[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 236 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65595-65596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29375]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

ACTION: Notice of amendment to system of records.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a(e), 
notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is 
amending the system of records entitled ``The Revenue Program--Billing 
and Collections Records--VA'' (114VA16) as set forth in the Federal 
Register 69 FR 4205 and as amended in 70 FR 55207. VA is amending the 
system of records by revising the Categories of Records in the System.

DATES: Comments on the amendment of this system of records must be 
received no later than January 11, 2010. If no public comment is 
received, the amended system will become effective January 11, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through http://www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand-delivery to Director, Regulations 
Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, 
NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202) 273-9026. 
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) 461-4902 (this is not a toll-free number) for an 
appointment. In addition, during the comment period, comments may be 
viewed online through the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at: 
http://www.Regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephania H. Griffin, Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA) Privacy Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420; telephone (704) 245-
2492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Categories of Records in the System is 
being amended to add litigation or potential litigation, including a 
third-party tortfeasor, workers compensation, or no-fault automobile 
insurance cases.
    The Report of Intent to Amend a System of Records Notice and an 
advance copy of the system notice have been sent to the appropriate 
Congressional committees and to the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) (Privacy 
Act) and guidelines issued by OMB (65 FR 77677), December 12, 2000.

    Approved: November 13, 2009.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
Notice of Amendment to System of Records
    The system of records identified as 114VA16 ``The Revenue Program--
Billing and Collections Records--VA,'' published at 67 FR 41573, June 
18, 2002, and amended at 69 FR 4205, January 28, 2004, 70 FR 55207, 
September 20, 2005, and 73 FR 13280, March 12, 2008, is revised to 
amend the categories of records in the system as follows:
114VA16

SYSTEM NAME:
    The Revenue Program--Billing and Collections Records--VA.

PURPOSE(S):
    The records and information are used for the billing of, and 
collections from, a third party payer, including insurance companies, 
other Federal agencies, or foreign governments, for medical care or 
services received by a veteran for a nonservice-connected condition or 
from a first party veteran required to make co-payments. The records 
and information are also used for the billing of and collections from 
other Federal agencies for medical care or services received by an 
eligible beneficiary. The data may be used to identify or verify 
insurance coverage of a veteran or veteran's spouse prior to submitting 
claims for medical care or services. The data may be used to support 
appeals for non-reimbursement of claims for medical care or services 
provided to a veteran. The data may be used to enroll health care 
providers with health plans and VA's health care clearinghouse in order 
to electronically file third party claims. For the purposes of health 
care billing and payment activities to and from third party payers, VA 
will disclose information in accordance with the legislatively-mandated 
transaction standard and code sets promulgated by the United States 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Health 
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
    The data may be used to make application for a National Provider 
Identifier (NPI), as required by the HIPAA Administrative 
Simplification Rule on Standard Unique Health Identifier for Healthcare 
Providers, 45 CFR Part 162, for all health care professionals providing 
examination or treatment within VA health care facilities, including 
participation in pilot testing of NPI enumeration system by the Centers 
of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The records and information 
may be used for statistical analyses to produce various management, 
tracking and follow-up reports, to track and trend the reimbursement 
practices of insurance carriers, and to track billing and collection 
information. The data may be used to support, or in anticipation of 
supporting, reimbursement claims from non-VA health care providers or 
their agents. The data may be used to support, or in anticipation of 
supporting, reimbursement claims from academic affiliates with which VA 
maintains a business relationship.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
* * * * *
    7. Records of charges related to patient care that are created in 
anticipation of litigation in which the United States is a party or has 
an interest in the litigation or potential litigation, including a 
third-party tortfeasor, workers compensation, or no-fault automobile 
insurance cases. Such

[[Page 65596]]

records are not subject to disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(5).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E9-29375 Filed 12-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P