[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 68 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18665-18666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7953]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)/Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS))--Match Number 1302

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 RRB and 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 (Pub. L. 
(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. 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 
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 Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) and the Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA, RRB and CMS.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this agreement is to establish the conditions under 
which RRB agrees to disclose RRB annuity payment data to CMS through a 
computer matching program. This disclosure will provide CMS with 
information necessary to verify 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. SSA receives the 
pertinent data from RRB for existing computer matches, and is in a 
position to provide

[[Page 18666]]

this data to CMS upon approval of the appropriate computer matching 
agreements.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    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

    RRB will provide CMS with an electronic data file (transmitted via 
SSA) containing annuity payment data from RRB's system of records, RRB-
22 Railroad Retirement, Survivor, and Pensioner Benefits System, 
entitled Checkwriting Integrated Computer Operation (CHICO) Benefit 
Payment Master. The records furnished to CMS will be limited to 
``Medicare eligible'' annuities. These are annuitants who are entitled 
to Medicare Part A or are within 3 months of attainment of age 65. CMS 
will then match the RRB data with data maintained in the MBD, System 
No. 09-70-0536 published in the Federal Register at 66 FR 63392 
(December 6, 2001).

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The matching program will become effective upon signing of the 
agreement by both 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. 04-7953 Filed 4-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P