70 FR 185 pgs. 56169-56170 - Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

Type: NOTICEVolume: 70Number: 185Pages: 56169 - 56170
Docket number: [30Day-05-0026]
FR document: [FR Doc. 05-19150 Filed 9-23-05; 8:45 am]
Agency: Health and Human Services Department
Sub Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Official PDF Version:  PDF Version

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-05-0026]

Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

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) 371-5983 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

Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) (OMB Control No. 0920-0026)-Extension-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP).

Background and Brief Description: CDC is requesting OMB approval for another 3-year extension of the Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) data collection.

CDC maintains the national TB surveillance system to support CDC's goal of eliminating tuberculosis (TB) in the United States. Previous modifications to the data collection have improved the ability of CDC to monitor important aspects of TB epidemiology in the United States, including drug resistance, TB risk factors, including HIV coinfection, and treatment. The system also enables CDC to monitor the recovery of the nation from the resurgence and identify that current TB epidemiology supports the renewed national goal of elimination. To measure progress in achieving this goal, as well as continue to monitor TB trends and potential TB outbreaks, identify high risk populations for TB, and gauge program performance, CDC is requesting approval to extend the use of the RVCT.

Data are collected by 60 Reporting Areas (50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, Puerto Rico, and 7 jurisdictions in the Pacific and Caribbean) using the RVCT. There are no changes to the forms previously approved in 2002. An RVCT is completed for each reported TB case and contains demographic, clinical, and laboratory information.

A comprehensive software package, the Tuberculosis Information Management System (TIMS) is currently used for RVCT data entry and electronic transmission of reports to CDC. TIMS provides reports, query functions, and export functions to assist in analysis of the data. However, electronic transmission of TB case reports to CDC is in a transition phase with the development of the web-based National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) and Public Health Information Network (PHIN). Following the transition, many respondents will implement a PHIN compatible information system to collect and report TB surveillance data via the PHIN Messaging System. The remaining respondents will employ the NEDSS base system. These respondents will be able to use either the associated TB Program Area Module or their own TB surveillance application to collect and report RVCT data to CDC.

CDC publishes an annual report summarizing national TB statistics and also periodically conducts special analyses for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals to further describe and interpret national TB data. These data assist public health officials and policy makers in program planning, evaluation, and resource allocation. Reporting Areas also review and analyze their RVCT data to monitor local TB trends, evaluate program success, and assist in focusing resources to eliminate TB.

No other Federal agency collects this type of national TB data. In addition to providing technical assistance on the use of RVCT, CDC also provides Reporting Areas with technical support for the TIMS software. In this request, CDC is requesting approval for 7,560 burden hours, a decrease of 780 hours. There are no costs to respondents except for their time. This decrease is due to a decrease in the total number of tuberculosis cases.

Respondents Number of respondents Number of responses perrespondent Average burden per response (in hours)
Local, state, territorial health departments 60 252 30/60

Dated: September 19, 2005.

Joan Karr,

Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[FR Doc. 05-19150 Filed 9-23-05; 8:45 am]

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