The Health Center Program, administered by HRSA, is authorized under section 330 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. § 254b). Health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver affordable, accessible, quality, and cost-effective primary health care services to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Nearly 1,400 health centers operate approximately 15,500 service delivery sites that provide primary health care to more than 31 million people in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin. HRSA uses the Uniform Data System (UDS) for required annual reporting of program-specific data by Health Center Program awardees (those funded under section 330 of the PHS Act); Health Center Program look-alikes (entities meeting requirements of, but not funded under, section 330 of the PHS Act); and Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) and Advanced Nursing Education (ANE) Program awardees (specifically those funded under the practice priority areas of sections 831(b) and 811 of the PHS Act). Some NEPQR and ANE Program awardees establish and expand nursing practice arrangements in noninstitutional settings to demonstrate methods to improve access to primary health care in areas with unmet primary health care needs. Such grantees implementing nursing practice arrangements have historically used the same data collection system as the Health Center Program for their required annual reporting of program-specific data.
In 2026, the estimated total burden hours for this ICR are approximately 304,616 hours, compared to 2025, when the burden was estimated at 377,317 hoursâa decrease of approximately 72,701 hours collectively across health centers or an average of 42 hours per health center. This decrease is primarily attributable to HRSAâs streamlining efforts, which were undertaken to reduce provider burden.
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.