[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 156 (Friday, August 15, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39470-39475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15587]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA).

ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, notice is hereby given 
that VA is modifying the system of records titled, ``National Patient 
Databases-VA'' (121VA10). VA provides health care services to many 
Veterans through VHA. During the course of providing health care, VHA 
collects medical and health information about Veterans under their 
care. This system is used for planning, distribution, and utilization 
of resources; monitoring the performance of VHA programs and Veteran 
population health; and statistical analysis of clinical and 
administrative support provided within VHA.

DATES: Comments on this modified system of records must be received no 
later than 30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register. 
If no public comment is received during the period allowed for comment 
or unless otherwise published in the Federal Register by VA, the 
modified system of records will become effective a minimum of 30 days 
after date of publication in the Federal Register. If VA receives 
public comments, VA shall review the comments to determine whether any 
changes to the notice are necessary.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through www.Regulations.gov or 
mailed to VA Privacy Service, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, (005X6F), 
Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted 
in response to ``National Patient Databases-VA,'' (121VA10). Comments 
received will be available at www.regulations.gov for public viewing, 
inspection or copies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephania Griffin, VHA Chief Privacy 
Officer, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, (10DH03A), Washington, DC 20420, 
[email protected], or at telephone number 704-245-2492. (Note: 
This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is modifying the system of records by 
revising the Categories of Individuals Covered by the System; 
Categories of Records in the System; Records Source Categories; Routine 
Uses of Records Maintained in the System, including Categories of Users 
and the Purposes of such Uses; Policies and Practices for Retention and 
Disposal of Records; Notification Procedure; and Appendix 4. VA is 
republishing the system of records notice in its entirety.
    The Categories of Individuals Covered by the System is being 
updated to include Veterans and their household members, who are 
receiving services through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD) as well as beneficiaries and caregivers. Records are 
being collected on Veterans and their household members, who are 
receiving services through HUD in order to meet the requirements of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Public Law 117-328, Cleland-
Dole Act, Section 309, which requires a system for sharing and 
reporting data between Homeless Operational Management & Evaluation 
System and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
    The Categories of Records in the System is being updated to 
include, ``(9) disease registries including Veteran demographics (e.g., 
name, age), military information, and screening responses.''
    The Records Source Categories is being updated to include 
beneficiaries, patients, HMIS, Program of Comprehensive Assistance for 
Family Caregivers and Program of General Caregiver Support Services 
caregivers.
    The Routine Uses of Records Maintained in the System, including 
Categories of Users and the Purposes of such Uses is amended to add two 
Routine Uses. Routine Use number 32 is added to state, ``To Federal 
health care providers, such as DoD, for the purpose of performing 
quality improvement activities or other health care operations of the 
recipient Federal health care provider.''
    Routine Use number 33 is added to state, ``To non-VA entities for 
the purpose of performing outreach to Veterans regarding VA health care 
benefits to which the Veterans may be eligible as required by the 
Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act.''
    Policies and Practices for Retention and Disposal of Records is 
being updated to include the General Records Schedule 3.1 items 050-
051.
    The Notification Procedures Section is being update to state 
``Individuals who wish to be notified if a record in this system of 
records pertains to them should submit the request following the 
procedures described in ``Record Access Procedures,'' above.''
    Appendix 4 is being updated to include the following: Clinical Case 
Registries, Austin Information Technology Center, 1615 Woodward Street, 
Austin, TX 78772; Decision Support System Austin Information Technology 
Center, 1615 Woodward Street, Austin, TX 78772; Status Query and 
Response Exchange System 44521 Hastings Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147; 
Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation, Austin Information Technology 
Center, 1615 Woodward Street, Austin, TX 78772. The following is being 
removed, ``Master Person Index- VHA, Austin Information Technology 
Center, 1615 Woodward Street, Austin, TX 78772.'' National Center for 
Patient Safety Public Health System name has changed to Public Health 
National Program Office.

