[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60148-60153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30105]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Privacy Act of 1974; Altered System of Records
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice of altered system of records.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 522a(e)(4)) requires that
all agencies publish in the Federal Register a notice of the existence
and character of their systems of records. Notice is hereby given that
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is altering a system of records
entitled ``Accounts Receivable Records--VA'' (88VA20A6).
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments,
suggestions or objections regarding the proposed changes to the system
of records. All relevant materials received before December 26, 1996,
will be considered. All written comments received will be available for
public inspection at the Office of Regulations Management, room 1158,
810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, only, between 8:00 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). If no public
comment is received during the 30-day review period allowed for public
comment, or unless otherwise published in the Federal Register by VA,
the altered system of records is effective December 26, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the altered system of records
may be mailed to the Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D),
810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel D. Osendorf, Director, Debt Management Center (389/00), U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building,
1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111, (612) 725-1844.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 3, 1994, The Department
published original notice of this system of records at 59 FR 55155.
That notice incorporated a recitation of the history
[[Page 60149]]
of debt collection within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA).
The new system was established,
* * * to reflect the centralized environment VBA continues to build
for collection activity as well as to provide the public with one
reference for routine use disclosures related to debt collection.
In furtherance of these goals, and to broaden their application to a
department-wide basis, collection responsibilities for additional types
of debts are being consolidated under the administration of VA's Debt
Management Center (DMC) in Ft. Snelling, Minnesota. These additional
debts include: (1) First-party medical billings (including delinquent
billings) resulting from treatment or prescriptions provided by or on
behalf of VA health care facilities; (2) debts arising from
participation in the VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA);
and (3) certain miscellaneous debts associated with VA home loan
programs. Miscellaneous home loan debts include (but are not limited
to) those incurred by virtue of veteran-borrowers' defaults on home
loans guaranteed under The Veterans Benefits Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101-
237) and more commonly referred to as ``Guaranty and Indemnity Fund''
(GIF) loans.
Statutory citations to the Selected Reserve component of the All-
Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program (Also known as
Montgomery G.I. Bill--Selected Reserve) and been changed from ``chapter
106'' to ``chapter 1606''. This change is the result of renumbering of
title 10, U.S.C., as set forth in the Department of Defense
Authorization Act for FY 1995, Pub. L. 103-337.
The debt collection program adheres to VA security and Reporting
requirements under title 38, Code of Federal Regulations and other
Federal regulations, as well as the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5
U.S.C. 552a), and the appropriate provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code, title 26, United States Code.
Approved: November 15, 1996.
Jesse Brown,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Report of Intention To Publish an Altered System of Records for
``Accounts Receivable Records--VA'' (88VA20A6)
Purpose
This system of records has been amended to further consolidate
notice to the public of the types of information disclosed, and to whom
it is disclosed, in the course of collection of debts arising from
participation in benefit, health care and other programs administered
by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This amendment also serves
to revise citations related to the All-Volunteer Force Educational
Assistance Program. Previous publication of this system of records
consolidated notice for debts arising from most VA benefit programs
[see 55 FR 55155 (November 3, 1994)]. The revised system of records
adds notice of the types of disclosure, and to whom disclosure is made,
for the following types of indebtedness accounts: (1) First-party
medical billings (including delinquent billings) resulting from
treatment or prescriptions provided by or on behalf of VA health care
facilities; (2) debts arising from participation in the VA Civilian
Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA); and, (3) certain miscellaneous
debts associated with VA home loan programs. Miscellaneous home loan
debts include (but are not limited to) those incurred by virtue of
veteran-borrowers' default on home loans guaranteed under The Veterans
Benefits Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101-237) and more commonly referred to as
``Guaranty and Indemnity Fund'' (GIF) loans. Changes in the revised
system of records are not individually bracketed.
Authority
Title 38, United States Code, sections 501(a), 5314 and 5315;
Federal Claims Collection Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 89-508), 31 U.S.C.
chapter 37, subchapter I (General) and subchapter II (Claims of the
United States Government), 31 U.S.C. 3711, Collection and Compromise,
31 U.S.C. 3716, Administrative Offset; Debt Collection Act of 1982
(Pub. L. 97-365), 5 U.S.C. 5514, Installment Deduction for
Indebtedness.
