[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 27 (Friday, February 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6309-6310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2174]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA-2007-0010]
Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS))--Match 1310
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Notice of amended computer matching program, which is expected
to begin March 27, 2007.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as
amended, this notice announces a computer matching program that SSA
plans to conduct with the IRS.
DATES: SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate,
the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management
and Budget (OMB). The matching program will be effective as indicated
below.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either
telefax to (410) 965-8582 or writing to the Associate Commissioner,
Office of Income Security Programs, 252 Altmeyer Building, 6401
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. All comments received
will be available for public inspection at this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Associate Commissioner for Income
Security Programs as shown above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 by adding certain protections for individuals applying
for, and receiving, Federal benefits. Section 7201 of the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of
[[Page 6310]]
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 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 agency or agencies
participating in the matching programs;
(2) Obtain the Data Integrity Board's approval of the match
agreements;
(3) Publish notice of the computer matching program in the Federal
Register;
(4) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress
and OMB;
(5) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are
subject to matching; and
(6) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating,
or denying an individual's benefits or payments.
B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act
We have taken action to ensure that all of SSA's computer matching
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.
Dated: February 2, 2007.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.
Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration
(SSA) With Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
A. Participating Agencies
SSA and IRS
B. Purpose of the Matching Program
The purpose of this matching program is to establish the correct
amount of Medicare Part B premium subsidy adjustment under section
1839(i) of the Medicare Prescription Drug,Improvement and Modernization
Act of 2003 (MMA). Pursuant to section 1839(i) of the MMA(42 U.S.C.
1395r), SSA shall determine whether a Medicare Part B enrollee would
pay a larger percentage of the Part B premium than an individual with
income below the applicable threshold. The agreement has been amended
to include individuals who have not dis-enrolled from Medicare Part B,
and those who have filed applications specifically for Medicare Part B.
C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
Section 6103(l)(20) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.
6103(1)(20)) authorizes the IRS to disclose return information with
respect to Modified Adjusted Gross Income(MAGI) to SSA for the purpose
of adjusting the usual Part B premium subsidy for Medicare
beneficiaries with MAGI above the applicable threshold. Section 1839(i)
of the MMA requires the Commissioner of SSA to determine the amount of
an individual's Part B premium if the MAGI is above the applicable
threshold for an individual or a married couple as established in
section 1839(i)(2)(A) of the Act.
D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching
Program
SSA will provide the IRS with identifying information with respect
to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part B, but have not yet
enrolled, and individuals who are enrolled for Medicare Part B from the
Master Beneficiary Record system of records, SSA/ORSIS 60-0090,
originally published at 60 FR 2144 (January 6, 1995) and as revised at
71 FR 1826 (January 11, 2006). MAGI data provided by the IRS will be
maintained in the Medicare Database system of records, SSA/ORSIS 60-
0321, published at 69 FR 77816 (December 28, 2004), revised at 71FR
42159 (July 25, 2006). IRS will extract return information with respect
to MAGI from the Return Transaction File, which is a part of the
Individual Returns, Adjustments and Miscellaneous Documents File,
Treasury/IRS 22.034, as published at 66 FR 63794 (December 10, 2001).
E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program
The matching program will become effective no sooner than 40 days
after notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and OMB, or 30
days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register,
whichever date 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. E7-2174 Filed 2-8-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P