Signing Authority

    The Senior Agency Official for Privacy, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eddie Pool, 
Deputy Chief Information Officer, Connectivity and Collaboration 
Services, Performing the Delegable Duties of the Assistant Secretary 
for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer, approved 
this document on June 13, 2025 for publication.

     Dated: 8/13/2025.
Saurav Devkota,
Government Information Specialist, VA Privacy Service, Office of 
Compliance, Risk and Remediation, Office of Information and Technology, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.

SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    ``National Patient Databases-VA'' (121VA10)

[[Page 39471]]

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    Unclassified.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    Records are maintained at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
medical centers, VA data processing centers, Veterans Integrated 
Service Networks (VISN), and Office of Information Technology Field 
Offices. The address for each VA national patient database is listed in 
VA Appendix 4 at the end of this document. In addition, information 
from these records or copies of these records may be maintained at VA 
Enterprise Cloud Data Centers/Amazon Web Services, 1915 Terry Avenue, 
Seattle, WA 98101.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
    Officials responsible for policies and procedures: Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA) Chief Informatics Officer, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, 
(10DH03), Washington, DC 20420. Officials maintaining this system of 
records: Director, National Data Systems, Austin Information Technology 
Center, 1615 Woodward Street, Austin, Texas 78772. Telephone number 
512-326-6780. (This is not a toll-free number.)

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    38 U.S.C 501.

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
    Records in this system are used for statistical analysis to produce 
various management, workload tracking, and follow-up reports; to track 
and evaluate the ordering and delivery of equipment, services, and 
patient care; for the planning, distribution, and utilization of 
resources; to monitor the performance of VISNs and/or outside VA as 
relevant; to allocate clinical and administrative support to patient 
medical care; to study, monitor, and report epidemiological trends and 
disease incidence; for VA's extensive research programs in accordance 
with VA policy; to assist in workload allocation for patient treatment 
services including provider panel management, nursing care, clinic 
appointments, surgery, prescription processing, diagnostic, and 
therapeutic procedures; to plan and schedule training activities for 
employees; for audits, reviews, and investigations conducted by the 
network directors office and VA Central Office; for quality assurance 
audits, reviews, and investigations; for law enforcement 
investigations; and for personnel management, evaluation, employee 
ratings, and performance evaluations. Pursuant to Executive Order 12862 
and VHA Customer Service Standards Directive, survey data in this 
system will be used to measure and monitor national, VISN, and 
facility-level performance on the VHA Veteran Health Care Service 
Standards (VHSS). The VHSS are designed to measure levels of patient 
satisfaction in areas that patients have defined as important in 
receiving quality, patient-centered, health care. Results of the survey 
data analysis are shared throughout the VHA system. External Peer 
Review Program (EPRP) data in this system will be used to provide 
medical centers and outpatient clinics with diagnosis and procedure-
specific quality of care information. EPRP is a contracted review of 
care, specifically designated to collect data to be used to improve the 
quality of care. The Veteran homeless records and information will be 
used for case management in addition to statistical analysis to produce 
