On October 10, 2008, President Bush signed S. 1382: ALS Registry Act which amended the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry. The activities described are part of the effort to create the National ALS Registry. The purpose of the registry is to: (1) better describe the incidence and prevalence of ALS in the United States; (2) examine appropriate factors, such as environmental and occupational, that might be associated with the disease; (3) better outline key demographic factors (such as age, race or ethnicity, gender, and family history) associated with the disease; and (4) better examine the connection between ALS and other motor neuron disorders that can be confused with ALS, misdiagnosed as ALS, and in some cases progress to ALS. The registry will collect personal health information that may provide a basis for further scientific studies of potential risks for developing ALS.
This project purposes to collect information specific data related to ALS. The objective of this project is to develop state-based and metropolitan area-based surveillance projects for ALS. The primary goal of the state-based and metropolitan area-based surveillance project is to use these data to evaluate the completeness of the National ALS Registry. The secondary goal of the surveillance project is to obtain reliable and timely information on the incidence and prevalence of ALS and to better describe the demographic characteristics (e.g., age, race, sex, and geographic location) of those with ALS. Neurologists or their staff will complete an ALS Case Reporting Form on each of their ALS patients. This will be transmitted to the state or metropolitan health department. An ALS Medical Record Verification Form will be collected on a subset of cases reported.
Surveillance items to be collected include information to make sure that there are no duplicates.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.