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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1508-1510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00129]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request; Information Collection Request Title: Maternal, 
Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Model Eligibility 
Review Survey

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice with request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, HRSA announces plans to submit an Information Collection 
Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks comments from the 
public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the 
ICR. Specifically, HRSA is inviting public comment on its proposed 
survey to identify evidence-based service delivery models that funding 
recipients may use to provide services under HRSA's MIECHV Program.

DATES: Comments on this ICR should be received no later than March 10, 
2025.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14NWH04, 5600 Fishers 
Lane, Rockville, Maryland, 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
draft instruments, email [email protected] or call Joella Roland, the 
HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, at (301) 443-3983.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the ICR title for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: Maternal, Infant, and Early 
Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program Model Eligibility Review 
Survey, OMB No. 0915-xxxx--New
    Abstract: HRSA, through its Maternal and Child Health Bureau, 
oversees the MIECHV Program in partnership with the Administration for 
Children and Families (ACF) within HHS. The MIECHV Program supports 
voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services during pregnancy and 
to families with young children up to kindergarten entry living in at-
risk communities. The MIECHV Program was last reauthorized in December 
2022.\1\ One key program requirement is that programs deliver services 
using models that meet HHS criteria for evidence of effectiveness.\2\ 
HRSA and ACF define such service delivery models as ``evidence-based.'' 
ACF administers the Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE) 
review process to identify early childhood home visiting models that 
demonstrate evidence of effectiveness.\3\ However, not all evidence-
based service delivery models approved through the HomVEE process meet 
MIECHV statutory requirements as enacted in the last reauthorization of 
the program in 2022 such that they may be used to carry out the MIECHV 
Program in fidelity to applicable program requirements.
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    \1\ Section 6101 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, 
Public Law 117-328, recently amended Section 511 of the Social 
Security Act, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act, Public Law 111-148, section 2951, and extended appropriated 
funding through FY 2027.
    \2\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(C)(i).
    \3\ The current HHS criteria for evidence-based models can be 
found at: https://homvee.acf.hhs.gov/about-us/hhs-criteria.
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    HRSA previously issued a Request for Information notice and request 
for comment regarding its proposal to standardize criteria for 
assessing model eligibility to be implemented using MIECHV Program 
funds in 2021.\4\ This ICR reflects new MIECHV statutory provisions 
that were added in December 2022 and thus replaces that 2021 notice. 
HRSA is issuing this ICR to propose a survey to identify service 
delivery models that meet both HHS criteria for evidence of 
effectiveness, as determined by HomVEE review, and applicable MIECHV 
statutory requirements, and therefore may be used by eligible entities 
to provide home visiting services through the MIECHV Program. This will 
be accomplished by validating whether evidence-based models, as 
determined by HomVEE, align with the MIECHV Program's statutory 
requirements, as further discussed in this notice. This process will 
ensure that models used by funding recipients (and their local 
implementing agencies) to deliver MIECHV Program services effectively 
support programs in meeting core components of the MIECHV Program, 
including those added during the program's 2022 reauthorization.
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    \4\ HRSA, HHS. ``Statutory Requirements and Process 
Standardization: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting 
(MIECHV) Program Model Eligibility Review.'' Federal Register 86, 
no. 184 (September 27, 2021): 53329. https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-20853.
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    Following approval of this ICR request, HRSA will assess all models 
that meet HHS criteria for evidence of effectiveness, as determined by 
the HomVEE review, to determine their MIECHV eligibility by requesting 
information from home visiting model developers through a standardized 
survey. As of November 20, 2024, HomVEE lists 24 models that meet HHS 
criteria for evidence of effectiveness.\5\ Upon receiving the survey 
from HRSA, model developers will have 30 days to provide requested 
information on model characteristics, resources, and processes. A panel 
of HRSA reviewers will assess the survey responses against the MIECHV 
statutory requirements. Any of the 24 evidence-based models that also 
meet these criteria will be considered eligible for MIECHV Program 
implementation and remain eligible for implementation after the end of 
the current performance period.

[[Page 1509]]