various management, workload tracking, and follow-up reports; and to 
track and evaluate the goal of ending Veteran homelessness. The Public 
Health National Program Office System data will be available to VA 
personnel, Federal agencies, and state and local health departments for 
the monitoring of infections, emerging pathogens, and environmental 
issues of interest that might reasonably affect the health of the 
public.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Records include information for all individuals that are: (1) 
receiving health care from VHA; (2) providing health care to 
individuals for VHA; (3) whose data is provided to VA clinical 
registries, including but not limited to the VA Central Cancer 
Registry; or (4) Veterans and their household members, who are 
receiving services through the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD) in order to meet the requirements of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2023, Public Law 117-328, Cleland-Dole Act, 
Section 309, which requires a system for sharing and reporting data 
between Homeless Operational Management & Evaluation System and 
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Individuals encompass 
Veterans and their beneficiaries, caregivers and immediate family 
members; members of the Armed Services; current and former employees, 
trainees, contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and volunteers; and 
other individuals working collaboratively with VA.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Records include information and health information related to: (1) 
patient medical record abstract information including, but not limited 
to, information from ``Patient Medical Record-VA'' (24VA10A7); (2) 
identifying information (e.g., name, birth date, death date, admission 
date, discharge date, gender, Social Security Number, or taxpayer 
identification number), address information (e.g., home and/or mailing 
address(s), home telephone number, emergency contact information such 
as name, address, telephone number and relationship), prosthetic and 
sensory aid serial numbers, medical record numbers, integration control 
numbers, information related to medical examination or treatment (e.g., 
location of VA medical facility providing examination or treatment, 
treatment dates or medical conditions treated or noted on examination), 
information related to military service and status; (3) medical benefit 
and eligibility information; (4) patient workload data such as 
admissions, discharges and outpatient visits, and resource utilization 
such as laboratory tests and x-rays; (5) Patient Satisfaction Survey 
Data which include questions and responses; (6) EPRP data capture; (7) 
homelessness and prevention services provided to Veteran and household 
members which includes electronic information from all Veteran homeless 
programs and external sources; (8) clinically oriented information 
associated with MyHealtheVet such as secure messages; and (9) disease 
registries including Veteran demographics (e.g., name, age), military 
information, and screening responses.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Records in this system are provided by Veterans and their 
beneficiaries; patients; VA employees; VA computer systems; Veterans 
Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture; VA medical 
centers; VA Health Eligibility Center; VA program offices; VISNs; 
Austin Information Technology Center; the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA); Department of Defense (DoD); HUD (i.e., Homeless Management 
Information System); Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family 
Caregivers and Program of General Caregiver Support Services 
caregivers; Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients; EPRP; 
National Cancer Institute (NCI) and/or their designee; a state cancer 
or tumor registry; ``Patient Medical Records-VA'' (24VA10A7); 
``National Prosthetics Patient Database-VA'' (33VA10); ``Income 
Verification Records-VA'' (89VA10); VA Veterans Benefits Administration 
automated record

