[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45893-45894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22963]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) Match Number 1076)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, 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) 966-2935 or writing to the Associate Commissioner, 
Office of Program Support, 4400 West High Rise, 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 
Support as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public 
Law (P.L.) 100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by 
describing the manner in which computer matching involving Federal 
agencies could be performed and adding certain protections for 
individuals applying for and receiving Federal benefits. Section 7201 
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (P.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.
    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: August 17, 1998.
Kenneth S. Apfel,
Commissioner of Social Security.

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

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and HCFA.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    To identify Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who have 
been admitted to certain public institutions. The program will thereby 
facilitate benefit reductions required under certain provisions of 
title XVI of the Social Security Act. The matching program is designed 
to identify individuals who could be subject to a reduced SSI benefit 
under statutory provisions mandating a reduced benefit rate in many 
cases for any month throughout which the eligible individual or his 
eligible spouse resides in a hospital, extended care facility, nursing 
home, or intermediate care facility receiving medicaid payments (with 
respect to such individual or spouse) under a State plan approved under 
title XIX of the Social Security Act. Under the matching program, SSA 
will obtain admission data provided to HCFA from skilled nursing 
facilities as that term is defined in section 1819 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-3). HCFA's skilled nursing facility 
admission data will help SSA enforce the aforementioned SSI benefit 
reduction provision.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Programs

    Sections 1611(e)(1)(A) and (B), and 1631(f) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(1)(A), 1382(e)(1)(B), and 1383(f)); 20 CFR 
416.211.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching 
Program

    On the basis of certain identifying information regarding SSI 
applicants and recipients as provided by SSA to HCFA, HCFA will provide 
SSA with electronic files containing skilled nursing facility admission 
and billing data from its Long Term Care--Minimum Data Set LTC/MDS 09-
70-1516 system of records. SSA will then match the HCFA data with SSI 
payment information maintained in the Supplemental Security Income 
Record, SSA/OSR 09-60-0103 system of records.

[[Page 45894]]

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    The matching program shall become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after notice for the program is sent to Congress and OMB, or 30 days 
after publication of this notice in the Federal Register, whichever 
date 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. 98-22963 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P