```
[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9795-9796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5209]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed 
project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans, call the HRSA 
Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129.
    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed 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 
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 on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Proposed Project: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the Rural 
Health Network Grant Program; New
    The Rural Health Network Grant Program is authorized by Section 
330A of the Public Health Service Act as amended by the Health Centers 
Consolidation Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104-229). The purpose of the 
program is to assist in the development of vertically integrated 
networks of health care providers in rural communities. Grantees will 
be working to change the delivery system in their service areas and 
will be using the federal funds to develop network capabilities.
    Grantees will be asked to submit semiannual reports which provide 
information on progress towards goals and objectives of the network, 
progress toward developing the governance and organizational 
arrangements for the network, specific network activities, certain 
financial data related to the grant budget, and health care services 
provided by the network.
    The information will be used to evaluate progress on the grants, to 
understand barriers to network development in rural areas, to identify 
grantees in need of technical assistance, and to identify best 
practices in the development of provider networks in rural communities. 
The information will

[[Page 9796]]

also be used to begin to evaluate the impact of networks on access to 
care.
    To minimize the burden on grantees, the reports will be submitted 
electronically. The estimated burden is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Responses                   Total   
                     Type of respondent                        Number of       per       Burden per     burden  
                                                              respondents   respondent    response     (hours)  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grantees....................................................           40           .2           20        1,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Send comments to Patricia Royston, HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
Room 14-36, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. 
Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: February 26, 1997.
J. Henry Montes,
Director, Office of Policy and Information Coordination.
[FR Doc. 97-5209 Filed 3-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P
```