[[Page 39472]]

systems (including the ``Compensation, Pension, Education, and 
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Records-VA'' (58VA21/22/28)); 
and subsequent iterations of those systems of records.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    Note: To the extent that records contained in the system include 
information protected by the HIPAA Privacy Rule and 38 U.S.C. 7332, 
that information cannot be disclosed under a routine use unless there 
is also specific disclosure authority in both provisions.
    1. To a Federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, or foreign law 
enforcement authority or other appropriate entity charged with the 
responsibility of investigating or prosecuting a violation or potential 
violation of law, whether civil, criminal, or regulatory in nature, or 
charged with enforcing or implementing such law, provided that the 
disclosure is limited to information that, either alone or in 
conjunction with other information, indicates such a violation or 
potential violation. A disclosure of information about Veterans or 
their dependents from VA claims files under this routine use must also 
comply with the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 5701(f).
    2. To any source from which additional information is requested (to 
the extent necessary to identify the individual, inform the source of 
the purpose(s) of the request and identify the type of information 
requested), when necessary to obtain or provide information relevant to 
an individual's eligibility, care history or other benefits across 
different Federal, state or local, public health, health care or 
program benefit agencies that improve the quality and safety of health 
care for Veterans.
    3. To a Federal agency in the executive, legislative, or judicial 
branch; state and local government; or the Washington, DC Government, 
in response to its request or at the initiation of VA, in connection 
with disease tracking, patient outcomes, or other health information 
required for program accountability.
    4. To the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in 
records management inspections conducted under 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906, 
or other functions authorized by laws and policies governing NARA 
operations and VA records management responsibilities.
    5. To the Department of Justice (DoJ), or in a proceeding before a 
court, adjudicative body, or other administrative body before which VA 
is authorized to appear, when any of the following is a party to such 
proceedings or has an interest in such proceedings, and VA determines 
that use of such records is relevant and necessary to the proceedings:
    (a) VA or any component thereof;
    (b) A VA employee in their official capacity;
    (c) A VA employee in their individual capacity where DoJ has agreed 
to represent the employee; or
    (d) The United States, where VA determines that litigation is 
likely to affect the agency or any of its components.
    6. To a Federal agency, a state or local government licensing 
board, the Federation of State Medical Boards, or a similar non-
governmental entity that maintains records concerning individuals' 
employment histories or concerning the issuance, retention or 
revocation of licenses, certifications or registration necessary to 
practice an occupation, profession, or specialty, to inform such non-
governmental entities about the health care practices of a terminated, 
resigned, or retired health care employee whose professional health 
care activity so significantly failed to conform to generally accepted 
standards of professional medical practice as to raise reasonable 
concern for the health and safety of patients in the private sector or 
from another Federal agency. These records may also be disclosed as 
part of an ongoing computer matching program to accomplish these 
purposes.
    7. To a former VA employee or contractor, as well as the authorized 
representative of a current or former employee or contractor of VA, in 
connection with or in consideration of reporting that the individual's 
professional health care activity so significantly failed to conform to 
generally accepted standards of professional medical practice as to 
raise reasonable concern for the health and safety of patients, to a 
Federal agency, a State or local government licensing board, or the 
Federation of State Medical Boards or a similar non-governmental entity 
that maintains records concerning individuals' employment histories or 
concerning the issuance, retention, or revocation of licenses, 
certifications, or registration necessary to practice an occupation, 
profession or specialty.
    8. To survey teams of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of 
Healthcare Organizations, College of American Pathologists, American 
Association of Blood Banks, and similar national accreditation agencies 
or boards with which VA has a contract or agreement to conduct such 
reviews, as relevant and necessary for the purpose of program review or 
the seeking of accreditation or certification.
    9. To a national certifying body that has the authority to make 
decisions concerning the issuance, retention or revocation of licenses, 
certifications or registrations required to practice a health care 
profession, when requested in writing by an investigator or supervisory 
official of the national certifying body for the purpose of making a 
decision concerning the issuance, retention or revocation of the 
license, certification or registration of a named health care 
professional.
    10. To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. 
Ch. 71 provided that the disclosure is limited to information 
identified in 5 U.S.C. 7114(b)(4) that is relevant and necessary to 
their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, 
practices, and matters affecting working conditions.
    11. To the representative of an employee of all notices, 
determinations, decisions or other written communications issued to the 
employee in connection with an examination ordered by VA under medical 
evaluation (formerly fitness-for duty) examination procedures or 
Department-filed disability retirement procedures.
    12. To the Merit Systems Protection Board in connection with 
appeals, special studies of the civil service and other merit systems, 
review of rules and regulations, investigation of alleged or possible 
prohibited personnel practices, and such other functions promulgated in 
5 U.S.C. 1205 and 1206, or as authorized by law.
    13. To the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in connection 
with investigations of alleged or possible discriminatory practices, 
examination of Federal affirmative employment programs, or other 
functions of the Commission as authorized by law.
    14. To the Federal Labor Relations Authority in connection with the 
investigation and resolution of allegations of unfair labor practices, 
the resolution of exceptions to arbitration awards when a question of 
material fact is raised, matters before the Federal Service Impasses 
Panel, and the investigation of representation petitions and the 
conduct or supervision of representation elections.
    15. To non-Federal research facilities for research purposes 
determined to be necessary and proper when approved in accordance with 
VA policy; disclosure of medical record data, excluding name

[[Page 39473]]

