[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 68 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18666-18667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7954]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefit Administration 
(VA/VBA)/Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS))--Match Number 
1303

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 VA/VBA 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 (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. 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 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefit 
Administration (VA/VBA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA/VA/VBA/CMS.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions 
under which VA/VBA agrees to the disclosure of Federal compensation and 
pension payment data to CMS via SSA. 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. SSA 
receives pertinent data from VA/VBA for existing computer matches, and 
is in a position to provide this data to CMS upon approval of the 
appropriate computer matching agreements.

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

1. Specified Data Elements Used in the Match

    a. VA/VBA will electronically furnish CMS (transmitted via SSA) 
with the following Federal compensation and pension payment data: SSN, 
name, date of birth and VA claim number on both

[[Page 18667]]

the VA file and the SSR, and the payment date.
    b. To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the program, SSA 
will receive the data from VA/VBA and transmit it to CMS.
    c. CMS will match this file against their database of prescription 
benefit participants and/or applicants.

2. Systems of Records

    VA/VBA will provide CMS (transmitted via SSA) with electronic files 
containing compensation and pension payment data from its system of 
records entitled the Compensation, Pension, Education and 
Rehabilitation Records-VA (58VA21/22). Routine use 21 of 58VA21/22 and 
routine use 3 of 60-0103 permits disclosure of the subject records for 
matching purposes. CMS will match the VA/VBA information with the 
electronic data from the following system of records: Medicare 
Beneficiary Data Base, System Number 09-70-0536, published at 67 FR 
63392 (December 6, 2001).

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. 04-7954 Filed 4-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P