Probable Privacy Impact
Information concerning indebtedness accounts added to the system of
records under this revision is currently disclosed under ``Categories
of Records in the System'' set forth in the Privacy Act system of
records, 88VA20A6. Disclosure is limited to that which is relevant and
necessary to obtain the debtor's whereabouts or telephone number to
identify a source of collection, provide an incentive for payment and
to comply with certain requirements associated with the operation of
the Government. The routine uses set forth in the accompanying notice
of an altered system of records describe, generally, the data disclosed
to various third parties, all of whom are, in turn, obligated to
protect that data under statute, contract or both.
Risk Assessment
Access to working spaces and record storage areas associated with
VA debt collection is restricted to VA employees on a ``need-to-know''
basis. Access to computer rooms, magnetic media storage and documents
classified as sensitive is even further restricted to certain
designated employees. The repositories for debt collection records are
automated systems accessible only by a limited number of computer
terminals and only by employees with specific passwords and knowledge
of computer systems dedicated to debt collection. Most paper
documentation that must be kept at Debt Management Center is
microfilmed and forwarded to the regional office or medical center of
jurisdiction or the CHAMPVA Center for filing. The security measures
for those documents are set forth in the Privacy Act system of records,
88VA20A6.
Routine Uses
The routine uses of this system are compatible with the purposes
for which this information is collected. Disclosures under the routine
uses are limited to those necessary for the management of debt
collection operations, including answering inquiries from or on behalf
of debtors.
Compatibility Requirement
The routine uses of this system are compatible with the purpose for
which the information is collected and maintained.
New Rules or Changes to Published Rules
This system of records does not require any new regulations or
changes to published regulations.
Information Collection Requirements
Establishing this system of records does not require any new
information collection requirements.
88VA20A6
SYSTEM NAME:
Accounts Receivable Records-VA.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
Automated indebtedness records for first-party medical billing,
compensation, pension, educational assistance, survivors' and
dependents' educational assistance and most home loan debts are
maintained at the VA's Austin Automation/Systems Development Center in
Austin, Texas. Extracts of benefit and home loan debt automated records
are maintained in the
[[Page 60150]]
Benefits Delivery Network for accounting and adjudication purposes. The
Benefits Delivery Network is administered by the Benefit Delivery
Center (BDC), Hines, Illinois. First-party medical billing information
is extracted from records maintained at VA medical facilities and in
automated media as more fully described in the Privacy Act system of
records, 24VA136, ``Patient Medical Records--VA'' (56 FR 1054, Jan. 10,
1991). Automated and paper indebtedness records for the Civilian Health
and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) are
maintained at the CHAMPVA Center in Denver, Colorado and are more fully
described in the Privacy Act system of records, 54VA136, ``Veteran's
Spouse or Dependent Civilian Health and Medical Care Records--VA'' 40
FR 38095 (Aug. 26, 1975), as amended at 53 FR 23845 (Jun. 24, 1988), 53
FR 25238 (Jul. 5, 1988) and 56 FR 26186 (Jun. 6, 1991). Certain paper
records, microfilm and microfiche are maintained at the VA Debt
Management Center (DMC), Ft. Snelling, Minnesota. Education loan and
miscellaneous home loan automated, paper, microfilm and microfiche
records are maintained at DMC. Automated and paper indebtedness records
related to the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program are
also maintained at DMC. Paper records related to benefit and home loan
accounts receivable may be maintained in individual file folders
located at the VA regional office having jurisdiction over the domicile
of the claimant or the geographic area in which a property securing a
VA guaranteed, insured or direct loan is located. Similarly, paper and
automated records related to first-party medical billing and CHAMPVA
are also maintained in individual patient medical records at VA health
care facilities and CHAMPVA Center. Generally and with the exception of
claims against third-party insurers and certain first-party medical
debts, automated records and papers maintained at regional offices,
health care facilities and CHAMPVA Center are not used directly in the
debt collection process unless they are forwarded by conventional mail,
electronic mail or facsimile to DMC. Records provided to the Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for inclusion in the Credit
Alert Interactive Voice Response System (CAIVRS) are located at the HUD
Data Processing Center in Lanham, Maryland.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
Persons indebted to the United States Government as a result of
their participation in benefit programs (including health care
programs) administered by VA under title 38, United States Code,
chapters 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36 and 37, including
