[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 11599-11600] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-6075] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary 32 CFR Part 220 RIN 0790-AG50 Collection From Third Party Payers of Reasonable Costs of Healthcare Services AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), DoD. ACTION: Final rule with request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This final rule implements, without embellishment or additional requirement, the recently enacted statutory authority to collect Social Security account numbers from all DoD beneficiaries as part of the program to identify third party payer situations. DATES: This rule is effective April 9, 1998. Comments are requested by May 11, 1998. ADDRESSES: Forward comments to: Third Party Collection Program, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), Health Services Operations and Readiness, 1200 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301- 1200. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LTC Michael Montgomery, 703-681-8910. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Final Rule Regarding Collection of Social Security Account Numbers As part of the program to identify third party payer situations, Congress authorized DoD to require mandatory disclosure of Social Security account numbers of all covered beneficiaries. Based on this statutory revision, we are adding the final rule, Sec. 220.9(d), that every covered beneficiary eligible for care in facilities of the Uniformed Services is, as a condition of eligibility, required to disclose to authorized personnel his or her Social Security account number. This is essential to the conduct of the program to identify third party payer situations. Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' It has been determined that this rule is not a significant rule as defined under section 3(f)(1) through 3(f)(4) of Executive Order 12866. [[Page 11600]] Public Law 96-354, ``Regulatory Flexibility Act'' (5 U.S.C. 601) It has been determined that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because it affects only DoD employees and certain former DoD employees. Public Law 96-511, ``Paperwork Reduction Act'' (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) It has been certified that this rule does not impose any reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This rule implements, without embellishment or additional requirement, the statutory authority to require, as part of the program for the identification of third party payer situations, the mandatory disclosure of Social Security account numbers for all covered beneficiaries. Congress recognized that the information matching program cannot proceed without Social Security account numbers to assure correct identification of each individual in the respective databases. List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 200 Claims, Health care, Health insurance. For the reasons stated in the preamble, 32 CFR part 220 is amended as follows: PART 220--COLLECTION FROM THIRD PARTY PAYERS OF REASONABLE COSTS OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES 1. The authority citation for 32 CFR part 220 continues to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, 10 U.S.C. 1095. 2. Section 220.9 is amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows: Sec. 220.9. Rights and obligations of beneficiaries. * * * * * (d) Mandatory disclosure of Social Security account numbers. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1095(k)(2), every covered beneficiary eligible for care in facilities of the Uniformed Services is, as a condition of eligibility, required to disclose to authorized personnel his or her Social Security account number. Dated: March 4, 1998. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 98-6075 Filed 3-9-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5000-04-M