The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has initiated a further public comment period regarding its AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS). This notice, published in the Federal Register, signifies AHRQ's intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the reinstatement with change of this vital information collection project, identified as OMB No 0935-0122. The agency seeks to gather additional input on its system designed to track and monitor the progress and outcomes of AHRQ-funded research, underscoring its commitment to transparency and efficient resource allocation in healthcare research.
Evolution of the AHRQ Research Reporting System
The ARRS system has a history rooted in the agency's need for systematic progress tracking. Initially developed in 2007 as the Grants Reporting System (GRS), it was renamed ARRS in 2008. Beyond its primary function of reporting grant progress, ARRS briefly expanded to track jobs created under contracts related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. While it no longer serves the job creation reporting function, its core utility as a centralized repository for research progress and administrative project information remains. The system is now applicable to grants, research contracts, and challenge competition awards, ensuring a comprehensive view of AHRQ-supported activities. This evolution reflects AHRQ's ongoing efforts to refine its oversight mechanisms.
Strategic Goals and Statutory Mandate
AHRQ's motivation for maintaining and refining ARRS is multifaceted, driven by both administrative efficiency and statutory obligations. The system is designed to promote the transfer of critical information more frequently and efficiently, thereby enhancing the agency's ability to support research aimed at improving healthcare outcomes, reducing costs, and broadening access to effective services. Its specific goals include increasing efficiency in responding to ad-hoc information requests, supporting Executive Branch requirements for increased transparency and public reporting, establishing a consistent approach for information collection and oversight, and ultimately, decreasing the administrative burden on grantees by minimizing unanticipated requests for information.
These objectives are directly aligned with AHRQ's statutory authority, which mandates it to conduct and support research on healthcare and delivery systems, encompassing aspects like quality, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness, and value of services, as well as quality measurement and database development. This authority is outlined in 42 U.S.C. 299a(a)(1) and (8). The current proposed changes are minor, focusing on clarifying the scope of respondents to include recipients of AHRQ-funded research contracts and challenge competition awards, without altering the core reporting content.
Operational Mechanics and Estimated Burden
The ARRS system operates through a secure online interface that requires user authentication. Award recipients, contractors, and authorized AHRQ officials utilize this platform to report project progress and preliminary findings. Reporting frequency varies based on the type of award and programmatic need, with designated reporting officials receiving email notifications when status reports are due. This standardized digital approach aims to streamline the reporting process for all parties involved.
AHRQ has also provided an updated estimate of the annual respondent burden. The agency projects 450 respondents annually, a slight decrease from the previous estimate of 500. Each respondent is expected to spend approximately 30 minutes entering data into the ARRS. This translates to an estimated total annualized burden of 225 hours for all respondents. The associated cost burden is calculated at $26,725.50, based on an adjusted hourly wage rate of $118.78 for healthcare practitioner and technical occupations. These figures aim to provide a clear picture of the administrative resources required to comply with the reporting requirements.
Opportunity for Public Input
This Federal Register notice serves as a call for additional public comments, specifically providing a 30-day window for stakeholders to submit their feedback by September 21, 2026. This period follows an earlier 60-day comment opportunity that did not yield any submissions. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, AHRQ is soliciting comments on several key areas: the necessity and practical utility of the proposed information collection, the accuracy of AHRQ's burden estimates, ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information to be collected, and strategies to minimize the burden on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques. All comments submitted will become a matter of public record and will inform AHRQ's subsequent request for OMB approval, reinforcing the federal government's commitment to public participation in regulatory processes.