Models that do not meet these criteria will not be eligible to be used 
by eligible entities (and their local implementing agencies) to carry 
out the MIECHV Program and may continue to be used only through the 
currently applicable period of performance. HRSA will work with 
eligible entities regarding any changes in model approval that may 
affect their program implementation because certain models will no 
longer be available for use; however, eligible entities will be 
expected to propose projects using models approved for MIECHV Program 
implementation under future funding awards. Model developers may submit 
a written request for reconsideration of HRSA's decision within 15 days 
of receiving a negative determination and should provide any available 
supporting information for their request. HRSA will have 45 days after 
the receipt of the request to reassess the model.
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    \5\ HomVEE lists home visiting models that meet HHS criteria for 
evidence of effectiveness at: https://homvee.acf.hhs.gov/HRSA-Models-Eligible-MIECHV-Grantees.
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    After HRSA completes the initial review, all eligible models may be 
reassessed against the statutory requirements through the routine, 
periodic HomVEE review process for models that have already met HHS 
criteria for evidence of effectiveness. HRSA and ACF will continue to 
collaborate in future years to assess home visiting models against 
MIECHV statutory requirements.
    HRSA seeks public comment on the proposed methodology HRSA proposes 
to use to identify service delivery models that meet MIECHV statutory 
requirements, including how the proposed changes will affect interested 
parties such as eligible entities, model developers, and eligible 
families receiving MIECHV services.
    MIECHV Program Statutory Requirements for Home Visiting Models: The 
MIECHV Program's authorizing statute mandates that funding recipients 
implementing the program use a service delivery model that meets 
specific statutory requirements. Models must ``conform to a clear 
consistent home [visiting] model that has been in existence for at 
least 3 years and is research-based, grounded in relevant empirically-
based knowledge, linked to program determined outcomes, [and is] 
associated with a national organization or institution of higher 
education that has comprehensive home visitation program standards that 
ensure high-quality service delivery and continuous program quality 
improvement.'' \6\ Under the statute, the model must also have 
demonstrated significant sustained positive outcomes in statutory 
benchmark areas and participant outcomes when evaluated using well-
designed and rigorous randomized controlled research designs, and the 
evaluation results have been published in a peer-reviewed journal; or 
quasi-experimental research designs.\7\ The 2022 reauthorization also 
added a new requirement that the ``standards for training requirements 
applicable to virtual service delivery under a home visiting model 
shall be equivalent to those that apply to in-person service delivery 
under the model.'' \8\
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    \6\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(A)(i)(I).
    \7\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(A)(i)(I).
    \8\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(4)(B).
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    To ensure programs comply with MIECHV statutory requirements,\9\ 
service delivery models also must support the delivery of home visiting 
services through the employment of well-trained and competent staff 
\10\ that receive ongoing high-quality supervision,\11\ support 
programs' strong organizational capacity to implement home visiting 
activities \12\ and ability to establish appropriate linkages and 
referral networks to other community resources and supports for 
participating families,\13\ monitor the fidelity of program 
implementation to ensure services are delivered in fidelity to the 
specified model,\14\ and ensure voluntary participation in the 
program.\15\ The 2022 reauthorization also requires MIECHV programs 
\16\ to implement service delivery home visiting models that provide or 
support targeted, intensive home visiting services for high-risk 
populations \17\ and support the delivery of home visiting services 
through at least one in-person home visit for each participating family 
during each 12-month period of enrollment.\18\
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    \9\ HRSA proposes to identify service delivery models that may 
be used by MIECHV funding recipients because they comply with 
statutory requirements applicable to service delivery models and 
support MIECHV statutory program requirements. Such models, in 
addition to meeting the service delivery model requirements in 
subsections 711(d)(3)(A)(i) and 711(d)(4)(B), must also support 
program requirements, including those in subsections 711(d)(3)(C) 
and 711(e).
    \10\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(C)(ii).
    \11\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(C)(iii).
    \12\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(C)(iv).
    \13\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(C)(v).
    \14\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(C)(vi).
    \15\ 42 U.S.C. 711(e)(7)(A).
    \16\ HRSA proposes to identify service delivery models that may 
be used by MIECHV funding recipients because they comply with 
statutory requirements applicable to service delivery models and 
support MIECHV statutory program requirements.
    \17\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(B).
    \18\ 42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(C)(vii), 711(e)(10)(C).
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    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Section 711 establishes 
statutory requirements for the MIECHV Program. Information gained from 
this information collection will inform determinations of which service 
delivery models are eligible to be implemented in the MIECHV Program.
    Likely Respondents: Organizations that develop, support 
implementation of, and implement early childhood home visiting models 
that meet HHS criteria for evidence of effectiveness, as determined by 
HomVEE review.
    Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by 
persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide the 
information requested. This includes the time needed to review 
instructions; to develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and 
systems for the purpose of collecting, validating, and verifying 
information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and 
providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to 
a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and 
review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise 
disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for 
this ICR are summarized in the table below.

                                     Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                     Number of                    Average burden
            Form name                Number of     responses per       Total       per response    Total burden
                                    respondents     respondent       responses      (in hours)         hours
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MIECHV Program Model Eligibility              24               1              24               3              72
 Review Survey..................
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    Total.......................              24  ..............              24  ..............              72
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    HRSA specifically requests comments on: (1) the necessity and 
utility of the proposed information collection for the proper 
performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the 
estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology to 
minimize the information collection burden.

Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2025-00129 Filed 1-7-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P
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