Overview
Title
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The CDC wants people to tell them what they think about a survey project that checks how doctors' offices and health centers are used to take care of people, and they're trying out new ways to gather this information. However, some parts of the plan, like costs and how they will keep people's information safe, aren't super clear yet.
Summary AI
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is inviting the public and other federal agencies to comment on a proposed data collection project under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This project, known as the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), aims to understand how people use various healthcare services, including visits to doctor's offices and community health centers. The survey collects data to study healthcare performance, aging population care, health insurance changes, new medical technology, and the use of electronic health records. The 2021-2023 survey plans to include around 6,000 office-based physicians and a growing number of community health centers, using new electronic data collection methods.
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). The goal of the project is to assess the health of the population through patient use of physician offices, community health centers (CHCs), and to monitor the characteristics of physician practices.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document under review is a notice shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), inviting public comment on a proposed data collection initiative known as the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). This survey aims to gather data on healthcare usage and characteristics of physician practices across the United States.
General Summary
The NAMCS is designed to assess how patients use physician offices and community health centers (CHCs), and it monitors various attributes of physician practices. Conducted intermittently since the early 1970s and annually since 1989, this survey contributes to the broader National Health Care Surveys by capturing healthcare utilization data from diverse settings. The 2021-2023 NAMCS plans to collect data from approximately 6,000 office-based physicians and an increasing number of CHCs. The data collected will help in studying several areas, including healthcare system performance, elderly care, health insurance changes, the impact of new medical technologies, and the use of electronic health records (EHRs).
Significant Issues or Concerns
Several issues arise from the document alluding to certain ambiguities and information gaps:
Lack of Clarity on Data Use: The document does not clearly specify the objectives and potential uses of the collected data, which could lead to ambiguity for stakeholders. Understanding these processes is crucial for those participating in or affected by the survey.
Financial Implications: There is no mention of the estimated cost associated with setting up new CHC facility interviews, making it difficult to evaluate potential financial burdens or resource allocation.
Process Transition Details: The transition from manual data abstraction to EHRs for CHCs is not fully explained. Without detailed information, there may be misunderstandings regarding implementation and execution.
Physician Incentives: Information on how these incentives will be structured or their potential impact on response rates and data integrity is lacking, leaving room for speculation about their effectiveness.
COVID-19 Integration: How the inclusion of COVID-19 related questions affects the overall survey design and data collection objectives remains unclear, potentially impacting the relevance and focus of the survey.
Technical Language and Privacy Concerns: The use of technical acronyms and terms without definitions may hinder understanding for the general public. Additionally, there is scant information on how personally identifiable information (PII) will be managed, which could raise privacy concerns.
CHC Sample Size Rationale: The document discusses changes in CHC sample size without providing rationale, making it challenging for readers to grasp the decision-making process behind these modifications.
Burden Estimate Context: The estimated annualized burden of 9,272 hours lacks context, making it difficult to evaluate the workload's reasonability and its implications for participants.
Impact on the Public and Specific Stakeholders
The proposed modifications to NAMCS could have broad implications:
For the Public: Generally, the impacts include potential improvements in healthcare data insights, which can enhance public health strategies and policies. However, ambiguities about privacy and data use could raise concerns among people whose data might be collected or analyzed.
For Healthcare Providers: Physician practices, community health centers, and related stakeholders will need to adapt to changes in data collection methodologies. While updated methods like EHR use could streamline processes, they also necessitate adjustments which may involve additional time and resource investments.
For Policy Makers and Researchers: Clearer, more comprehensive data resulting from the survey could be invaluable for policy-making and research efforts. The burden and implementation of new surveys might affect timelines and resources aligned for other health initiatives.
Overall, while the NAMCS promises to address significant healthcare issues and improve data collection methods, there remain several areas needing clarification to ensure its successful implementation and stakeholder engagement. Addressing these concerns could bolster public trust and optimize the survey's utility.
Issues
• The purpose and objectives of the data collection project are not clearly specified, leading to potential ambiguity about what data will be collected and how it will be used.
• The document does not provide an estimated cost for the new CHC facility interview setup, making it difficult to assess the financial implications.
• The transition from manual abstraction to electronic health records for CHC data collection is not explained in detail, which may lead to misunderstandings regarding the changes in process.
• No clear explanation is provided for how physician incentives will be structured or implemented, raising questions about their potential impact on survey participation and data quality.
• It is not clear how COVID-19 related questions will impact the survey's design or the overall data collection objectives.
• The document uses technical language and acronyms (e.g., EHR, CHC) without definitions, which may be difficult for general public understanding.
• There is a lack of clarity on how personally identifiable information (PII) will be handled and protected, raising potential privacy concerns.
• The document mentions the reduction and subsequent increase in CHC sample sizes without rationale, making it hard to understand the decision-making process.
• The estimated annualized burden of 9,272 hours is presented without context, making it hard to assess its reasonability or impact.