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###### Department of Veterans Affairs

          - [OMB Control No. 2900-0621]

# AGENCY:

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

# ACTION:

Notice.

# SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

# DATES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before March 13, 2015.

# ADDRESSES:

                        Submit written comments on the collection of information through                         *www.Regulations.gov,*                         or to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW., Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to                         *oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.*                         Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0621 (National Practioner Data Bank (NPDB) Regulations)” in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed online through the FDMS.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632-7492 or email                         *crystal.rennie@va.gov.*                         Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0621(National Practioner Data Bank (NPDB) Regulations)” in any correspondence.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.

With respect to the following collection of information, VHA invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of VHA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology.

*Title:*                     National Practioner Data Bank (NPDB) Regulations.                

*OMB Control Number:*                     2900-0621.                

*Type of Review:*                     Revision of an approved collection.                

*Abstract:*                     Under the provisions of the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986, which established the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), VA medical treatment facilities are required to query the NPDB at the time of initial appointment for all licensed, registered, and certified health care professionals which is followed with the enrollment in the NPDB Continuous Query (CQ) process with annual renewal of all licensed independent practitioners appointed to a VA medical treatment facility. In accordance with 38 CFR, Chapter 1, Part 46, information is collected so that VA can consider if malpractice payments were made related to substandard care, professional incompetence, or professional misconduct on the part of a licensed health care practitioner or if any adjudicated adverse action was taken against the licensure or clinical privileges of a these health care practitioner.                

Additionally, complete and thorough credentialing is required to assure that only qualified healthcare professionals provide care to our Nation's veterans. The term credentialing refers to the systematic process of screening and evaluating qualifications and other credentials, including licensure, required education, relevant training and experience, current competence and health status.

                    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The                     **Federal Register**                     Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published at 79 FR 70616, on November 26, 2015.                

*Affected Public:*                     Individuals or Households.                

*Estimated Annual Burden:*                     2,500 burden hours.                

*Estimated Average Burden per Respondent:*                     5 minutes.                

*Frequency of Response:*                     Annually.                          ( print page 7701)    

*Estimated Number of Respondents:*                     500.                

Dated: February 6, 2015.

By direction of the Secretary.

Crystal Rennie,

VA Clearance Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 2015-02827 Filed 2-10-15; 8:45 am]

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