Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery (COVER) Commission Veterans Focus Groups: Mental Health Services Preferences and Utilization Data Collection

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
COVER Comm_Virtual Veterans Focus Group Screening Form_OMB passback revision_06172019_FINAL.docx Supplementary Document	2019-06-17
CARA Legislation_PL 114 198 Sect 931_COVER Commission.docx Supplementary Document	2019-05-03
COVER Commission Focus Group_Recruiter Info_OMB passback revision_06172019_FINAL.docx Supplementary Document	2019-06-17
COVER Commission Focus Group_Veteran Info_OMB passback revision_06172019_FINAL.docx Supplementary Document	2019-06-17
COVER Comm_In-person Veterans Focus Group Screening Form_OMB passback revision_06172019_FINAL.docx Supplementary Document	2019-06-17
Vet Focus Group Flyer for OMB submission.docx Supplementary Document	2019-05-03
COVER Comm_Veterans Focus Group Moderator Guide_OMB passback revision_06172019_FINAL.docx Supplementary Document	2019-06-17
COVER Commission Justification A for PRA Clearance_Final_June 2019.docx Supporting Statement A	2019-06-17

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
235915	COVER Commission Focus Group Veterans Demographics Survey Other-Survey	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2900-0868	ICR Reference No: 201905-2900-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: VA	Agency Tracking No: 2900-NEW
Title: Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery (COVER) Commission Veterans Focus Groups: Mental Health Services Preferences and Utilization Data Collection
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 06/18/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/08/2019
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2022	36 Months From Approved
Responses	200	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	400	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: The COVER Commission, established as required by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA), Section 931 (Public Law 114-198), is charged to meet the duties outlined within the legislation. The legislation, Section 931(b)(2), specifically states that the COVER Commission is to conduct a patient-centered survey within each of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks. The instrument will collect qualitative information from Veterans seeking and utilizing mental health services through VA and non-VA facilities. The Commission’s purpose is to examine the evidence-based therapy treatment model used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for treating mental health conditions of Veterans and the potential benefits of incorporating complementary and integrative health treatments available in non-Department facilities. There are 5 identified duties that the Commission is tasked to evaluate and provide recommendations to the President of the United States, House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees and the Secretary of VA eighteen months after the establish of the Commission, which will be December 2019. The Commission is requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a focus group protocol to meet the charges outlined under Duty 2 in the legislation (bolded in table below). The instrument will collect qualitative information from Veterans seeking and utilizing mental health services through VA and non-VA facilities that is not available anywhere else. The survey will be conducted in Focus Group sessions held in each VISN, with 8-10 participants in each session selected from Veterans who volunteer to participate. The main purpose of the focus group discussions is to hear from Veterans about the kinds of outpatient, inpatient, residential, complementary and integrative health (CIH) treatments of mental health concerns (e.g., PTSD, depression, substance use disorder including opioid use, or any other mental health issues) they are receiving or have received in the past at VA or non-VA facilities. The participants will also be asked to discuss their experiences and preferences regarding mental health treatment options, challenges related to seeking mental healthcare, and any suggestions for improvement of services. Each session will last approximately 2 hours.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 114 - 198 931 Name of Law: Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA)
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 8153	03/06/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 20205	05/08/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
COVER Commission Focus Group Veterans Demographics Survey

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	200	0	0	200	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	400	0	0	400	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new collection and all burden hours are considered a program increase.The COVER Commission, established as required by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA), Section 931 (Public Law 114-198), is charged to conduct a patient-centered survey within each of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $113,600

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 05/08/2019

---