[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 136 (Monday, July 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41259-41260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3808]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Computer Matching Program Between the Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA)

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of computer match program.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA) intends to conduct a computer matching program with the Social 
Security Administration (SSA) to verify self-reported household income 
information for veterans whose eligibility for VA medical care is based 
on income levels.
    Legal Authority: The authority for this matching program is 
contained in 38 U.S.C. section 5317, 38 U.S.C. 5106, and 26 U.S.C. 
6103(l)(7)(D)(viii).
    Purpose: The purpose of this match is to obtain SSA earned income 
information data needed for the income verification process.
    Records To Be Matched: The VA records involved in the match are 
``Health Eligibility Center (HEC) Records'' (89VA19). The SSA records 
are from the Earning Recording and Self Employment Income System, SSA/
OEEAS 09-60-0059.

DATES: This match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication 
in the Federal Register, and end not more than 18 months later unless 
extended for 12 months in accordance with law.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail or hand-delivery 
to Director, Regulations Management (00REG1), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; fax to 
(202) 273-9026; e-mail to [email protected]; or, through http://www.Regulations.gov. All comments received will be available for 
public inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, 
Room 1063B, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday (except holidays). Please call (202) 273-9515 for an 
appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Ficco, Associate Director, 
Income

[[Page 41260]]

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A copy of this notice has been sent to the 
appropriate Committees of both Houses of Congress and to the Office of 
Management and Budget. This information is required by Title 5 U.S.C. 
552a(e)(12).

Report of Matching Program

    a. Names of participating agencies: Department of Veterans Affairs 
and the Social Security Administration.
    b. Program description:
    (1) Purpose: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans 
Health Administration (VHA), plans to match the household income 
information contained in the records of certain nonservice-connected 
veterans and zero percent service-connected (noncompensable) veterans 
with the income records for those persons maintained by the Social 
Security Administration (SSA). Veterans subject to income verification 
matching are those veterans who are receiving VA medical care whose 
eligibility is based on income level.
    Information about a veteran's household income (i.e., veteran, 
spouse, and dependents) is obtained when the veteran makes application 
for medical care. This information is necessary to determine whether 
the veteran's attributable income is below the established inability to 
defray medical care copayment threshold, thus enabling the veteran to 
receive cost free medical care. The proposed matching program will 
enable VA to verify a veteran's household income information and 
thereby more accurately determine his/her eligibility for medical care.
    (2) Procedures: The Health Eligibility Center (HEC) will prepare an 
extract file on nonservice-connected veterans and zero percent service 
connected (noncompensable) veterans whose attributable income is below 
the established income threshold. This HEC file will be matched against 
SSA records of earned income. When the returned data indicates that a 
veteran's income is above the established threshold HEC will initiate 
an extensive case development and verification process. HEC will make 
every reasonable attempt to verify identified discrepancies from the 
match directly with the veteran and/or spouse. Additionally, the 
veteran will be advised of the potential changes to his/her medical 
care eligibility, and the potential billing actions for copayments. 
When unable to verify income with veteran/spouse HEC will conduct 
independent verification with the payer(s) of the reported income. 
Before any adverse action is taken, the individual(s) identified by the 
match will be given the opportunity to contest the findings. Where 
there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation 
of criminal laws, the matter will be referred for prosecution 
consideration in accordance with existing VA policies.
    c. Authority: Title 38, U.S.C. sections 5106 and 5317 and 26 U.S.C. 
section 6103 (l)(7)(D)(viii).
    d. Records to be matched: The VA records involved in the match are 
``Health Eligibility Center Records'' (89VA19). The SSA records are 
from the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/
OEEAS 09-60-0059.
    e. Period of match: The initial date exchanges are expected to 
begin 40 days after the matching agreements are signed by the Data 
Integrity Boards and Congressional and Office of Management and Budget 
notification, and 30 days from the date of publication of notice in the 
Federal Register or 40 days from the date of this notice is approved, 
whichever is later.

    Approved: June 30, 2005.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. E5-3808 Filed 7-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P