[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53426-53427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26489]



[[Page 53426]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program (Match No. 2001-
02)

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly the Health Care 
Financing Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 
1974, as amended, this notice announces a renewal and modification for 
a computer matching agreement that CMS plans to conduct with the Social 
Security Administration (SSA). We have provided background information 
about the proposed matching program in the Supplementary Information 
section below. Although the Privacy Act requires only that CMS provide 
an opportunity for interested persons to comment on the proposed 
matching program, CMS invites comments on all portions of this notice. 
See Effective Dates section below for comment period.

EFFECTIVE DATES: CMS filed a report of the computer matching program 
with the Chair of the House Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, 
and the Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on October 16, 2001. We will not 
disclose any information under a matching agreement until 40 days after 
filing a report to OMB and Congress or 30 days after publication. We 
may defer implementation of this matching program if we receive 
comments that persuade us to defer implementation.

ADDRESSES: The public should address comments to: Director, Division of 
Data Liaison and Distribution (DDLD), CMS, Room N2-04-27, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850. Comments received will be 
available for review at this location, by appointment, during regular 
business hours, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., eastern 
daylight time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Anderson, Health Insurance 
Specialist, Division of National Systems, Financial Systems and Quality 
Group, Center for Medicaid and State Operations, S2-11-07, CMS, 7500 
Security Boulevard, N2-04-06, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850. The 
telephone number is (410) 786-6190, or facsimile (410) 786-6730.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Description of the Matching Program

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 
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 (Pub. L. 100-508) 
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 agencies 
participating in matching programs;
    2. Obtain the Data Integrity Board's approval of the match 
agreement;
    3. Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress and 
OMB;
    4. Notify applicants and beneficiaries that the records are subject 
to matching; and
    5. Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating, 
or denying an individual's benefits or payments.

B. CMS Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    CMS has taken action to ensure that all of the computer match 
programs that this agency participates in comply with the requirements 
of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.

    Dated: October 12, 2001.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Computer Match No. 2001-02

Name:
    Disclosure of Skilled Nursing Facility Admission Information.

Security Classification:
    Level Three Privacy Act Sensitive.

Participating Agencies:
    Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and the Social Security 
Administration.

Authority for Conducting Matching Program:
    Authority for matching agreement is given under sections 
1611(e)(1)(A) and (B) and 1631(f) of the Social Security Act (the Act) 
(42 U.S.C.) 1382(e)(1)(A) and (B).

Purpose(s) of the Matching Program:
    The primary purpose for the renewal and modification of this 
matching program is to identify Social Security recipients who did not 
report their admission to certain skilled nursing facilities as 
required under applicable provisions of the Act. Such admissions would 
subject the amount of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) that the 
individual could receive for any month throughout which the individual 
is in such a facility to a reduced benefit rate.
    In addition, under the Special Veterans' Benefits (SVB) Program, 
certain World War II veterans may be entitled to receive a special 
benefit for each month they subsequently reside outside of the United 
States (U.S.) after April 2000. The match will be used to identify 
those beneficiaries who are no longer residing outside the U.S.

Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match:
    SSA will furnish CMS with an electronic file on a monthly basis, 
extracted from SSA's ``Supplemental Security Income Record,'' SSA/OSR 
60-0103, containing identifying information on applicants for, and 
recipients of, SSI benefits. CMS will match the SSA file against its 
``Long Term Care/Minimum Data Set System,'' (No. 09-70-1517) system of 
records and disclose information on skilled nursing facilities 
admission dates. CMS's data will help enforce the provision of the Act 
which limits the amount of SSI individuals may receive in certain cases 
for any month throughout which an individual or his eligible spouse is 
in a hospital, extended care facility, nursing home, or intermediate 
care facility, and is receiving Medicare payments. The information 
provided by this match will help SSA determine if the individual has 
returned to the U.S., since an individual is entitled to receive SVB 
only when he/she resides outside the U.S.

Inclusive Dates of the Match:
    The Matching Program shall become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after the report of the matching program is sent to OMB and Congress, 
or 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, whichever is 
later. The matching program will continue for 18

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months from the effective date and may be extended for an additional 12 
months thereafter, if certain conditions are met.

[FR Doc. 01-26489 Filed 10-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P