[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 10, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57971-57972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27031]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

20 CFR Part 404

[Docket No. SSA-2009-0039]
RIN 0960-AH04


Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Impairments That Affect 
Multiple Body Systems

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: We are requesting your comments on whether and how we should 
revise the criteria in our Listings of Impairments (the listings) for 
evaluating impairments that affect multiple body systems in adults and 
children. We are requesting your comments as part of our ongoing effort 
to ensure that our listings reflect current medical knowledge. If we 
propose specific revisions; we will publish a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking in the Federal Register.

DATES: To be sure that we consider your comments, we must receive them 
by no later than January 11, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any one of three methods--
Internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times 
or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose, 
please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA-2009-0039 so 
that we may associate your comments with the correct regulation.
    Caution: You should be careful to include in your comments only 
information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge 
you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as 
Social Security numbers or medical information.
    1. Internet: We strongly recommend that you submit your comments 
via the Internet. Please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function to find docket number 
SSA-2009-0039. The system will issue a tracking number to confirm your 
submission. You will not be able to view your comment immediately 
because we must post each comment manually. It may take up to a week 
for your comment to be viewable.
    2. Fax: Fax comments to (410) 966-2830.
    3. Mail: Mail your comments to the Office of Regulations, Social 
Security Administration, 137 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401.
    Comments are available for public viewing on the Federal 
eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov or in person, during 
regular business hours, by arranging with the contact person identified 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marva Franklin, Social Insurance 
Specialist, Office of Medical Listings Improvement, Social Security 
Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, 
(410) 965-1020. For information on eligibility or filing for benefits, 
call our national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-
0778, or visit our Internet site, Social Security Online, at http://www.socialsecurity.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 57972]]

Electronic Version

    The electronic file of this document is available on the date of 
publication in the Federal Register at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

What is the purpose of this Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(ANPRM)?

    This ANPRM gives you an opportunity to send us comments and 
suggestions on whether and how we might update and revise the listings 
and other criteria in sections 10.00 and 110.00 for evaluating 
impairments that affect multiple body systems. We last published final 
rules revising the criteria that we use to evaluate impairments that 
affect multiple body systems on August 30, 2005. 70 FR 51252. We are 
publishing this ANPRM as part of our ongoing effort to ensure that our 
criteria reflect the latest advances in medicine.

On which rules are we inviting comments and suggestions?

    You can find our current rules on which we are inviting comments 
and suggestions on the Internet at the following locations:
     Sections 10.00 and 110.00 are in the Listing of 
Impairments in appendix 1 to subpart P of part 404 of our regulations 
at http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-ap10.htm or at http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/.

Who should send us comments and suggestions?

    We invite comments and suggestions from people who apply for or 
receive benefits from us, members of the general public, advocates and 
organizations who represent people who have impairments that affect 
multiple body systems, State agencies that make disability 
determinations for us, experts in the evaluation of impairments that 
affect multiple body systems, and researchers.

What should you comment about?

    We are interested in any comments and suggestions on how we might 
revise sections 10.00 and 110.00 of our listings. For example, we are 
interested in knowing if:
     You have concerns about any of the provisions in the 
current impairments that affect multiple body systems listings, such as 
whether you believe we should change any of our criteria or whether you 
believe a listing is difficult to use or to understand.
     You would like to see our impairments that affect multiple 
body systems listings include something that is not currently included, 
such as other impairments, additional medical technologies, specific 
laboratory studies, or new medical criteria.
     You believe our impairments that affect multiple body 
systems listings should include functional criteria and what those 
criteria should be.

Will we respond to your comments from this notice?

    We will not respond directly to the comments you send in response 
to this ANPRM. After we have considered all comments and suggestions, 
as well as information about advances in medical knowledge, treatment, 
and methods of evaluating impairments that affect multiple body 
systems, and our program experience using the current listings, we will 
determine whether we should revise any of the listings or other 
criteria in sections 10.00 or 110.00. If we decide to propose specific 
revisions, we will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the 
Federal Register and you will have a chance to comment on the revisions 
we propose.

List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 404

    Administrative practice and procedure, Blind, Disability benefits, 
Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Social Security.

    Dated: September 28, 2009.
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. E9-27031 Filed 11-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P