[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70116-70117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29375]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. section 552a, the Privacy Act of 1974, as 
amended, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on 
the Conduct of Matching Programs, notice is hereby given that the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to conduct a computer 
matching program with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Data from the 
proposed match will be utilized to verify the unearned income (i.e., 
interest, dividends, etc.) of nonservice-connected veterans, and those 
veterans who are zero percent service-connected (noncompensable), whose 
eligibility for VA medical care is based on their inability to defray 
the cost of medical care. These veterans supply household income 
information that includes their spouses and dependents at the time of 
application for VA health care benefits.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This match will start no sooner than 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register, unless comments dictate otherwise.

ADDRESSES: Interested individuals may submit written comments to the 
Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Room 1154, Washington, DC 
20420. All written comments will be available for public inspection at 
the above address in the Office of Regulations Management, Room 1158, 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen E. Watkins, Assistant 
Director,

[[Page 70117]]

Income Verification Division, Health Eligibility Center, (404) 235-
1340.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Veterans Affairs has a 
statutory authorization under 38 U.S.C. 5317, 38 U.S.C. 5106, 26 U.S.C. 
6103 (1)(7)(D)(viii) and 5 U.S.C. 552a to establish matching agreements 
and request and use income information from other agencies for purposes 
of verification of income for determining eligibility for benefits. 38 
U.S.C. 1710 (a)(2) (G), identifies those veterans whose basic 
eligibility for medical care benefits is dependent upon their financial 
status. Eligibility for nonservice-connected and zero percent 
noncompensable service-connected veterans is determined based on the 
veteran's inability to defray the expenses for necessary care as 
defined in 38 U.S.C. 1722. This determination can impact their 
responsibility to participate in the cost of their care through 
copayments and their assignment to an enrollment priority group.
    The goal of this match is to obtain IRS unearned income information 
data needed for the income verification process. The VA records 
involved in the match are ``Healthcare Eligibility Records'' (89VA19). 
The IRS records are from the Wage and Information Returns (IRP) Master 
File, Privacy Act System, Treasury IRS 22.061. A copy of this notice 
has been sent to both Houses of Congress and OMB.
    This matching agreement expires June 30, 2003. The matches will not 
continue past the legislative authorized date to obtain this 
information.

    Approved: November 4, 2002.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 02-29375 Filed 11-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P