CDC Response to Public Comments on the 60-day FRN

December 11, 2020

To: Ms. Jeanne Blankenship and Mr. Mark E. Rifkin, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

From: Clinical Outcomes Team, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Re: Public comment and recommendations for proposed data collection Medical Monitoring Project Facility Survey [60Day–20–20OM; Docket No. CDC–2020–0059]

Dear Ms. Blankenship and Mr. Rifkin-

Thank you for your comments and recommendations for the proposed Medical Monitoring Project Facility Survey. Here is a response to each of the points you raised.

1) Regarding your comment about capturing facilities that serve American Indians/Alaska Natives, we added a response, “Indian Health Service Health Center, Tribal Health Center, or Urban Indian Health Center” to the question about facility type.

2) For the cultural competency question, we added a link to an example, i.e. the OMH Guide to Providing Effective Communication and Language Assistance Services: https://hclsig.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/. Due to the need to keep the survey short in order to minimize facility burden, we cannot add questions that could gather more detailed information.

3) In the question regarding nutrition counseling, we changed "nutrition counseling" to "medical nutrition therapy." We did not include whether this was provided by a registered dietician nutritionist because we do not specify disciplines of providers of other services.

4) Regarding whether patients receive assistance applying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, in the main Medical Monitoring Project survey of persons with HIV infection (OMB #0920-0740), we assess met and unmet need for food assistance service (including SNAP) among people with HIV, in addition to receipt of and need for case management services.

5) Regarding asking about the proportion of patients who receive nutrition services and provider capacity, that level of information is beyond the scope of the survey, given the need to minimize the burden on responding facilities. In the main Medical Monitoring Project survey of persons with HIV infection (OMB #0920-0740), we assess met and unmet need for nutrition services.

We appreciate your review of this project and your helpful comments and recommendations.

Sincerely,

R. Luke Shouse, MD, MPH

Medical Officer

Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

2