and address, unless name and address are furnished by the requester.
    16. To: (1) a Federal department or agency, at the written request 
of the head or designee of that agency; or (2) directly to a contractor 
or subcontractor of a Federal department or agency, for the purpose of 
conducting Federal research necessary to accomplish a statutory purpose 
of an agency, provided that the disclosure is limited to the names and 
addresses of present or former members of the Armed Services or their 
beneficiaries, the records will not be used for any purpose other than 
that stated in the request, and the organization is aware of the 
penalty provision of 38 U.S.C. 5701(f). When disclosure of this 
information is made directly to a contractor, VA may impose applicable 
conditions on the department, agency and/or contractor to insure the 
appropriateness of the disclosure to the contractor.
    17. To contractors, grantees, experts, consultants, students, and 
others performing or working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative 
agreement, or other assignment for VA, when reasonably necessary to 
accomplish an agency function related to the records.
    18. To a Member of Congress or staff acting upon the Member's 
behalf when the Member or staff requests the information on behalf of, 
and at the request of, the individual who is the subject of the record.
    19. To a Federal agency for the purpose of conducting research and 
data analysis to perform a statutory purpose of that Federal agency 
upon the prior written request of that agency.
    20. To another Federal agency for the purpose of matching and 
acquiring information held by that agency for VHA for the purposes 
stated for this system of records, provided that disclosure is of 
limited individual identification information.
    21. To appropriate agencies, entities and persons when (a) VA 
suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of 
records; (b) VA has determined that as a result of the suspected or 
confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, VA (including 
its information systems, programs and operations), the Federal 
Government or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such 
agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in 
connection with VA's efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed 
breach or to prevent, minimize or remedy such harm.
    22. To the general public, on VA's own initiative, via an internet 
website, Primary Care Management Module information, including the 
names of its providers, provider panel sizes, and reports on provider 
performance measures of quality when approved in accordance with VA 
policy.
    23. To other Federal agencies to assist such agencies in preventing 
and detecting possible fraud or abuse by individuals in their 
operations and programs.
    24. To a nonprofit organization if the release is directly 
connected with the conduct of programs and the utilization of benefits 
under title 38, provided that the disclosure is limited to the names 
and addresses of present or former members of the Armed Services or 
their beneficiaries, the records will not be used for any purpose other 
than that stated in the request, and the organization is aware of the 
penalty provision of 38 U.S.C. 5701(f).
    25. To HUD, including demographic information, for the purpose of 
reducing homelessness among Veterans by implementing the Federal 
Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and by evaluating and 
monitoring the HUD-VA Supported Housing program.
    26. To the FDA, Department of Health and Human Services concerning 
an adverse drug reaction of a patient, for the purpose of quality of 
care management, including detection, treatment, monitoring, reporting, 
analysis and follow-up actions relating to adverse drug reactions.
    27. To an organization with whom VA has a documented partnership, 
arrangement or agreement (e.g., Health Information Exchange, Healthcare 
internet Service Provider, Direct and CommonWell Health Alliance 
Network), for the purpose of identifying and correlating patients. This 
information may include Veteran identifiers and demographic information 
(e.g., name, Social Security Number, address, date of birth).
    28. To the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and/or their 
designee or other Federal or state public health authorities in 
response to its request or at the initiation of VA, in connection with 
disease-tracking, patient outcomes, bio-surveillance, or other health 
information required for program accountability.
    29. To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when VA determines 
that information from this system of records is reasonably necessary to 
assist the recipient agency or entity in (a) responding to a suspected 
or confirmed breach; or (b) preventing, minimizing or remedying the 
risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including 
its information systems, programs and operations), the Federal 
Government or national security, resulting from a suspected or 
confirmed breach.
    30. To health and welfare agencies, housing resources, and 
community providers, consistent with good medical-ethical practices, 
for Veterans assessed by or engaged in VA homeless programs for 
purposes of coordinating care, expediting access to housing, providing 
medical and related services, participating in coordinated entry 
processes, reducing Veteran homelessness, identifying homeless 
individuals in need of immediate assistance, and ensuring program 
accountability by assigning and tracking responsibility for urgently 
required care.
    31. To the NCI and/or their designee and/or a state cancer or tumor 
registry in response to its request or at the initiation of VA for the 
purpose of population-based activities to improve health and disease 
management.
    32. To Federal health care providers, such as DoD, for the purpose 
of performing quality improvement activities or other health care 
operations of the recipient Federal health care provider.
    33. To non-VA entities for the purpose of performing outreach to 
Veterans regarding VA health care benefits to which the Veterans may be 
eligible as required by the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics 
Act.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
    Records are maintained in electronic storage media including 
magnetic tape, disk, laser optical media, and the VA Enterprise Cloud.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
    Records are retrieved by name, Social Security Number, or other 
assigned identifiers of the individuals on whom they are maintained.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
    Records in this system are retained and disposed of in accordance 
with the schedule approved by the Archivist of the United States, 
General Records Schedule (GRS) 3.1 items 050-051 and GRS 5.2, item 020.

ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
    1. Access to and use of national patient databases are limited to 
those persons whose official duties require such access, and VA has 
established security procedures to ensure that access is appropriately 
limited. Information security officers and system data stewards review 
and authorize data access requests. VA regulates data

[[Page 39474]]

access with security software that authenticates users and requires 
individually unique codes and passwords. VA provides information 
security training to all staff and instructs staff on the 
responsibility each person has for safeguarding data confidentiality.
    2. VA maintains Business Associate Agreements and Non-Disclosure 
Agreements with contracted resources in order to maintain the 
confidentiality of the information.
    3. Physical access to computer rooms housing national patient 
databases are restricted to authorized staff and protected by a variety 
of security devices. Unauthorized employees, contractors, and other 
staff are not allowed in computer rooms. The Federal Protective Service 
or other security personnel provide physical security for the buildings 
housing computer rooms and data centers.
    4. Data transmissions between operational systems and national 
patient databases maintained by this system of record are protected by 
state-of-the-art telecommunication software and hardware. This may 
include firewalls, encryption and other security measures necessary to 
safeguard data as it travels across the VA Wide Area Network. Data may 
be transmitted via a password protected spreadsheet and placed on the 
secured SharePoint Web portal by the user that has been provided access 
to their secure file. Data can only be accessed by authorized personnel 
from each facility within the Polytrauma System of Care and the 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program Office.
    5. In most cases, copies of backup computer files are maintained at 
off-site locations.
    6. VA Enterprise Cloud data storage conforms to security protocols 
as stipulated in VA Directives 6500 and 6517. Access control standards 
are stipulated in specific agreements with Cloud vendors to restrict 
and monitor access.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE:
    Individuals seeking information on the existence and content of 
records in this system pertaining to them should contact the system 
manager in writing as indicated above, or may write or visit the VA 
facility location where they normally receive their care. A request for 
access to records must contain the requester's full name, address and 
telephone number, be signed by the requester and describe the records 
sought in sufficient detail to enable VA personnel to locate them with 
a reasonable amount of effort.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    Individuals seeking to contest or amend records in this system 
pertaining to them should contact the system manager in writing as 
indicated above, or may write or visit the VA facility location where 
they normally receive their care. A request to contest or amend records 
must state clearly and concisely what record is being contested, the 
reasons for contesting it, and the proposed amendment to the record.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
    Individuals who wish to be notified if a record in this system of 
records pertains to them should submit the request following the 
procedures described in ``Record Access Procedures,'' above.

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.

HISTORY:
    69 FR 18436 (April 7, 2004); 73 FR 16103 (March 26, 2008); 75 FR 
72873 (November 26, 2010); 77 FR 27863 (May 11, 2012); 79 FR 8245 
(February 11, 2014); 83 FR 6094 (February 12, 2018); 88 FR 22112 (April 
12, 2023).
VA Appendix 4

