[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 83 (Monday, April 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18766-18767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10488]



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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Health Care 
Financing Administration (HCFA))

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, this 
notice announces a computer matching program that SSA plans to conduct 
with HCFA.

DATES: SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives and the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). The matching program will be effective as indicated 
below.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either 
telefax to (410) 966-5138 or writing to the Associate Commissioner for 
Program and Integrity Reviews, 860 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235. All comments received will be available 
for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Associate Commissioner for Program 
and Integrity Reviews as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public 
Law (Pub. L.) 100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by 
establishing the conditions under which computer matching involving the 
Federal Government could be performed and adding certain protections 
for individuals applying for and receiving Federal benefits. Section 
7201 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of

[[Page 18767]]

1990 (Pub. L. 101-508) further amended the Privacy Act regarding 
protections for such individuals. The Privacy Act, as amended, 
regulates the use of computer matching by Federal agencies when records 
in a system of records are matched with other Federal, State, or local 
government records.
    Among other things, it requires Federal agencies involved in 
computer matching programs to:
    (1) Negotiate written agreements with the other agency or agencies 
participating in the matching programs;
    (2) Obtain the Data Integrity Boards' approval of the match 
agreements;
    (3) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress 
and OMB;
    (4) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are 
subject to matching; and
    (5) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating 
or denying an individual's benefits or payments.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken action to ensure that all of SSA's computer matching 
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

    Dated: April 16, 1996.
Shirley S. Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) with the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and HCFA.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions 
under which HCFA agrees to the disclosure of Medicaid facility 
admission and billing data. SSA will use the match results to verify 
the eligibility of, and the correct amount of benefits payable to, 
individuals under the supplemental security income (SSI) program, which 
provides payments under title XVI of the Social Security Act (the Act) 
to aged, blind and disabled recipients with income and resources below 
levels established by law and regulations, and federally administered 
supplementary payments under Section 1616 of the Act, including 
payments under section 212 of Pub. L. 93-66, 87 Stat. 152. Admission to 
a Medicaid facility would, under certain circumstances, subject the 
amount of SSI which an individual could receive for any month 
throughout which the individual is in such a facility to specific 
statutory limitations.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Section 1611(e) (1) (B) and 1631 (f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e) 
(1) (B) and 1383 (f)).

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    SSA will provide HCFA with identifying information with respect to 
applicants for and recipients of SSI benefits extracted from SSA's 
Supplemental Security Income Record to identify individuals potentially 
subject to benefit reductions or termination of payment eligibility 
under the statutory provisions listed above. HCFA will match the SSNs, 
names, date of birth, sex and race on this finder file with its 
Medicaid Statistical Information System File and provide a reply file 
of SSNs common to both files. HCFA will also provide SSA with the 
Medicaid facility name, address and telephone number for SSN's common 
to both files.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    The matching program shall become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after a copy of the agreement, as approved by the Data Integrity Boards 
of both agencies, is sent to Congress and the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) (or later if OMB objects to some or all of the agreement) 
or 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register, 
whichever is later. The matching program will continue for 18 months 
from the effective date and may be extended for an additional 12 months 
thereafter, if certain conditions are met.

[FR Doc. 96-10488 Filed 4-26-96; 8:45 am]
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