Enclosure 3 – Letter of Explanation
US Census Bureau
Regional Office
Address Information
Dear :
As a physician, you are aware of many developments and changes in the medical field and how important it is to stay informed of these developments and changes, in order for your office to provide the best treatment for its patients. Your office, along with hundreds of other offices across the nation, plays an important role in providing information that describes the changing trends in private office-based physician offices nationwide.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is conducting a special pilot test to evaluate new questions being considered for the 2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). The pilot test questions relate to screening for abnormal values of lipoprotein cholesterol, blood sugar, and glycohemoglobin. The American Heart Association (AHS) released a statement specifically recommending collecting these data elements to support tracking of progress in meeting national goals for heart disease and stroke prevention and management. The AHA specified further in their guidelines that adding these data elements to the NAMCS and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) represent a low cost approach to enhance national surveillance for cardiovascular disease. We understand that your time, as well as your staff’s time, is valuable. We will make every effort to minimize the burden but estimate that it will take about 45 minutes to complete this request.
This pilot test is part of the NAMCS, which is authorized by the Public Health Service Act (Title 42, United States Code, Section 242k). Participation in NAMCS and this pilot test are voluntary. Although there are no penalties for not participating, the ongoing success of the study depends on the willingness of health care professionals like you to provide current medical information. All information collected in this test will be held in the strictest confidence according to law [Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 United States Code 242m (d) and Section 513 of the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (PL 107-347)]. This study conforms to the Privacy Rule as mandated by HIPAA, because disclosure of patient data is permitted for public health purposes, the NCHS Research Ethics Review Board has approved NAMCS.
A representative of the U.S. Census Bureau will be calling you to discuss this special test. If you have any questions regarding your participation, please call a NAMCS representative at (800) 392-2862. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Regional Office Director
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Attachment C – Letter of Explanation |
| Author | pritz001 |
| Last Modified By | Bureau Of The Census |
| File Modified | 2008-07-23 |
| File Created | 2008-07-23 |