persons indebted to the United States Government by virtue of their
ownership, contractual obligation or rental of property owned by the
Government or encumbered by a VA-guaranteed, insured, direct or vendee
loan. Persons indebted to the United States Government as a result of
their participation in a benefit program administered by VA under 10
U.S.C. or 10 U.S.C. ch. 1606. Persons who received benefits or services
under 38 U.S.C. or 10 U.S.C. ch. 1606, but who did not meet the
requirements for receipts of such benefits or services.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
Information varies depending on the benefit type (including health
care and home loan) from which the debt arose. Identifying information,
including VA claim number, Social Security number, name and address
and, when appropriate, loan reference number obtained from the
following Privacy Act systems of records: ``Compensation, Pension,
Education and Rehabilitation Records--VA'' (58VA21/22); ``Loan Guaranty
Home, Condominium and Manufactured Home Loan Applicant Records,
Specially Adapted Housing Applicant Records, and Vendee Loan Applicant
Records--VA'' (55VA26); ``Patient Medical Records--VA'' (24VA136); and,
``Veteran's Spouse or Dependent Civilian Health and Medical Care
Records--VA'' (54VA136). Initial indebtedness amount, dates of
treatment, amounts claimed for reimbursement type of benefit from which
the debt arose, identifying number of the VA regional office with
jurisdiction over the underlying benefit claim or property subject to
default or foreclosure, station number of the VA health care facility
rendering services, name of co-obligor and property address of the
defaulted home loan from 58VA21/22, 55VA26, 24VA136 and 54VA136.
History of debt collection activity on the individual, including
correspondence, telephone calls, referrals to other Government
agencies, VA district counsel, private collection and credit reporting
agencies. Payments received, refunds made, interest amount, current
balance of debt and indication of status or current VA benefit
payments. Federal employment status obtained by computer matching with
Government agencies and the United States Postal Service. No personal
medical information concerning the nature of disease, injury or
disability is transmitted to or maintained in this system of records.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
Title 38, United States Code, sections 501(a), 5314 and 5315.
Federal Claims Collection Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 89-508), 31 U.S.C.
Chapter 37, Subchapter I (General) and Subchapter II (Claims of the
United States Government), 31 U.S.C. 3711, Collection and Compromise,
31 U.S.C. 3716, Administrative Offset; Debt Collection Act of 1982
(Pub. L. 97-365), 5 U.S.C. 5514, Installment Deduction for
Indebtedness.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSE OF SUCH USES:
For purposes of the following routine uses:
(a) The term ``veteran'', includes present, former or retired
members of the United States Armed Forces, the reserve forces or
national guard;
(b) The term, ``debtor'', means any person falling within the
categories of individuals covered by this system, as set forth above. A
``debtor'' may be a veteran, as defined above, a veteran's dependent
entitled to VA benefits (including health care) in his or her own right
or a person who is neither a veteran nor a veteran's dependent for
benefit purposes; and,
(c) The terms ``benefit'', ``benefit program'' and ``VA program''
include any gratuitous benefit, home loan (including miscellaneous home
loan) or health care (including CHAMPVA) program administered by the
Secretary.
1. The record of an individual who is covered by this system may be
disclosed to a member of Congress or staff person acting for the member
when the member or staff person requests the record on behalf of and at
the written request of that individual.
2. Any information in this system may be disclosed to a Federal
agency, upon its official request, to the extent that it is relevant
and necessary to that agency's decision regarding: The hiring,
retention or transfer of an employee; the issuance of a security
clearance; the letting of a contract or the issuance or continuance of
a license, grant or other benefit given by that agency. However, in
accordance with an agreement with the U.S. Postal Service, disclosures
to the U.S. Postal Service for decisions concerning the employment of
veterans will only be made with the veteran's prior written consent.
[[Page 60151]]
3. Any information in this system may be disclosed, by computer
matching or otherwise, in connection with any proceeding for the
collection of an amount owed the United States by virtue of a person's
participation in any benefit program administered by VA when in the
judgment of the Secretary, or official generally delegated such
authority under standard agency delegation of authority rules (38 CFR
2.6), such disclosure is deemed necessary and proper in accordance with
38 U.S.C. 5701(b)(6).
4. The name and address of a veteran or the dependent of a veteran
and other information as is reasonably necessary to identify such
veteran or dependent may be disclosed to a consumer reporting agency
for the purpose of locating the veteran or dependent indebted to the
United States under a VA benefit program or to obtain a consumer report
in order to assess the ability of a veteran or dependent to repay an
indebtedness, provided the disclosure is consistent with 38 U.S.C.
