[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 112 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29404-29406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14556]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Programs--Department of
Veterans Affairs
AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, DHHS.
ACTION: Notice of a Computer Matching Program to Comply with Public Law
(Pub. L.) 100-503, the computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of
1988.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with Public Law (Pub. L.) 100-503, the Computer
Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, we are publishing a notice
of a computer matching program that ACF will conduct on behalf of
itself, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the Food and
Consumer Service (FCS), utilizing Veterans Affairs pension and
compensation information
[[Page 29405]]
and public assistance client records of the Arizona Department of
Economic Security (ADEC), California Department of Social Services
(CDSS), Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Connecticut
Department of Human Resources (CDHR), Delaware Department of Health and
Social Services (DDHSS), District of Columbia Department of Human
Services (DCDHS), Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative
Services (FDHRS), Georgia Department of Human Resources (GDHR), Guam
Department of Public Health and Social Services (GDPHSS), Hawaii
Department of Human Services (HDHS), Illinois Department of Public Aid
(IDPA), Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services
(KDSRS), Kentucky Department for Social Insurance (KDSI), Louisiana
Department of Social Services (LDSS), Maryland Department of Human
Resources (MDHR), Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance
(MDTA), Michigan Department of Social Services (MDSS), Nebraska
Department of Social Services (NDSS), New Jersey Department of Human
Services (NJDHS), New Mexico Human Services Department (NMHSD), New
York Department of Social Services (NYDSS), North Carolina Department
of Human Resources (NCDHR), North Dakota Department of Human Services
(NDDHS), Ohio Department of Human Services (ODHS), Pennsylvania
Department of Public Welfare (PDPW), Rhode Island Department of Human
Services (RIDHS), South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS),
South Dakota Department of Social Services (SDDSS), Texas Department of
Human Services (TDHS), and the Utah Department of Human Services
(UDHS).
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by writing to
the Director, Office of State Systems, Administration for Children and
Families, Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington,
DC 20047. All comments received will be available for public inspection
at this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Office of State Systems,
Administration for Children and Families, Aerospace Building, 370
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20047; Telephone Number (202)
401-6960.
DATES: We filed a report of the subject ACF matching program with the
Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives and the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) on June 3, 1996.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. General
Pub. L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act
of 1988, amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by adding certain
protections for individuals applying for and receiving Federal
benefits. The law regulates the use of computer matching by Federal
agencies when records in a system of records are matched with other
Federal, State and local government records.
The amendments require Federal agencies involved in computer
matching programs to:
(1) Negotiate written agreements with source agencies;
(2) Provide notification to applicants and beneficiaries that their
records are subject to matching;
(3) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending or
terminating an individual's benefits or payments;
(4) Furnish detailed reports to Congress and OMB; and
(5) Establish a Data Integrity Board that must approve matching
agreements.
B. ACF Computer Match Subject to Pub. L. 100-503
Below is a brief description followed by a detailed notice of a
computer match that ACF will be conducting as of July 15, 1996 or
later.
ACF computer match with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Purpose: To detect and determine the amount of benefit overpayment to
public assistance recipients by verifying client VA pension and
compensation circumstances using VA automated data files.
Dated: June 3, 1996.
Mary Jo Bane,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
Notice of Computer Matching Program
The Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADEC), California
Department of Social Services (CDSS), Colorado Department of Human
Services (CDHS), Connecticut Department of Human Resources (CDHR),
Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DDHSS), District of
Columbia Department of Human Services (DCDHS), Florida Department of
Health and Rehabilitative Services (FDHRS), Georgia Department of Human
Resources (GDHR), Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services
(GDPHSS), Hawaii Department of Human Services (HDHS), Illinois
Department of Public Aid (IDPA), Kansas Department of Social and
Rehabilitation Services (KDSRS), Kentucky Department for Social
Insurance (KDSI), Louisiana Department of Social Services (LDSS),
Maryland Department of Human Resources (MDHR), Massachusetts Department
of Transitional Assistance (MDTA), Michigan Department of Social
Services (MDSS), Nebraska Department of Social Services (NDSS), New
Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS), New Mexico Human Services
Department (NMHSD), New York Department of Social Services (NYDSS),
North Carolina Department of Human Resources (NCDHR), North Dakota
Department of Human Services (NDDHS), Ohio Department of Human Services
(ODHS), Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (PDPW), Rhode Island
Department of Human Services (RIDHS), South Carolina Department of
Social Services (SCDSS), South Dakota Department of Social Services
(SDDSS), Texas Department of Human Services (TDHS), and the Utah
Department of Human Services (UDHS) public assistance client records
match with VA compensation and pension records.
