AHRQ Information Collection Proposal: Research Reporting System

Content

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed information collection project “AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS).” The
purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by May 30, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by email at doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by email at doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Project

AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS)

AHRQ has developed a systematic method for its grantees to report project progress and important preliminary findings for
grants funded by the Agency. This system, the AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS), previously known as the Grants Reporting
System (GRS), was last approved by OMB on August 31, 2020. The system addressed the shortfalls in the previous reporting process
and established a consistent and comprehensive reporting solution for grants in AHRQ. The ARRS provides a centralized repository
of grants research progress and additional information that can be used to support initiatives within the Agency. This includes
future research planning and support for administrative activities such as performance monitoring, budgeting, and knowledge
transfer, as well as for strategic planning.

This Project has the following goals:

(1) To promote the transfer of critical information more frequently and efficiently and enhance the Agency's ability to support
research designed to improve the outcomes and quality of health care, reduce its costs, and broaden access to effective services.

(2) To increase the efficiency of the Agency in responding to ad-hoc information requests.

(3) To support Executive Branch requirements for increased transparency and public reporting.

(4) To establish a consistent approach throughout the Agency for information collection regarding grant progress and a systematic
basis for oversight and for facilitating potential collaborations among grantees.

(5) To decrease the inconvenience and burden on grantees of unanticipated ad-hoc requests for information by the Agency in
response to particular (one-time) internal and external requests for information.

This project is being conducted by AHRQ through its contractor, Science Applications International Corporation, Inc, pursuant
to AHRQ's statutory authority to conduct and support research on health care and on systems for the delivery of such care,
including activities with respect to the quality, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness, and value of healthcare services
and with respect to quality measurement and improvement. 42 U.S.C 299a(a)(1) and (2)

Method of Collection

Grantees use the ARRS system to report project progress and important preliminary findings for grants funded by the Agency.
Grantees submit progress reports on a monthly or quarterly basis, which are reviewed by AHRQ personnel. All users access the
ARRS system through a secure online interface which requires a user id and password entered through the ARRS Login screen.
When status reports are due AHRQ notifies Principal Investigators (PI) via email.

The ARRS is an automated user-friendly resource that is utilized by AHRQ staff for preparing, distributing, and reviewing
reporting requests to grantees for the purpose of information sharing. AHRQ personnel are able to systematically search the
information collected and stored in the ARRS database. Personnel will also use the information to address internal and/or
external requests for information regarding grant progress, preliminary findings, and other requests, such as Freedom of Information
Act requests, and producing responses related to federally mandated programs and regulations.

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden

Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours for the respondents. It will take grantees an estimated 15 minutes to
enter the necessary data into the ARRS System. Frequency of reporting varies from monthly to once a year. The total number
of responses submitted for the past year is considered for this estimation. Based on that, the total annualized burden hours
are estimated to be 125 hours.

Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden for the respondents. The total estimated cost burden for respondents
is $5,475.

| Form name | Number of
responses | Hours per
response | Total burden hours |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Data entry into ARRS | 500 | 15/60 | 125 |
| Total | 500 | N/A | 125 |

| Form name | Number of
responses | Total burden hours | Average
hourly wage rate * | Total cost
burden |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Data entry into ARRS | 500 | 125 | $43.80 | $5,475 |
| Total | 500 | 125 | N/A | 5,475 |
|  Based upon the average wages for Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Occupations (29-0000), “National Compensation Survey:
Occupational Wages in the United States, May 2021,” U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, *http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#29-0000. | | | | |

Request for Comments

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, comments on AHRQ's information collection are requested
with regard to any of the following: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance
of AHRQ's health care research and health care information dissemination functions, including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed collection(s)
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 upon the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval
of the proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Dated: March 21, 2023. Marquita Cullom, Associate Director. [FR Doc. 2023-06421 Filed 3-28-23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160-90-P

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