5701(g)(2).
5. The name and address of a veteran or dependent, other
information as is reasonably necessary to identify such persons,
including personal information obtained from other Federal agencies
through computer matching programs, and any information concerning the
person's indebtedness to the United States by virtue of the person's
participation in a VA benefit program may be disclosed to a consumer
reporting agency for purposes of making such information available for
inclusion in consumer reports regarding that person and for purposes of
locating that person, provided that the provisions of 38 U.S.C.
5701(g)(4) have been met.
6. Any information in this system, including available identifying
information regarding a person, such as the person's name, address,
Social Security number, VA insurance number, VA claim number, VA loan
number, date of birth and employment information, may be disclosed,
except to consumer reporting agencies, to a third party in order to
obtain current name, address and credit report in connection with any
proceeding for the collection of an amount owed the United States by
virtue of the person's participation in a VA benefit program. Such
disclosure may be made in the course of computer matching having the
purpose of obtaining the information indicated above. Third parties may
include other Federal agencies, State probate courts, State drivers'
license bureaus, State automobile title and license bureaus and private
commercial concerns in the business of providing the information
sought.
7. Identifying information, including the debtor's name, Social
Security number and VA claim number, along with the amount of
indebtedness, may be disclosed to any Federal agency, including the
U.S. Postal Service, in the course of conducting computer matching to
identify and locate delinquent debtors employed by or receiving
retirement benefits from those agencies. Such debtors may be subject to
offset of their pay or retirement benefits under the provisions of 5
U.S.C. 5514.
8. Any information in this system, including the nature and amount
of a financial obligation as well as the history of debt collection
activity against a debtor, may be disclosed to the Federal agency
administering salary or retirement benefits to the debtor to assist
that agency in initiating offset of salary or retirement benefits to
collect delinquent debts owed the United States under VA benefit
programs.
9. The name(s) and address(es) of a veteran or beneficiary may be
disclosed to another Federal agency or to a contractor of that agency,
at the written request of the head of that agency or designee of the
head of that agency for the purpose of conducting Government research
of oversight necessary to accomplish a statutory purpose of that
agency.
10. Any information in the system, including the amount of debt,
may be disclosed at the request of a debtor to accredited service
organizations, VA-approved claims agents and attorneys acting under a
declaration of representation so that these individuals can aid persons
indebted to VA in the preparation, presentation and prosecution of
debt-related matters under the laws administered by VA. The name and
address of a debtor will not, however, be disclosed to these
individuals under this routine use if the debtor has not requested the
assistance of an accredited service organization, claims agent or an
attorney.
11. Any information in this system such as the amount of
indebtedness and collection history may be disclosed in the course of
presenting evidence to a court, magistrate or administrative authority
in matters of guardianship, inquests and commitments, to private
attorneys representing debtors rated incompetent in conjunction with
issuance of Certificates of Incompetence and to probation and parole
officers in connection with court-required duties.
12. Any information in this system, including the amount of
indebtedness and history of collection activity, may be disclosed to a
VA or court-appointed fiduciary or a guardian ad litem in relation to
his or her representation of a debtor only to the extent necessary to
fulfill the duties of the fiduciary or guardian ad litem.
13. Any relevant information in this system may be disclosed to the
Department of Justice and United States Attorneys in the defense or
prosecution of litigation involving or pertaining to the United States.
Any relevant information in this system may also be disclosed to other
Federal agencies upon their request in connection with review of
administrative tort claims and potential tort claims filed under the
Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 2672, the Military Claims Act, 10
U.S.C. 2733 and other similar claims statutes.
14. Any information concerning a person's indebtedness to the
United States by virtue of that person's participation in a benefit
program administered by VA, including personal information obtained
from other Federal agencies through computer matching programs, may be
disclosed to any third party, except consumer reporting agencies, in
connection with any proceeding for the collection of any amount owed to
the United States. Purposes of these disclosures may be to (a) assist
VA in collection of title 38 and 10 U.S.C. ch. 1606 program debts and/
or costs of services, and (b) initiate legal actions for prosecuting
individuals who willfully or fraudulently obtain title 38 or 10 U.S.C.
ch. 1606 benefits without entitlement.