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Database name                          Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Addiction Severity Index (ASI)....  VA Medical Center, 7180 Highland
                                     Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.
Bidirectional Health Information    SunGard, 1500 Spring Garden Street,
 Exchange (BHIE).                    Philadelphia, PA 19130.
Breast Care Registry..............  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
VA Clinical Assessment, Reporting   Digital Realty, 350 E Cermak Road,
 and Tracking (CART) Program.        Main Building 7th Transport RM,
                                     Chicago, IL 60616, Evoque Data
                                     Centers, 11830 Webb Chapel Road,
                                     Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75234.
Clinical Case Registries..........  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Consolidated Mail Outpatient        Southwest CMOP, 3675 East Britannia
 Pharmacy (CMOP) Centralized         Drive, Tucson, AZ 85706.
 Database System.
Converged Registries Solution       Austin Information Technology
 (CRS).                              Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Cruetzfelet-Jakob Disease Lookback  Cincinnati VA Medical Center, 3200
 Dataset (CJDLD).                    Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220.
Decision Support System (DSS).....  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Defense and Veterans Eye Injury     Austin Information Technology
 Registry (DVEIR).                   Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Dental Encounter System (DES).....  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Eastern Pacemaker Surveillance      Washington, DC VA Medical Center, 50
 Center Database.                    Irving Street NW, Washington, DC
                                     20422.
Emerging Pathogens Initiative       Austin Information Technology
 (EPI).                              Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Federal Health Information          SunGard, 1500 Spring Garden Street,
 Exchange (FHIE).                    Philadelphia, PA 19130.
Financial Clinical Data Mart        Austin Information Technology
 (FCDM).                             Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Former Prisoner of War Statistical  Austin Information Technology
 Tracking System.                    Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Functional Status and Outcome       Austin Information Technology
 Database (FSOD).                    Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Home Based Primary Care (HBC).....  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Homeless Operational, Management    Austin Information Technology
 and Evaluation System (HOMES).      Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Homeless Veterans Registry........  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Implant Tracking Registry.........  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.

[[Page 39475]]

 
Inpatient Evaluation Centers        Austin Information Technology
 (IPEC) Legionella Case Report       Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
 Module.                             Austin, TX 78772.
Mammography Quality Standards       Durham VA Medical Center, 508 Fulton
 (MQS) VA.                           Street, Durham, NC 27705.
Medical Software as a Service       Austin Information Technology
 (SAS) File Medical District         Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
 Planning (MDP) (Medical District    Austin, TX 78772.
 Initiated Peer Review
 Organization (MEDIPRO)).
Multiple Sclerosis Surveillance     Austin Information Technology
 Registry (MSSR).                    Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Public Health National Program      Palo Alto VA Medical Center, 3801
 Office (PHNPO).                     Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA
                                     94304.
National Mental Health Database     VA Medical Center, 7180 Highland
 System (NMHDS).                     Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.
National Medical Information        Austin Information Technology
 System (NMIS).                      Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
National Survey of Veterans (NSV).  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Patient Assessment File (PAF).....  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM)  Edward Hines Junior Hospital VA
                                     Medical Center, 5000 Avenue, Hines,
                                     IL 60141.
Remote Order Entry System (ROES)..  VA Denver Regional Office, 155 Van
                                     Gordon Street, Lakewood, CO 80228-
                                     1709.
Resident Assessment Instrument/     Austin Information Technology
 Minimum Data Set (RAI/MDS).         Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Status Query and Response Exchange  Salesforce, 44521 Hastings Drive,
 System (SQUARES).                   Ashburn, VA 20147.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)        Austin Information Technology
 Registry.                           Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
VA National Clozapine Coordinating  Dallas VA Medical Center, 4500 South
 Center (NCCC) Registry.             Lancaster Road, Dallas, TX 75216.
VA Surgical Quality Improvement     VA Central Office (VACO), National
 Program (VASQIP).                   Surgery Office (11SURG), 810
                                     Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC
                                     20420.
VA Vital Status File (VSF)........  Austin Information Technology
                                     Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Veterans Administration Central     Washington, DC VA Medical Center, 50
 Cancer Registry (VACCR).            Irving Street NW, Washington, DC
                                     20422.
Veterans Equitable Resource         Austin Information Technology
 Allocation (VERA).                  Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Veterans Health Administration      Austin Information Technology
 Support Service Center (VSSC).      Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
Veterans Integrated Registry        Austin Information Technology
 Platform.                           Center, 1615 Woodward Street,
                                     Austin, TX 78772.
War Related Illness and Injury      Palo Alto VA Medical Center, 3801
 Study Center (WRIISC) Database.     Miranda Avenue, Mail Code 151Y,
                                     Palo Alto, CA 94304.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2025-15587 Filed 8-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P