[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73195-73196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29066]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services


Privacy Act of 1974: CMS Computer Matching Program Match No. 
2013-01; HHS Computer Matching Program Match No. 1312

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program (CMP).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 
(5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, this notice announces the renewal of a CMP 
that CMS plans to conduct with the Purchased Care at the Health 
Administration Center (PC@HAC) of the Department of Veteran Affairs. We 
have provided background information about the proposed matching 
program in the ``Supplementary Information'' section below. Although 
the Privacy Act requires only that CMS provide an opportunity for 
interested persons to comment on the proposed matching program, CMS 
invites comments on all portions of this notice. See ``Effective 
Dates'' section below for comment period.

DATES: Effective Dates: CMS filed a report of the CMP with the Chair of 
the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the Chair of 
the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the Administrator, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). We will not disclose any information under a matching 
agreement until 40 days after filing a report to OMB and Congress or 30 
days after publication. We may defer implementation of this matching 
program if we receive comments that persuade us to defer 
implementation.

ADDRESSES: The public should address comments to: CMS Privacy Officer, 
Division of Privacy Policy (DPP), Privacy Policy and Compliance Group 
(PPCG), Office of E-Health Standards & Services (OESS), CMS, Mailstop 
S2-24-25, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850. 
Comments received will be available for review at this location, by 
appointment, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 
9 a.m.-3 p.m., eastern daylight time.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Description of the Matching Program

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (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 (SOR) 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 agencies 
participating in the matching programs;
    2. Obtain the Data Integrity Board approval of the match 
agreements;
    3. Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress and 
OMB;
    4. Notify applicants and beneficiaries that the records are subject 
to matching; and,
    5. Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating, 
or denying an individual's benefits or payments.

B. CMS Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    CMS has taken action to ensure that all CMPs that this Agency 
participates in comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 
1974, as amended.

    Dated: November 21, 2013.
Michelle Snyder,
Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
CMS Computer Match No. 2013-01; HHS Computer Match No. 1312

Name:
    ``Computer Matching Agreement between the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Purchased Care at the Health 
Administration Center (PC@HAC) of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
for Verification of CHAMPVA Eligibility.''

Security Classification:
    None

Participating Agencies:
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Purchased Care at 
the Health Administration Center (PC@HAC) of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCTING MATCHING PROGRAM:
    This Computer Matching Program (CMP) is executed to comply with the 
provisions of Public Laws (Pub. L.) 93-82, 94-581, 102-190, and 107-14 
(codified at Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1713) that restrict 
CHAMPVA eligibility for benefits dependent upon a beneficiary's 
Medicare Part A and Part B status. This computer matching program will 
match CHAMPVA applicants and beneficiaries with Medicare Part A and B 
beneficiaries.

[[Page 73196]]

Purpose(s) of the Matching Program:
    The purpose of this computer matching agreement is to establish the 
conditions, safeguards and procedures under which the CMS and PC@HAC 
will conduct a computer-matching program to determine entitlement to 
CHAMPVA benefits. Under the terms of this matching agreement, PC@HAC 
will provide to CMS a list of social security numbers (SSN) for all 
CHAMPVA eligible beneficiaries who may also be eligible for Medicare 
benefits. This information is maintained in PC@HAC's System of Records 
(SOR) entitled ``Health Administration Center Civilian Health and 
Medical Program Records-VA.'' CMS agrees to conduct a computer match of 
the SSNs of beneficiaries provided by PC@HAC against the information 
found in CMS's Enrollment Database (EDB) SOR. PC@HAC will receive the 
results of the computer match in order to determine a beneficiary's 
eligibility for care under CHAMPVA.

Categories of Records and Individuals Covered By the Match:
    Upon establishment of the CHAMPVA program under Public Law 93-82, 
CHAMPVA entitlement will be terminated when any individual becomes 
eligible for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) on a non-premium 
basis. Public Law 94-581 provided for reinstatement of CHAMPVA as 
second payer for beneficiaries aged 65 and over who exhausted a period 
of Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance). These beneficiaries must also 
be enrolled in Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) in order to retain 
their CHAMPVA entitlement. Public Law 102-190 extended CHAMPVA benefit 
to age 65 for any beneficiary eligible for Medicare Part A on the basis 
of disability/end stage renal disease (ESRD) only if that individual is 
also enrolled in Medicare Part B. Public Law 107-14 provided for 
extending benefit coverage for beneficiaries over the age of 65 years 
if the beneficiary is in receipt of Medicare Part A and Medicare Part 
B.

Description of Records To Be Used In the Matching Program:
    A. Systems of Records
    1. Records Maintained by PC@HAC
    The information used in this matching program is maintained in the 
PC@HAC system identified as 54VA16, entitled ``Health Administration 
Center Civilian Health and Medical Program Records-VA,'' last published 
at 68 Fed. Reg. 53784 (September 12, 2003). SSNs of CHAMPVA 
beneficiaries will be released to CMS pursuant to the routine use 
number 21 as set forth in the system notice.
    2. Records Maintained by CMS
    The matching program will be conducted with data maintained by CMS 
in the EDB, System No. 09-70-0502, published at 73 Fed. Reg. 10249 
(February 26, 2008). Matched data will be released to PC@HAC pursuant 
to the routine use number 2 as set forth in the system notice.

Inclusive Dates of the Match:
    The CMP shall become effective no sooner than 40 days after the 
report of the Matching Program is sent to OMB and Congress, or 30 days 
after publication in the Federal Register, whichever 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. 2013-29066 Filed 12-4-13; 8:45 am]
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