15. The debtor's name, address, Social Security number and the
amount (excluding interest) of any indebtedness waived, compromised or
written off may be disclosed to the Treasury Department, Internal
Revenue Service, as a report of income under 26 U.S.C. 61(a)(12).
16. The name of a debtor, any other information reasonably
necessary to identify such individual and any other information
concerning the individual's indebtedness under a VA program, may be
disclosed to the Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, for the
collection of that indebtedness by offset of Federal income tax refunds
pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3720A.
17. Debtors' social security numbers, VA claim numbers, loan
account numbers and other information as is reasonably necessary to
identify individual VA indebtedness accounts may be disclosed to the
Department of Housing and Urban Development for inclusion in the Credit
Alert Interactive Voice Response System (CAIVRS). Information in CAIVRS
may be disclosed to all participating agencies and lenders who
participate in the
[[Page 60152]]
agencies' programs to enable them to verify information provided by new
loan applicants and evaluate the creditworthiness of applicants.
Records are disclosed to participating agencies and private-sector
lenders by an ongoing computer matching program.
18. Name, Social Security numbers and any other information
reasonably necessary to ensure accurate identification may be disclosed
to the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, to obtain
the mailing address of taxpayers who are debtors under this system of
records. Disclosure is made by computer matching and pursuant to 26
U.S.C. 6103(m)(2).
18. Any information in a record under this system of records may be
disclosed to the United States General Accounting Office (GAO) to
enabling GAO to pursue collection activities authorized to that office
or any other activities within their statutory authority.
DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:
Disclosures pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(12) may be made from this
record system to consumer reporting agencies as defined in the Fair
Credit Reporting Act 15 U.S.C. 1681a(f) or the Federal Claims
Collection Act of 1966 31 U.S.C. 3701(a)(3). The disclosure is limited
to information necessary to establish the identity of the individual,
including name, address, and taxpayer identification number (Social
Security number), the amount, status and history of the claim; and the
agency or program under which the claim arose for the sole purpose of
allowing the consumer reporting agency to prepare a commercial credit
report. 38 U.S.C. 5701(g) governs the release of names and addresses of
any person who is a present or former member of the Armed Forces, or
who is a dependent of such a person, to consumer reporting agencies
under certain circumstances. Routine uses, above, provide for
disclosure under those circumstances.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE;
Records are maintained on magnetic tape and disk, microfilm,
microfiche, optical disk and paper documents. DMC does not routinely
maintain paper records of individual debtors in file folders with the
exception of correspondence, and replies thereto, from Congress, the
White House, members of the Cabinet and other similar sources. Paper
records related to accounts receivable may be maintained in individual
file folders located at VA regional offices, health care facilities and
CHAMPVA Center. Generally and with the exception of claims against
third-party insurers and certain first-party medical debts, such papers
maintained outside of DMC are not used directly in the debt collection
process unless they are first forwarded to DMC. Information stored on
magnetic media for most benefit debts, including first-party medical,
may be accessed through a data telecommunications terminal system
designated as CAROLS (Centralized Accounts Receivable On-Line System).
Most CAROLS terminals are located in DMC; however, VA regional offices
generally each have one terminal for inquiry purposes. Information
stored on magnetic media and related to the All-Volunteer Force
Educational Assistance, education loan, miscellaneous home loan or
CHAMPVA debt collection programs may be accessed through personal
computers. Records provided to the Department of Housing and Urban
Development for inclusion in the Credit Alert Interactive Voice
Response System (CAIVRS) are maintained on magnetic media at the HUD
Data Processing Center in Lanham, Maryland. For benefit debts other
than miscellaneous home loan, first-party medical and CHAMPVA,
identifying information, the amount of the debt and benefit source of
the debt may be stored on magnetic media in records that serve as the
data base for the VA Benefits Delivery Network (BDN). The BDN is
operated for the adjudication of claims and the entry of certain fiscal
transactions. The identifying information, the amount of the debt and
benefit source of the debt are transmitted to the Centralized Accounts
Receivable System (CARS) or a personal computer local area network
system before collection activity commences. When a debtor is awarded
gratuitous benefits under VA programs, the BDN may operate to offset
all or part of retroactive funds awarded, if any, to reduce the balance
of the indebtedness. The Decentralized Hospital Computer Program
(DHCP), through its various modules, is used to create and store first-
party medical charges and debts associated with the provision of health
care benefits. The identifying information about the person, the amount
of the debt and program source of the debt may be transmitted to CARS
as part of the collection process. When a person receives care under
the auspices of VA, a VA medical facility may collect all or part of a
charge or debt.
