2021-26884. Extension of Expiration Dates for Four Body System Listings

AGENCY:

Social Security Administration.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are extending the expiration dates of the following body systems in the Listing of Impairments (listings) in our regulations: Cardiovascular System, Digestive System, Skin Disorders, and Immune System Disorders. We are making no other revisions to these body systems in this final rule. This extension ensures that we will continue to have the criteria we need to evaluate impairments in the affected body systems at step three of the sequential evaluation processes for initial claims and continuing disability reviews.

DATES:

This final rule is effective on December 13, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael J. Goldstein, Office of Medical Policy, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, [phone].

For information on eligibility or filing for benefits, call our national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, or TTY 1-800-325-0778, or visit our internet site, Social Security Online, at http://www.socialsecurity.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

We use the listings in appendix 1 to subpart P of part 404 of 20 CFR at the third step of the sequential evaluation process to evaluate claims filed by adults and children for benefits based on disability under the title II and title XVI programs.^[1] 20 CFR 404.1520(d), 416.920(d), 416.924(d). The listings are in two parts: Part A has listings criteria for adults and Part B has listings criteria for children. If you are age 18 or over, we apply the listings criteria in Part A when we assess your impairment or combination of impairments. If you are under age 18, we first use the criteria in Part B of the listings when we assess your impairment(s). If the criteria in Part B do not apply, we may use the criteria in Part A when those criteria consider the effects of your impairment(s). 20 CFR 404.1525(b), 416.925(b).

Explanation of Changes

In this final rule, we are extending the dates on which the listings for the following four body systems will no longer be effective as set out in the following chart:

Body system listings	Current expiration date	New expiration date
Cardiovascular System 4.00 and 104.00	February 4, 2022	February 6, 2026.
Digestive System 5.00 and 105.00	February 4, 2022	February 6, 2026.
Skin Disorders 8.00 and 108.00	February 4, 2022	February 6, 2026.
Immune System Disorders 14.00 and 114.00	February 4, 2022	February 6, 2026.

We continue to revise and update the listings on a regular basis, including those body systems not affected by this final rule.^[2] We intend to update the four listings affected by this final rule as necessary based on medical advances as quickly as possible, but may not be able to publish final rules revising these listings by the current expiration date. Therefore, we are extending the expiration dates listed above.

Regulatory Procedures

Justification for Final Rule

We follow the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) rulemaking procedures specified in 5 U.S.C. 553 in promulgating regulations. Section 702(a)(5) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 902(a)(5). Generally, the APA requires that an agency provides prior notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing a final regulation. The APA provides exceptions to the notice-and-comment requirements when an agency finds there is good cause for dispensing with such procedures because they are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.

We determined that good cause exists for dispensing with the notice and public comment procedures. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). This final rule only extends the date on which the four body system listings will no longer be effective. It makes no substantive changes to our rules. Our current regulations ^[3] provide that we may extend, revise, or promulgate the body system listings again. Therefore, we determined that opportunity for prior comment is unnecessary, and we are issuing this regulation as a final rule.

In addition, for the reasons cited above, we find good cause for dispensing with the 30-day delay in the effective date of this final rule. 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). We are not making any substantive changes to the listings in these body systems. Without an extension of the expiration date for these listings, we will not have the criteria we need to assess medical impairments in these four body systems at step three of the sequential evaluation processes. We therefore find it is in the public interest to make this final rule effective on the publication date.

Executive Order 12866, as Supplemented by Executive Order 13563

We consulted with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and determined that this final rule does not meet the requirements for a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, as supplemented by Executive Order 13563. Therefore, OMB did not review it. We also determined that this final rule meets the plain language requirement of Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

We certify that this final rule does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because it affects only individuals. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended.

Paperwork Reduction Act

These rules do not create any new or affect any existing collections and, therefore, do not require OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 96.001, Social Security—Disability Insurance; 96.002, Social Security—Retirement Insurance; 96.004, Social Security—Survivors Insurance; 96.006, Supplemental Security Income)

List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 404

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Blind
• Disability benefits
• Old-age
• Survivors and Disability Insurance
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Social Security

The Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Kilolo Kijakazi, having reviewed and approved this document, is delegating the authority to electronically sign this document to Faye I. Lipsky, who is the primary Federal Register Liaison for SSA, for purposes of publication in the Federal Register .

Faye I. Lipsky,

Federal Register Liaison, Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Social Security Administration.

For the reasons set out in the preamble, we are amending appendix 1 to subpart P of part 404 of chapter III of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations as set forth below.

PART 404—FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE (1950- )

Subpart P—[Amended]

1. The authority citation for subpart P of part 404 continues to read as follows:

Authority: Secs. 202, 205(a)-(b) and (d)-(h), 216(i), 221(a) and (h)-(j), 222(c), 223, 225, and 702(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402, 405(a)-(b) and (d)-(h), 416(i), 421(a) and (h)-(j), 422(c), 423, 425, and 902(a)(5)); sec. 211(b), Pub. L. 104-193, 110 Stat. 2105, 2189; sec. 202, Pub. L. 108-203, 118 Stat. 509 (42 U.S.C. 902 note).

2. Amend appendix 1 to subpart P of part 404 in the introductory text by revising items 5, 6, 9, and 15 to read as follows:

Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Part 404—Listing of Impairments

* * * * *

5. Cardiovascular System (4.00 and 104.00): February 6, 2026.

6. Digestive System (5.00 and 105.00): February 6, 2026.

* * * * *

9. Skin Disorders (8.00 and 108.00): February 6, 2026.

* * * * *

15. Immune System Disorders (14.00 and 114.00): February 6, 2026.

* * * * *

Footnotes

1.  We also use the listings in the sequential evaluation processes we use to determine whether a beneficiary's disability continues. See 20 CFR 404.1594, 416.994, and 416.994a.

2.  We last extended the expiration dates of the four body system listings affected by this final rule on November 26, 2019 (84 FR 64993). We published a Noticed of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) revising the medical criteria for evaluating Digestive Disorders and Skin Disorders on July 25, 2019 (84 FR 35936).

3.  See the first sentence of appendix 1 to subpart P of part 404 of 20 CFR.