[Federal Register: March 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 49)]
[Notices]
[Page 12689-12690]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr05-95]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-05BL]
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 404-371-5974 or
send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail
to omb@cdc.gov.
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. Written comments should be received
within 60 days of this notice.
Proposed Project
Worksheet for Medical Conditions among Refugees and Immigrants--
New--National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Clearance is being requested for
a ``Worksheet for Medical Conditions among Refugees and Immigrants''
for state and local health refugee coordinators to identify specific
medical conditions of public health importance in newly arrived
refugees and immigrants. CDC requests notification of specific medical
conditions listed on the worksheet, including Class A and B health
conditions not recognized overseas, and substantial discrepancies in
the overseas and U.S. based medical evaluations.
Section 412 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C.
1522(b)(4)) authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) to: (A) assure that an adequate number of trained staff are
available at the location at which the refugees enter the United States
to assure that all necessary
[[Page 12690]]
medical records are available and in proper order; (B) provide for the
identification of refugees who have been determined to have medical
conditions affecting public health and requiring treatment; (C) assure
that State or local health officials at the resettlement destination of
each refugee within the United States are promptly notified of the
refugee's arrival and provided with all applicable medical records; and
(D) provide for such monitoring of refugees identified under
subparagraph (B) as will insure that they receive appropriate and
timely treatment. The Secretary, DHHS, shall develop and implement
methods for monitoring and assessing the quality of medical screening
and related health services provided to refugees awaiting resettlement
in the United States.
On July 3, 2003, the Secretary, DHHS, delegated to the Director,
CDC, the authority to re-delegate the authorities vested in the
Secretary, DHHS, under section 412(b)(4) of the INA (8 U.S.C.
1522(b)(4)), as amended hereafter. The Division of Global Migration and
Quarantine (DGMQ), CDC, is responsible for monitoring the performance
and quality of the required overseas medical examinations of refugees
and immigrants applying for permanent residence in the United States,
and notifying state and local public health officials of the arrival of
all refugees and immigrants who have Class A and B health conditions,
(as defined in 42 CFR 34.2) to facilitate the recommended follow-up
evaluation in the U.S. Currently, the Department of State uses medical
examination forms DS 2053, 3024, 3025, and 3026, under OMB control
number 1405-0113, to conduct the overseas medical evaluation of
refugees and immigrants. This type of communication and data exchange
with local partners has been critical in identifying medical conditions
among refugees that require overseas interventions.
In 2004, several outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases among
refugees in overseas refugee camps were identified and controlled
because of rapid notification by U.S. state and local health
departments of cases in resettled refugees. Since March 2004, DGMQ has
been working with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population,
Refugees, and Migration and the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) to resettle approximately 15,000 Laotian Hmong refugees
accepted for U.S. resettlement. Approximately 8,800 refugees have
arrived into the United States through early January 2005, and
resettled to 27 states. DGMQ and the Division of Tuberculosis
Elimination (DTBE) at CDC have recently received reports from one state
of six active TB cases among Hmong refugees. Two of the three cultures
confirmed TB cases were multi-drug resistant. In addition, IOM, the
group performing overseas medical examinations has reported that since
July, 2004 to present, 166 suspect active TB cases have been identified
among U.S.-bound Hmong refugees. Completing the worksheet and
furnishing the requested information is essential. Accurate information
will allow important public health functions and follow-up of
significant health events to be performed in preventing the spread of a
disease. Respondents include state and local health departments. There
is no cost to the respondents other than their time.
Annualized Burden Table:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Average burden
Respondents Number of responses per per response Total burden
respondents respondent (in hours) (in hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State and local health agencies............. 300 170 5/60 4,250
------------------
Total................................... 300 ............... ............... 4,250
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: March 7, 2005.
Betsey Dunaway,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-4937 Filed 3-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P