[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76532-76533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27107]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2022-0029]


Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of a new matching program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces a new matching program with The 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration 
(VBA).

DATES: Submit comments on the proposed matching program on or before 
January 13, 2023. The matching program will be applicable on March 6, 
2023, or once a minimum of 30 days after publication of this notice has 
elapsed, whichever is later. The matching program will be in effect for 
a period of 18 months.

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

[[Page 76533]]

method you choose, please state that your comments refer to Docket No. 
SSA-2022-0029 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 
https://www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function to find docket 
number SSA-2022-0029 and then submit your comments. The system will 
issue you a tracking number to confirm your submission. You will not be 
able to view your comment immediately because we must post each 
submission manually. It may take up to a week for your comments to be 
viewable.
    2. Fax: Fax comments to (833) 410-1613.
    3. Mail: Matthew Ramsey, Executive Director, Office of Privacy and 
Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security 
Administration, G-401 WHR, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 
21235-6401, or emailing [email protected]. Comments are also 
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: Interested parties may submit general 
questions about the matching program to Cynthia Scott, Division 
Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General 
Counsel, Social Security Administration, G-401 WHR, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore MD 21235-6401, at telephone: (410) 966-5855, or 
send an email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: None.

Matthew Ramsey,
Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the 
General Counsel.

PARTICIPATING AGENCIES:
    SSA and VA VBA.

AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCTING THE MATCHING PROGRAM:
    This Agreement is executed under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 
552a, as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act 
(CMPPA) of 1988, Public Law (Pub. L.) 100-503, 102 Stat. 2507 (1988), 
as amended, and the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Amendments 
of 1990, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
    The CMPPA applies when computerized comparisons of Privacy Act-
protected records contained within a Federal agency's databases and the 
records of another organization are made in order to determine an 
individual's eligibility to receive a Federal benefit. The CMPPA 
requires the parties participating in a matching program to execute a 
written agreement specifying the terms and conditions under which the 
matching program will be conducted.
    Legal authorities for the disclosures under this Agreement are 
covered by two sections of the Social Security Act (Act):
     Section 1144(a)(1) and (b)(1) of the Act [42 U.S.C. 1320b-
14(a)(1) and (b)(1)] concerns the SSA's outreach efforts to increase 
awareness of the availability of Medicare cost-sharing and subsidies 
for low-income individuals under Title XVIII of the Act (Medicare).
     Section 1860D 14(a)(3) of the Act [42 U.S.C. 1395w 
114(a)(3)] concerns the Medicare coverage gap discount program that 
makes manufacturer discounts available to eligible Medicare 
beneficiaries receiving applicable, covered Part D drugs, while in the 
coverage gap.

PURPOSE(S):
    This matching program establishes the conditions under which the VA 
VBA will provide SSA with VA compensation and pension payment data. 
This disclosure will provide SSA with information necessary to verify 
an individual's self-certification of eligibility for the Medicare 
Prescription Drug (Medicare Part D) subsidy (Extra Help). It will also 
enable SSA to identify individuals who may qualify for Extra Help as 
part of the agency's Medicare outreach efforts.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS:
    The individuals whose information is involved in this matching 
program are those who are recorded in VA compensation and pension 
payment records and are matched with data in SSA's Medicare Database 
system of records. Such individuals have self-certified eligibility to 
SSA for the Medicare Part D Extra Help. In addition, SSA will use the 
information to identify individuals who may quality for Extra Help as 
part of the agency's Medicare outreach efforts.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS:
    VA's data file comes from compensation and pension payment data 
records. SSA matches VA data against Medicare Database (MDB) data.
    SSA will conduct the match using the Social Security number, name, 
date of birth, and VA claim number on both the VA file and the MDB.

SYSTEM(S) OF RECORDS:
    VA will provide compensation and pension payment data from its 
System of Records (SOR) entitled ``Compensation, Pension, Education, 
and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Records-VA'' (58VA21/22/
28), last fully published at 74 FR 14865 (April 1, 2009) and last 
amended at 86 FR 61858 (November 8, 2021).
    SSA will match the VA data with SSA SOR ``Medicare Database File,'' 
60-0321, last fully published at 71 FR 42159 (July 25, 2006) and 
amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007) and 83 FR 54969 (November 1, 
2018).

[FR Doc. 2022-27107 Filed 12-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P