[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 68 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18663-18664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7951]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS))--Match Number 1300

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of a new computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces a new computer matching program that SSA 
will conduct with CMS.

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 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) 965-8582 or writing to the Associate Commissioner for 
Income Security Programs, 245 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Associate Commissioner for Income 
Security Programs 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 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. 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 approval of the matching agreement by the Data 
Integrity Boards (DIB) of the participating Federal agencies;
    (3) Publish notice of the computer matching program in the Federal 
Register;
    (4) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress 
and OMB;
    (5) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are 
subject to matching; and
    (6) 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

[[Page 18664]]

programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

    Dated: April 2, 2004.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) With the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and CMS.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish the 
conditions, safeguards, and procedures under which SSA will disclose 
income data on all Medicare eligible individuals from SSA's Master 
Beneficiary Record (MBR) and its Supplemental Security Income Record 
and Special Veterans Benefits (SSR) to CMS. These disclosures will 
provide CMS with information to use in verifying an individual's self-
certification of eligibility for Transitional Assistance under the 
Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card Program provided under the 
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The legal authority for this computer matching program is contained 
in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 
2003, Pub. L. 108-173, section 101, 117 Stat. 2066 (2003) and section 
1106 (42 U.S.C. 1306) of the Social Security Act.

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

    SSA will provide information electronically to CMS from the 
following systems of records: Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), SSA/
OEEAS, 60-0090, last published at 66 FR 11080 (February 21, 2001), and 
the SSA Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans 
Benefits (SSR), SSA/OEEAS, 60-0103, last published at 66 FR 11085 
(February 21, 2001). SSA will disclose information to CMS from the MBR 
system of record pursuant to routine use number 24. SSA will disclose 
information to CMS from the SSR system of record pursuant to routine 
use number 19.
    CMS will match this benefit/income information with the CMS system 
of records, Medicare Beneficiary Database, System No. 09-70-0536 
published in the Federal Register at 67 FR 63392 (December 6, 2001). 
Matched data will be released pursuant to routine use number 2 as set 
forth in the system notice.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The matching program will become effective upon signing of the 
agreement by all parties to the agreement and approval of the agreement 
by the Data Integrity Boards of the respective agencies, but no sooner 
than 40 days after notice of the matching program is sent to Congress 
and the Office of Management and Budget, 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. 04-7951 Filed 4-7-04; 8:45 am]
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