A. Participating Agencies
ACF, VA, ADEC, CDSS, CDHS, CDHR, DHSS, DCDHS, FDHRS, GDHS, GDPHSS,
HDHS, IDPA, KDSRS, KDSI, LDSS, MDHR, MDTA, MDSS, NDSS, NJDHS, NMHSD,
NYDSS, NCDHR, NDDHS, ODHS, PDPW, RIDHS, SCDSS, SDDSS TDHS and the UDHS.
B. Purpose of the Matching Program
The purpose of this matching program is to provide ADEC, CDSS,
CDHS, CDHR, DHSS, DCDHS, FDHRS, GDHS, GDPHSS, HDHS, IDPA, KDSRS, KDSI,
LDSS, MDHR, MDTA, MDSS, NDSS, NJDHS, NMHSD, NYDSS, NCDHR, NDDHS, ODHS,
PDPW, RIDHS, SCDSS, SDDSS TDHS and the UDHS with data from the VA
benefit and compensation file. ADEC, CDSS, CDHS, CDHR, DHSS, DCDHS,
FDHRS, GDHS, GDPHSS, HDHS, IDPA, KDSRS, KDSI, LDSS, MDHR, MDTA, MDSS,
NDSS, NJDHS, NMHSD, NYDSS, NCDHR, NDDHS, ODHS, PDPW, RIDHS, SCDSS,
SDDSS TDHS and the UDHS will provide ACF with a file of Medicaid, Aid
to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), general assistance and Food
Stamp clients. VA will provide ACF with a file of individuals receiving
VA compensation and pension benefits. ACF, on behalf of itself, HCFA,
and FCS will match the ADEC, CDSS, CDHS, CDHR, DHSS, DCDHS, FDHRS,
GDHS, GDPHSS, HDHS, IDPA, KDSRS, KDSI, LDSS, MDHR, MDTA, MDSS, NDSS,
[[Page 29406]]
NJDHS, NMHSD, NYDSS, NCDHR, NDDHS, ODHS, PDPW, RIDHS, SCDSS, SDDSS TDHS
and the UDHS files with the VA file and provide ADEC, CDSS, CDHS, CDHR,
DHSS, DCDHS, FDHRS, GDHS, GDPHSS, HDHS, IDPA, KDSRS, KDSI, LDSS, MDHR,
MDTA, MDSS, NDSS, NJDHS, NMHSD, NYDSS, NCDHR, NDDHS, ODHS, PDPW, RIDHS,
SCDSS, SDDSS TDHS and the UDHS with VA pension and compensation benefit
information. ADEC, CDSS, CDHS, CDHR, DHSS, DCDHS, FDHRS, GDHS, GDPHSS,
HDHS, IDPA, KDSRS, KDSI, LDSS, MDHR, MDTA, MDSS, NDSS, NJDHS, NMHSD,
NYDSS, NCDHR, NDDHS, ODHS, PDPW, RIDHS, SCDSS, SDDSS TDHS and the UDHS
will use the VA information to determine the value of using VA
information to verify client circumstances and to initiate adverse
action when appropriate.
C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
ACF, HCFA, and FCS have an obligation to assist State Public
Assistance Agencies in their efforts to verify client circumstances
when determining an applicant's eligibility for public assistance
benefits. The most cost-effective and efficient way to verify client
declarations of income circumstances is by means of a computer match.
D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match
VA will disclose information from the VA Compensation, Pension, and
Education and Rehabilitation Records--VA (58 VA 21/22).
ACF will match this information with ADEC, CDSS, CDHS, CDHR, DHSS,
DCDHS, FDHRS, GDHS, GDPHSS, HDHS, IDPA, KDSRS, KDSI, LDSS, MDHR, MDTA,
MDSS, NDSS, NJDHS, NMHSD, NYDSS, NCDHR, NDDHS, ODHS, PDPW, RIDHS,
SCDSS, SDDSS, TDHS and the UDHS Client Eligibility files.
E. Inclusive Dates of the Match
This computer match will begin no sooner than 30 days from the date
HHS publishes a Computer Matching Notice in the Federal Register or 30
days from the date copies of the approved agreement and the notice of
the matching program are sent to the Congressional committee of
jurisdiction under subsections (0)(2)(B) and (r) of the Privacy Act, as
amended, or 30 days from the date the approved agreement is sent to the
Office of Management and Budget, whichever is later, provided no
comments are received which result in a contrary determination.
F. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries
Individuals wishing to comment on this matching program should
submit comments to the Director, Office of State Systems,
Administration for Children and Families, Aerospace Building, 370
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20047.
[FR Doc. 96-14556 Filed 6-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
