June 2 -- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding the proposed information collection project “AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS).” Comments must be received by July 5, 2023. [Comments due 30 days after submission to OMB on June 5.]
AHRQ has developed a systematic method for its grantees to report project progress and important preliminary findings for grants funded by the Agency. This system, the AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS), previously known as the Grants Reporting System (GRS), was last approved by OMB on August 31, 2020. The system addressed the shortfalls in the previous reporting process and established a consistent and comprehensive reporting solution for grants in AHRQ. The ARRS provides a centralized repository of grants research progress and additional information that can be used to support initiatives within the Agency. This includes future research planning and support for administrative activities such as performance monitoring, budgeting, and knowledge transfer, as well as for strategic planning.
This Project has the following goals:
(1) To promote the transfer of critical information more frequently and efficiently and enhance the Agency's ability to support research designed to improve the outcomes and quality of health care, reduce its costs, and broaden access to effective services
(2) To increase the efficiency of the Agency in responding to ad-hoc information requests
(3) To support Executive Branch requirements for increased transparency and public reporting
(4) To establish a consistent approach throughout the Agency for information collection regarding grant progress and a systematic basis for oversight and for facilitating potential collaborations among grantees
(5) To decrease the inconvenience and burden on grantees of unanticipated ad-hoc requests for information by the Agency in response to particular (one-time) internal and external requests for information
This project is being conducted by AHRQ through its contractor, Science Applications International Corporation, Inc, pursuant to AHRQ's statutory authority to conduct and support research on health care and on systems for the delivery of such care, including activities with respect to the quality, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness, and value of healthcare services and with respect to quality measurement and improvement.
Grantees use the ARRS system to report project progress and important preliminary findings for grants funded by the Agency. Grantees submit progress reports on a monthly or quarterly basis, which are reviewed by AHRQ personnel. All users access the ARRS system through a secure online interface which requires a user id and password entered through the ARRS Login screen. When status reports are due AHRQ notifies Principal Investigators (PI) via email.
The ARRS is an automated user-friendly resource that is utilized by AHRQ staff for preparing, distributing, and reviewing reporting requests to grantees for the purpose of information sharing. AHRQ personnel are able to systematically search the information collected and stored in the ARRS database. Personnel will also use the information to address internal and/or external requests for information regarding grant progress, preliminary findings, and other requests, such as Freedom of Information Act requests, and producing responses related to federally mandated programs and regulations.
Proposed ARRS data collection instrument:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/DownloadDocument?objectID=132384300
AHRQ submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202306-0935-001 Click IC List for information collection instrument, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this webpage.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-11723
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806