Cover Letter

SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION COLLECTION UNDER THE

Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery

DATE OF REQUEST:

SUB AGENCY (I/C): HHS/AHRQ

TITLE: Information Gathering and Usability Testing for AHRQ Data Tools Platform Development and Maintenance

GENERIC CLEARANCE UNDER OMB#: 0925-0179 EXP. DATE: 11/30/2020

ABSTRACT:

AHRQ has a number of data tools online that allow users with little to no programming experience to use data. These include MEPS tables and MEPSnet (Household and Insurance Component), the Healthcare Cost and Use Project (HCUPnet and FastStats), the Quality and Disparities Reports and tables from the CAHPS user database.

This project will interview users (up to 10 for each tool) in order to assess needed improvements and identify ways that the tools could be harmonized across data sources to improve the user experience and reduce AHRQ’s total cost of developing and maintaining these tools. This collection is one of several activities feeding into this assessment.

This collection is entirely for AHRQ’s review of the tools and improving our service to customers. It is in no way related to a scientific or policy decision

Organizations that download MONAHRQ and generate reports to help improve health care are referred to as “Host Users.” The Future of MONAHRQ Survey 2014 will be accessible to current and prospective Host Users. Examples of Host Users include: state agencies, public health departments, hospital associations, hospital systems, and individual hospitals, multi-stakeholder alliances and coalitions, Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), and health plans.

TOTAL ANNUAL BURDEN APPROVED: 3,383 Hours Per year

BURDEN USED TO DATE: 1,696 hours.

BURDEN THIS REQUEST: 50 hours.

FEDERAL COST: The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is $1,318_____.

IS RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA COLLECTED AS REQUIRED?

______YES __x___ NO _____ N/A

OBLIGATION TO RESPOND:

___x___ VOLUNTARY

______ REQUIRED TO OBTAIN OR RETAIN BENEFITS

______ MANDATORY

HOW WILL THIS SURVEY BE OFFERED?

____x_ WEB SITE

____x _ TELEPHONE INTERVIEW

_____ MAIL RESPONSE

_____ IN PERSON INTERVIEW

_____ OTHER: ___________________________________

CONTACT INFORMATION:

NAME: _Erwin Brown______________________________

TELEPHONE NUMBER: 301.427.1652________________

EMAIL ADDRESS: _ebrown@ahrq.gov________________