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 Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [30Day-08-0212]
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a list of information collection requests under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 639-5960 or send an e-mail to 
                    *omb@cdc.gov*. Send written comments to CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC or by fax to (202) 395-6974. Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice. Proposed Project National Hospital Discharge Survey—Revision—The National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) (OMB# 0920-0212), 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), as amended, authorizes that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (DHHS), acting through NCHS, shall collect statistics on the extent and nature of illness and disability of the population of the United States. This three-year clearance request includes the data collection in 2008 and 2009 using the current NHDS design; a pretest of a new design; and data collection for 2010 and 2011 of the survey using the new design. Current NHDS The National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) has been conducted continuously by the National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, since 1965. It is the principal source of data on inpatient utilization of short-stay, non-Federal hospitals and is the principal annual source of nationally representative estimates on the characteristics of discharges, the lengths of stay, diagnoses, surgical and non-surgical procedures, and the patterns of use of care in hospitals in various regions of the country. It is the benchmark against which special programmatic data sources are measured. The data items collected are the basic core of the variables contained in the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS) in addition to several variables (admission source and type, admitting diagnosis and present on admission indicators) which are identical to those needed for billing of inpatient services for Medicare patients. In the current survey, data are obtained in one of three ways: Abstracted by hospital staff; abstracted by Bureau of the Census Staff under an interagency agreement; and provided in electronic format. Due to budgetary constraints, the number of hospitals and the number of discharges for the 2008 and 2009 NHDS data collections will decrease by approximately 50% from previous years. Redesigned NHDS Although the current NHDS is still fulfilling its intended functions, it is based on concepts from the health care delivery system, as well as the hospital and patient universes, of previous decades. It has become clear that a redesign of the NHDS that provides greater depth of information is necessary. In 2008, a sample of 30 hospitals will be selected for a pretest. These hospitals will not be a probability sample, but instead will be intentionally selected to include hospitals of differing size, location and other characteristics related to their service and patient clientele. In 2010, a redesigned NHDS will be implemented and will consist of a completely new sample of approximately 240 hospitals. The redesigned NHDS will use a modified two stage design. The first stage sampling will be hospitals. The second stage of sampling will be discharges. A stratified, random sample of 120 discharges is targeted within each hospital. In the redesigned survey all data will be abstracted by trained health care staff under contract. All data will be obtained from hospital records and charts and computer systems. The current data items will be collected with significant additional details. Patient level data items to be collected include personal identifiers such as social security number (last 4 digits), name and medical record number; clinical laboratory results such as hematocrit and white blood cell count; and financial billing and record data. The survey includes detailed questions for three modules: Acute myocardial infarction; infectious disease; and end of life issues. Facility level data items include demographic information, clinical capabilities, and financial information. Users of NHDS data include, but are not limited to the CDC; the Congressional Research Office; the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE); American Health Care Association, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
                    ( print page 45013)
                    Services (CMS), and Bureau of the Census. Data collected through the NHDS are essential for evaluating health status of the population, for the planning of programs and policy to elevate the health status of the Nation, for studying morbidity trends, and for research activities in the health field. NHDS data have been used extensively in the development and monitoring of goals for the Year 2000 and 2010 Healthy People Objectives. In addition, NHDS data provide annual updates for numerous tables in the Congressionally-mandated NCHS report, 
                    *Health, United States*. Other users of these data include universities, research organizations, foundations, and a variety of users in the print media. There is no cost to respondents other than their time to participate. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 5,591. Table 1—Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
Type of data collection
Number of 
                             respondents
Number of 
                             responses  
                             per  
                             respondent
Average 
                             burden per  
                             response  
                             (in hours)Current NHDS Primary Procedure Hospitals Sample Listing Sheet
13
12
25/60Current NHDS Primary Procedure Hospitals Medical Abstract Form
13
250
5/60Current NHDS Primary Procedure Hospitals Transmittal Notice
13
12
1/60Current NHDS Alternate Procedure Hospitals locating medical records
41
250
1/60Current NHDS In-House Tape or Printout Hospital—computer programming and submission
29
12
13/60Current NHDS Hospital Interview Questionnaire
10
1
2Redesigned pretest Survey presentation to hospital
10
1
1Redesigned pretest Facility questionnaire
10
1
4Redesigned pretest Sample discharges within hospital, obtain UB-04 & payment data
10
10
14/60Redesigned pretest Verify sampling & reabstract medical records
2
10
14/60Redesign pretest Debrief hospital staff
10
1
1Redesigned 2010-2011 Survey presentation to hospital
80
1
1Redesigned 2010-2011 Facility questionnaire
80
1
4Redesigned 2010-2011 Sample discharges within hospital, obtain UB-04 & payment data
160
120
14/60Redesigned 2010-2011 Verify sampling & re-abstract medical records
3
25
14/60
 Dated: July 24, 2008. Maryam I. Daneshvar, Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


[FR Doc. E8-17605 Filed 7-31-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163-18-P