[Federal Register: July 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 143)]
[Notices]               
[Page 48662-48663]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jy02-73]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-02-71]

 
Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404)498-1210.
    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. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.
    Proposed Project: Adult and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Confidential Case 
Reports (CDC 50.42A, 50.42B)--New--National Center for HIV, STD, and TB 
Prevention (NCHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
This data collection system was formerly included and approved under 
the National Disease Surveillance Program, OMB No. 0920-0009, National 
Center for Infectious Disease (NCID), CDC. CDC is seeking a 3-year OMB 
approval to continue data collection of the HIV/AIDS case reports, with 
revisions of the report forms to collect race and ethnicity data in 
adherence to OMB Statistical Policy Directive 15, Race and Ethnic 
Standards for Federal Statistics and Administrative Reporting.
    The National Adult and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Confidential Case Reports 
are collected as part of the HIV/AIDS Surveillance System. CDC in 
collaboration with health departments in the states, territories, and 
the District of Columbia, conducts national surveillance for cases of 
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the acquired 
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the end-stage of disease caused by 
infection with HIV. HIV/AIDS surveillance data collection by CDC is 
authorized under sections 301 and 306 of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 241 and 242k).
    Currently, 55 states (areas/territories) mandate and collect AIDS 
surveillance data. In addition, 35 areas mandate and collect 
surveillance data on HIV cases which have not progressed to AIDS in 
adults/adolescents and/or children using the HIV/AIDS case report 
forms. The purpose of HIV/AIDS surveillance data is to monitor trends 
in HIV/AIDS and describe the characteristics of infected persons (e.g., 
demographics, modes of exposure to HIV, manifestations of severe HIV 
disease, and deaths due to AIDS). Because HIV infection results in 
untimely death and most often infects younger adults in the prime years 
of life, large amounts of federal, state, and local government funding 
have been allocated to address all aspects of HIV infection, including 
prevention and treatment. HIV/AIDS surveillance data are widely used at 
all government levels to assess the impact of HIV infection on 
morbidity and mortality, to allocate medical care resources and 
services, and to guide prevention and disease control activities.
    HIV/AIDS reports are sent to state/local health departments by 
laboratories, physicians, hospitals, clinics, and other health care 
providers using standard adult and pediatric case report forms. Areas 
use a microcomputer system developed by CDC (the HIV/AIDS Reporting 
System, HARS) to store and analyze data, as well as transmit encrypted 
data to CDC. An HIV program area module (PAM) for the National 
Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) is in the early 
development stage and will replace HARS when it is complete.
    In order to adhere to OMB Directive 15, the proposed data 
collection form will collect race and ethnicity separately, collect 
multiple races, and

[[Page 48663]]

disaggregate Asian/Pacific Islander into two categories: Asian and 
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.
    No other federal agency collects this type of national HIV/AIDS 
data. In addition to providing technical assistance for use of the case 
report forms, CDC also provides reporting areas with technical support 
for the HARS software. There is no cost to respondents.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of        burden/      Total  burden
                      Form                          respondents     responses/     response/ (in    (in hours)
                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adult Case Report: AIDS.........................              55             782           10/60           7,168
 Adult Case Report: HIV.........................              35            1007           10/60           5,874
Peds Case Report: AIDS..........................              55               3           10/60              28
Peds Case Report: HIV...........................              35              16           10/60              93
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          13,163
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: July 19, 2002.
Nancy E. Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-18818 Filed 7-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P