Retrievability:
Paper documents, microfilm and microfiche are indexed by VA file
number or date of receipt. Automated records are indexed by VA claim
number, Social Security account number, name and loan account number in
appropriate circumstances. Records in CAIVRS may only be retrieved by
Social Security number.
SAFEGUARDS:
1. Physical Security: (a) Access to working spaces and document
storage areas in DMC is restricted by cipher locks and to VA employees
on a need-to-know basis. Generally, document storage areas in VA
offices other than DMC are restricted to VA employees on a need-to-know
basis. VA offices are generally protected from outside access by the
Federal Protective Service or other security personnel. Strict control
measures are enforced to ensure that access to and disclosure from
documents, microfilm and microfiche are limited to a need-to-know
basis. (b) Access to CAROLS data telecommunications terminals is by
authorization controlled by the site security officer. The security
officer is assigned responsibility for privacy-security measures,
especially for review of violation logs, information logs and control
of password distribution. (c) Access to data processing centers is
generally restricted to center employees, custodial personnel, Federal
Protective Service and other security personnel. Access to computer
rooms is restricted to authorized operational personnel through
electronic locking devices. All other personnel gaining access to
computer rooms are escorted.
2. CAROLS and Personal Computer Local Area Network (LAN) Security:
(a) Usage of CAROLS and LAN terminal equipment is protected by password
access. Electronic keyboard locks are activated on security errors.
(b) At the data processing centers, identification of magnetic
media containing data is rigidly enforced using labeling techniques.
Automated storage media which are not in use are stored in tape
libraries which are secured in locked rooms. Access to programs is
controlled at three levels: programming, auditing and operations.
3. CAIVRS Security: Access to the HUD data processing center from
which CAIVRS is operated is generally restricted to center employees
and authorized contact employees. Access to computer rooms is
restricted to authorized operational personnel through locking devices.
All other persons gaining access to computer rooms are escorted.
[[Page 60153]]
Records in CAIVRS use Social Security numbers as identifiers.
Access to information files is restricted to authorized employees of
participating agencies and authorized employees of lenders who
participate in the agencies' programs. Access is controlled by agency
distribution of passwords. Information in the system may be accessed by
use of a touch-tone telephone by authorized agency and lender employees
on a need-to-know basis.
RENTENTION AND DISPOSAL:
Microfilm and microfiche are retained in metal cabinets in DMC for
25 years. CARS records are retained until termination of debt
collection (payment in full, write off, compromise or waiver). All
other automated storage media are retained and disposed of in
accordance with disposition authorization approved by the Archivist of
the United States. DMC generally forwards all substantive paper
documents to VA regional offices, health care facilities and CHAMPVA
Center for storage in claims files, patient treatment files, imaging
systems or loan files. Those documents are retained and disposed of in
accordance with the appropriate system of records. Information provided
to HUD for CAIVRS is stored on magnetic tape. The tapes are returned to
VA for updating each month. HUD does not keep separate copies of the
tapes.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
Director, Debt Management Center (389/00), U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal
Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
An individual who wishes to determine whether a record is being
maintained in this system under his or her name or other personal
identifier, or wants to determine the contents of such record, should
submit a written request to the system manager indicated above.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Individuals seeking information regarding access to and contesting
of VA records may write, call or visit the nearest VA regional office.
Address locations are listed in VA Appendix 1.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
See record access procedures, above.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
The records in this system are derived from four other systems of
records as set forth in ``Categories of records in the system'', above,
persons indebted to the United States by virtue of their participation
in programs administered by Va, dependents of those persons,
fiduciaries for those persons (VA or court appointed), other Federal
agencies, State and local agencies, private collection agencies,
consumer reporting agencies, State, local and county courts and clerks,
other third parties and other VA records.
[FR Doc. 96-30105 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M
