Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
SAMHSA is making a new tool to help them understand how well mental health and drug programs are working by letting people fill out forms themselves and using other info from helpers. They're asking people to tell them what they think about this idea by January 6, 2025.
Summary AI
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is proposing a new tool called the SAMHSA Unified Client-Level Performance Reporting Tool (SUPRT) to streamline and improve how they collect data on mental health and substance use programs. This tool aims to reduce the burden on clients by allowing self-administered questionnaires and using administrative data from grantees. The SUPRT will help SAMHSA align its data collection with other federal agencies and improve its ability to monitor and evaluate the performance of its grant programs, contributing to broader public health goals. Public comments on this proposal can be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget by January 6, 2025.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register discusses a new initiative by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to enhance how they collect client-level data. The tool they are introducing is called the SAMHSA Unified Client-Level Performance Reporting Tool (SUPRT). This is primarily aimed at better assessing the effectiveness and impact of SAMHSA's grant programs focusing on mental health and substance use.
Summary of the Document
SAMHSA aims to streamline data collection through the SUPRT tool by allowing clients to self-administer questionnaires and utilizing administrative data provided by grantees. This initiative is in line with efforts to modernize how data are reported and will see the merging of existing performance evaluation systems into a unified tool. Such changes are expected to improve data accuracy, reduce the burden on clients, and help align SAMHSA's data collection with standards used by other federal agencies. Public comments on the proposal can be submitted, with the deadline set for January 6, 2025.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One of the prominent concerns is the absence of a detailed cost analysis for the implementation of the SUPRT. Without this information, it is challenging to gauge whether resources are being used efficiently or if there is a risk of unnecessary expenditure.
Moreover, while stakeholder feedback is mentioned, there is little clarity on how this feedback has been integrated into the new tool. This raises questions about the inclusivity and fairness of the development process and whether certain groups might benefit more than others.
The document's explanation of the transition from interviewer-administered to self-administered questionnaires could be simplified for better public understanding. Furthermore, the strategies for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of self-reported data have not been specified, which could affect the quality of the information collected.
The document also highlights the alignment with other federal data collection systems, yet it lacks specifics on how to reconcile any potential discrepancies between different methods.
Finally, there is uncertainty around how SAMHSA will ensure that grantees comply with these new reporting requirements and whether there are any enforcement measures in place. The requirement for grantees to potentially alter their record-keeping practices may add a layer of burden, and the document does not clarify what support or resources SAMHSA will offer to aid this transition.
Potential Impacts on the Public
For the general public, especially those engaging with SAMHSA's programs, the introduction of SUPRT could mean a more streamlined and less burdensome data collection process, ideally leading to improvements in the services provided.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Grantees are expected to be directly impacted by these changes as they may need to adjust their data collection and reporting practices. While this could lead to increased efficiency in the long term, the potential short-term burden and the resources required for this transition need to be properly addressed.
Overall, SUPRT promises to enhance SAMHSA's ability to monitor its programs effectively, potentially leading to better outcomes in mental health and substance use initiatives. However, several significant concerns need to be addressed to optimize implementation and ensure fairness and reliability.
Issues
• The document does not provide a detailed cost analysis or budget for the implementation of the new SAMHSA Unified Performance Reporting Tool (SUPRT), making it difficult to assess potential wasteful spending.
• There is a lack of clarity on how extensive stakeholder feedback has been integrated into the SUPRT tool and whether any specific organizations or individuals may benefit disproportionately from these changes.
• The description of the SUPRT tool is somewhat complex, particularly around the transition from interviewer-administered to self-administered questionnaires, which could be simplified for better understanding.
• The document does not specify the exact mechanisms or methodologies that will be used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of self-reported data in the SUPRT-C component.
• Although the document mentions alignment with other Federal Statistical System elements, it lacks details on how discrepancies between different data collection methods will be reconciled.
• It is unclear how SAMHSA will monitor compliance with the new reporting requirements by grantees and whether any enforcement mechanisms are in place.
• The requirement for grantees to potentially adjust their record-keeping practices may impose additional burdens, but the document does not specify the support or resources that SAMHSA will provide to facilitate these changes.