Veteran Toxic Exposure Screening - PACT Act (Section 603)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Supporting Statement B_Veteran Toxic Exposure Screening_PACT Act - Section 603_09012022 (Final).docx Supporting Statement B	2022-09-02
Supporting Statement A_Veteran Toxic Exposure Screening_PACT Act Section 603_Emergency PRA Clearance_09012022 (Final).docx Supporting Statement A	2022-09-02
Request for Emergency OMB PRA Clearance Memorandum_Veteran Toxic Exposure Screening_PACT Act Section 603_signed 09012022.pdf Supplementary Document	2022-09-02

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
255733	Veteran Toxic Exposure Screening Tool (PACT Act) Other-Screening Survey	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2900-0913	ICR Reference No: 202209-2900-002
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: VA	Agency Tracking No: 2900-NEW
Title: Veteran Toxic Exposure Screening - PACT Act (Section 603)
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 09/06/2022
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 09/02/2022
	Date Received in OIRA: 09/02/2022
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2023	6 Months From Approved
Responses	1,660,000	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	138,333	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The PACT Act was signed into law on August 10, 2022 and mandates that VA implement toxic exposure screening to identify Veterans with potential toxic exposures during military, naval, air, or space service. The PACT Act imposes a Congressionally mandated timeline to implementation of 90 days, therefore full implementation must be completed by November 8, 2022. To ensure efficacy of the screening tool and ease of use by screeners, the project team recommends testing the toxic screening tool with a sampling from targeted clinical areas and sites for 10 days, beginning September 6, 2022. The goal is to collect feedback and best practices to use in refining the screening tool and training to increase best chance for success. Testing will be limited to staff in seven clinical settings and pilot sites. The toxic screening tool consists of 1-7 questions, depending upon how the Veteran answers, and will be administered initially in the electronic health record (VistA CPRS). The team estimates completion time for the screening to be approximately 5 minutes.

Emergency Justfication: Due to the Congressionally mandated implementation timeline of 90 days from when the PACT Act was signed into law (August 10, 2022) there is not enough time for VA to follow regular PRA clearance procedures. Also, to ensure efficacy of the screening tool and ease of use by screeners, the project team recommends testing the toxic exposure screening tool with a sampling from targeted clinical areas and sites for 10 days, beginning September 6, 2022. This will allow the final screening tool to be adjusted, as necessary, and launched by the mandatory deadline of November 8, 2022. Further, it is important to note stakeholder interest in, and support for, a swift and successful implementation of toxic exposure screening mandated under PACT Act from the President, the Hill, The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans and their families, and caregivers. The project team has built an effective screening tool and implementation plan in the three weeks since enactment of the PACT Act. On behalf of VHA Leadership, the project team respectfully requests an emergency OMB PRA Clearance, with plan to follow-up with submission of an official 3-year request. This clearance, if granted, would allow the team to move forward with the important task of testing the screening tool starting Tuesday, September 6. Delaying the start of pilot testing would impact time allotments for collecting and incorporating feedback into the finalized toxic screening tool, ultimately risking implementation within the parameters set by Congress.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 117 - 168 603 Name of Law: Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 117 - 168 603 Name of Law: Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022

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

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Veteran Toxic Exposure Screening Tool (PACT Act)

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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	1,660,000	0	0	1,660,000	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	138,333	0	0	138,333	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.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $41,511,300

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

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.     Yes

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.     Yes

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? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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: 09/02/2022

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