms .......... 5,000 1 2 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 1, 2024 / Notices 79929 

ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS—Continued 

Type of respondents Form name Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses per 

respondent 

Average 

burden per 

response 

(in hours) 

Individuals in households ....... Day1 Dietary Instrument; MEC Dietary Recruitment Scheduling Instrument; Dietary Front-End Instrument; Dietary Incentives and Scheduling Instrument; MEC Dietary Reminder Call-in Instrument; & Flexible Consumer Behavior 

Survey (FCBS) Instrument.

5,882 1 1 

Individuals in households ....... Day2 Dietary Instrument ........................................................ 5,882 1 36/60 

Individuals in households ....... Developmental Projects & Special Studies ............................ 3,500 1 3 

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. 2024–22473 Filed 9–30–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[Document Identifiers: CMS–10593] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services, Health and Human 

Services (HHS). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing 

an opportunity for the public to 

comment on CMS’ intention to collect 

information from the public. Under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), federal agencies are required to 

publish notice in the Federal Register 

concerning each proposed collection of 

information (including each proposed 

extension or reinstatement of an existing 

collection of information) and to allow 

60 days for public comment on the 

proposed action. Interested persons are 

invited to send comments regarding our 

burden estimates or any other aspect of 

this collection of information, including 

the necessity and utility of the proposed 

information collection for the proper 

performance of the agency’s functions, 

the accuracy of the estimated burden, 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected, and the use of automated 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology to minimize the 

information collection burden. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

December 2, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please 

reference the document identifier or 

OMB control number. To be assured 

consideration, comments and 

recommendations must be submitted in 

any one of the following ways: 

1. Electronically. You may send your 

comments electronically to http://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for ‘‘Comment or 

Submission’’ or ‘‘More Search Options’’ 

to find the information collection 

document(s) that are accepting 

comments. 

2. By regular mail. You may mail 

written comments to the following 

address: CMS, Office of Strategic 

Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 

Division of Regulations Development, 

Attention: Document Identifier/OMB 

Control Number: ll, Room C4–26–05, 

7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 

Maryland 21244–1850. 

To obtain copies of a supporting 

statement and any related forms for the 

proposed collection(s) summarized in 

this notice, please access the CMS PRA 

website by copying and pasting the 

following web address into your web 

browser: https://www.cms.gov/ 

Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/ 

PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRAListing. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

William N. Parham at (410) 786–4669. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Contents 

This notice sets out a summary of the 

use and burden associated with the 

following information collections. More 

detailed information can be found in 

each collection’s supporting statement 

and associated materials (see 

ADDRESSES). 

CMS–10539 Medicare and Medicaid 

Programs: Home Health Facilities 

(HHAs) and Supporting Regulations 

Under the 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. 

The term ‘‘collection of information’’ is 

defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 

1320.3(c) and includes agency requests 

or requirements that members of the 

public submit reports, keep records, or 

provide information to a third party. 

Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA 

requires federal agencies to publish a 

60-day notice in the Federal Register 

concerning each proposed collection of 

information, including each proposed 

extension or reinstatement of an existing 

collection of information, before 

submitting the collection to OMB for 

approval. To comply with this 

requirement, CMS is publishing this 

notice. 

Information Collections 

1. Type of Information Collection 

Request: Revision of a currently 

approved collection; Title of 

Information Collection: Medicare and 

Medicaid Programs: Home Health 

Facilities (HHAs) and Supporting 

Regulations; Use: Home health services 

are covered for the elderly and disabled 

under the Hospital Insurance (Part A) 

and Supplemental Medical Insurance 

(Part B) benefits of the Medicare 

program and are described in section 

1861(m) of the Social Security Act (the 

Act) (42 U.S.C. 1395x). These services 

must be furnished by, or under 

arrangement with, an HHA that 

participates in the Medicare program, 

and be provided on a visiting basis in 

the beneficiary’s home. They may 

include the following: 

• Part-time or intermittent skilled 

nursing care furnished by or under the 

supervision of a registered nurse. 

• Physical therapy, speech-language 

pathology, or occupational therapy. 

• Medical social services under the 

direction of a physician. 

• Part-time or intermittent home 

health aide services. 

• Medical supplies (other than drugs 

and biologicals) and durable medical 

equipment. 

• Services of interns and residents if 

the HHA is owned by or affiliated with 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES