[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20819-20820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10228]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) publishes 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 and draft instruments, 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: Project to Assess Race, Ethnicity, and Gender of 
Clients and Staff at Selected BPHC Supported Programs--New.
    The Office of Minority and Women's Health (OMWH), in the Bureau of 
Primary Health Care (BPHC), Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA), recognizes that information on the race, 
ethnicity, and gender of clients and staff employed at BPHC supported 
programs is important in determining the extent to which BPHC supported 
programs reflect the populations they serve. HRSA's strategic goal is 
to assure 100% access to health care and to work

[[Page 20820]]

toward the elimination of health disparities in the U.S. The OMWH 
proposes to conduct a survey for the purpose of obtaining baseline data 
on the racial, ethnic, and gender composition of both users and staff 
at its supported programs.
    Numerous studies have shown that women and people of diverse racial 
and ethnic background are more comfortable seeking and receiving health 
care from providers of their same gender, race, and ethnic background. 
These studies suggest that women and people of diverse race/ethnicity 
perceive that their health care is more attuned to their unique health 
and psychosocial circumstances when diverse providers are available to 
them. A diverse workforce in BPHC supported programs may contribute 
significantly to the reduction of a significant psychological barrier 
to health care for many women and people of color.
    The burden estimate for this project is as follows:

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                                                                    Number of       Responses per                         Hours per        Total hour
                             Form                                  respondents       respondent      Total responses      response           burden
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Center Directors..............................................               150                 1               150               .25                38
Center Staff..................................................           \1\ 150                28              4200               .08               336
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total...................................................  ................  ................              4350  ................               374
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\1\ Sites.

    Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer, Room 14-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this 
notice.

    Dated: April 17, 2001.
James J. Corrigan,
Associate Administrator for Management and Program Support.
[FR Doc. 01-10228 Filed 4-24-01; 8:45 am]
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