The purpose of the proposed study is
to identify and analyze transportation barriers associated with the
utilization of Medicare services by American Indian and Alaska
Native (AI/AN) beneficiaries, to identify and analyze the health
outcomes resulting from those barriers, and ultimately to identify
potential solutions that could help mitigate the problem and
produce meaningful improvements in health care use and health
outcomes for this population. Specifically, the information that
will be collected through the use of instruments and the study
developed under the Analysis of Transportation Barriers to
Utilization of Medicare Services by American Indian and Alaska
Native Medicare Beneficiaries Project has not been collected or
evaluated previously by any agency or individual, so data on the
extent of transportation barriers for rural AI/AN beneficiaries to
Medicare services by AI/AN Medicare beneficiaries are not available
except from the proposed data collection activity. The information
gathered as part of the project --through the use of survey,
interview, and focus group instruments--will be used by CMS to
identify transportation barriers to Medicare services for AI/AN
Medicare beneficiaries. It will provide the first ever complete
evaluation of transportation barriers to health care for this
population.
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.