[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 105 (Friday, June 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25634-25635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11414]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988; Report of 
Matching Program: RRB and State Medicare/Medicaid Agencies (Renewal)

AGENCY: U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).

ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program 
that expired on January 1, 2016.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the RRB is 
issuing a public notice in the Federal Register of its intent to renew 
an ongoing computer matching program. In this match, we provide certain 
Medicare and benefit rate information to state agencies allowing them 
to review and if necessary, adjust amounts of benefits in their public 
assistance programs as well as to coordinate Medicare/Medicaid payments 
for public assistance recipients.
    The purpose of this notice is to advise individuals receiving 
benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act that the RRB plans to share 
this computer matching data with state agencies.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 12, 2017, at which time 
matching activities may continue. Agreements with the individual states 
will run for a maximum length of 18 months with a provision for an 
automatic, one-time 12 month renewal, for a maximum length of 30 months 
(5 U.S.C. 552a(o)(2)(D). In order to qualify for the renewal, both 
parties must certify to the RRB Data Integrity Board, three months 
prior to the expiration of the agreement that:
    (1) The program will continue to be conducted without change, and
    (2) Each party certifies to the board in writing that the program 
has been conducted in compliance with the agreement.
    The number of matches conducted with each state during the period 
of the match will vary from state to state, but typically are 2 to 4 
matches per calendar year.

ADDRESSES: Address any comments concerning this notice to Ms. Martha P. 
Rico, Secretary to the Board, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush 
Street Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Timothy S. Grant, Chief Privacy 
Officer, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street Chicago, 
Illinois 60611-2092, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, regulates 
Federal agencies when they conduct computer matching activities in a 
system of records 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 approval of the matching agreement by the Data Integrity 
Boards of the participating Federal agencies;
    (3) Publish notice of the computer matching program in the Federal 
Register;
    (4) Furnish reports about matching programs to Congress and Office 
of Management and Budget;
    (5) Notify beneficiaries and applicants that their records are 
subject to matching; and
    (6) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating, 
or denying a person's benefits or payments.

B. RRB Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken action to ensure that our computer matching programs 
comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.

C. Notice of Computer Matching Program: RRB with State Medicare 
Agencies (Renewal):

    Name of Participating Agencies: The Railroad Retirement Board and 
state public aid/public assistance agencies.
    Authority for Conducting the Match: 20 CFR 200.5(j)(1), 20 CFR 
200.8(g)(10), 42 CFR 435.940 through 435.965.
    Purpose of the Match: The match has several purposes allowing state 
agencies to:
    (1) Accurately identify qualified Railroad Retirement 
Beneficiaries;
    (2) Make necessary adjustments required under state law in public 
aid payments due to cost of living or other adjustments in RRB 
annuities;
    (3) Coordinate benefits of dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid 
beneficiaries; and
    (4) To identify individuals who are eligible for Part B Medicare 
and not enrolled in order to enroll such individuals in the State Buy-
In program.
    Categories of Individuals: All beneficiaries under the Railroad 
Retirement Act who have been identified by a state as a recipient of 
public aid will have information about their RRB benefits and Medicare 
enrollment furnished to the requesting state agency.
    Categories of Records: The state agency will provide the RRB with a 
file of records. The data elements in the

[[Page 25635]]

records will consist of beneficiary identifying information such as: 
Name, Social Security Number (SSN), date of birth, and RRB Claim 
Number, if known. The RRB will then conduct a computer match on the 
state provided identifying information.
    If the matching operation reveals that an individual who received 
benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act also received benefits from 
the state for any days in the period, the RRB will notify the state 
agency and provide benefit payment and Medicare Entitlement data for 
those matched individuals. The state agency will then make adjustments, 
as necessary by law or regulation for those matched records.
    Systems of Records: This information is covered as a routine 
disclosure under the Privacy Act system of records RRB-20, Health 
Insurance and Supplementary Medical Insurance Enrollment and Premium 
Payment System (MEDICARE), or RRB-21, Railroad Unemployment and 
Sickness Insurance Benefit System, which were published in the Federal 
Register on: RRB-20, September 30, 2014 (79 FR 58886), and RRB-21 on 
May 15, 2015 (80 FR 28016). You can also find all RRB Privacy Act 
Systems of Records notices on our public Web site at: (http://www.rrb.gov/bis/privacy_act/SORNList.asp).
    Other information: The notice we are giving here is in addition to 
any individual notice.
    We will furnish a copy of this notice to both Houses of Congress 
and the Office of Management and Budget.

    Dated: May 25, 2017.

    By Authority of the Board.
Martha P. Rico,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 2017-11414 Filed 6-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7905-01-P