Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is any equipment that provides therapeutic benefits to a patient in need because of certain medical conditions and/or illness. They consist of items that are primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose; are not useful to a person in the absence of illness or injury; are ordered or prescribed by a physician; are reusable; can stand repeated use, and are appropriate for use in the home. Other devices covered in this guidance include prosthetic equipment (cardiac pacemakers), hearing aids, orthotic items (artificial devices such as braces and splints), and prostheses (artificial body parts). The information collected will assist in the determination of Peace Corps eligibility. If eligible, it will assist with ongoing care during service. All applicants to the Peace Corps must have a medical clearance that will determine their ability to serve in a particular country.
All applicants to the Peace Corps must have a medical clearance that will determine their ability to serve in a particular country. This information is collected under the authority of the Peace Corps Act, 22 U.S.C.2501 et seq. This information may be used for the purposes described in the Privacy Act, 5 USC 552A, including the routines uses listed in the Peace Corpsâ System of Records.Questions of a sensitive nature are asked solely from a medical perspective and the information gathered is used to determine whether the Applicant will, with reasonable accommodation, be able to perform the essential functions of a Peace Corps Volunteer and complete a tour of service without undue disruption due to health problems. This information also assists the Peace Corps in determining what is needed in order to provide adequate medical support to the Applicant during service. Peace Corps Volunteers serve in countries that have a different healthcare infrastructure than that found in the United States. Therefore, it is essential to fully understand each Applicantâs complete medical history, treatments and response to treatment, as well as a baseline evaluation of all conditions. Failure to answer truthfully could result in disqualification from Peace Corps service. The Peace Corps complies with the medical confidentiality requirements of the Privacy Act and HIPAA. However, all Applicants are required, as a condition of processing their applications and of Peace Corps service, to sign an Authorization for Peace Corps Use of Medical Information under which the Applicant permits the Peace Corps to use the Applicantâs protected health information to determine the Applicantâs eligibility for the Peace Corps and as necessary for administration of the Peace Corps program.
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.