Aug 18 -- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services, seeks public comment by October 17, 2023 regarding the revised extension of data collection for Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program Measures.
This ICR is a revision of currently approved information collection of measures for the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT)'s Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program, under which OAT administers cooperative agreements in accordance with section 330I of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c–14), as amended. The purpose of this program is to fund evidence-based projects that utilize telehealth technologies through telehealth networks to expand access to, and improve access to and the quality of, health care services. This program will work to help HRSA assess the effectiveness of evidence-based practices with the use of telehealth for patients, providers, and payers.
In the Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program Report, the adjusted data collection instrument includes the addition, removal, and revision of measures, with 27 total data elements addressing patient encounter information. The currently approved measures focus on behavioral health, and the proposed adjusted measures allow for the inclusion of broader health care services and expanded outcome measures. Five data elements were updated to specify data collection that allows for deeper understanding of outcomes related to socioeconomic indicators. The estimated burden for the Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program Report decreased since the data collection frequency is changing from monthly to quarterly. In addition, the information collected from grantees in the Performance Improvement and Measurement System more closely aligns measures with the Notice of Funding Opportunity and will assist in clarifying program measures and impact. These adjustments allow OAT to gain a more thorough understanding of how to utilize telehealth technologies through telehealth to improve access to, and improve the quality of, health care services.
The measures will enable HRSA to capture data that illustrate the impact and scope of federal funding along with assessing these efforts. The measures cover the principal topic areas of interest to OAT, including: (a) population demographics; (b) access to health care; (c) cost savings and cost-effectiveness; and (d) clinical outcomes.
Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program:
https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding/HRSA-21-082
Draft data collection instruments and technical documentation available at
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mw4s7mh4jjpkk45d2u8kb/reexternaldrafticrrequestevidencebasedtelehealt.zip?rlkey=o9xlersst1b9abejqf7xltf0x&dl=0
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-17748
