[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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