2010-16794. Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY:

Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION:

Notice to amend a system of records.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Army is proposing to amend a system of records notice in its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

DATES:

The changes will be effective on August 9, 2010, unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:

* Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

* Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1160.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Leroy Jones at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of the Army systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the Federal Register and are available from the Department of the Army, Privacy Office, U.S. Army Records Management and Declassification Agency, 7701 Telegraph Road, Casey Building, Suite 144, Alexandria, VA 22325-3905.

The specific changes to the records system being amended are set forth below followed by the notice, as amended, published in its entirety. The proposed amendments are not within the purview of subsection (r) of the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, which requires the submission of a new or altered system report.

Dated: July 6, 2010.

Mitchell S. Bryman,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

A0040 DASG

System name:

Medical Facility Administration Records (March 27, 2003; 68 FR 14959).

Changes:

* * * * *

Retrievability:

Delete and replace with “By individual's surname/Social Security Number (SSN) and sponsor's Social Security Number (SSN).”

* * * * *

A0040 DASG

System name:

Medical Facility Administration Records

System location:

Medical centers, hospitals, and health clinics. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to the Army's compilation of systems of records notices.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:

Individuals who are authorized to use services of an Army medical facility.

Categories of records in the system:

Information in this system generally relates to administration at a medical facility, as opposed to an individual's healthcare. Typically, records comprise scheduling of appointments, medical history data used to locate medical records, patient's name, Social Security Number (SSN), birth, death, sponsor's Social Security Number (SSN), accountability of patients (e.g., bad charts; transfer, leave requests, etc.); receipts for patients' personal property, prescriptions for medications, eyeglasses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices, diet/special nourishment plans, blood donor records, charges, receipts and accounting, documents of payments for medical/dental services; register number assigned; and similar records/reports.

Authority for maintenance of the system:

5 U.S.C. 301, Departmental Regulations; 10 U.S.C. 3013, Secretary of the Army; Army Regulation 40-2, Army Medical Facilities General Admission; and E.O. 9397 (SSN), as amended.

Purpose(s):

To locate medical records and personnel, schedule appointments; provide research and statistical data.

To enhance efficient management practices and effective patient administration.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses:

In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act of 1974, these records contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:

Birth records are disclosed to states' Bureau of Vital Statistics and overseas birth records are disclosed to the Department of State to provide the official certificates of birth. Birth records may also be used for statistical purposes.

Death records are disclosed to Federal, State and private sector authorities to provide the official certificates of death. Death records may also be used for statistical purposes.

The DoD ‘Blanket Routine Uses’ set forth at the beginning of the Army's compilation of systems of records notices also apply to this system.

Note:

This system of records contains individually identifiable health information. The DoD Health Information Privacy Regulation (DoD 6025.18-R) issued pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, applies to most such health information. DoD 6025.18-R may place additional procedural requirements on the uses and disclosures of such information beyond those found in the Privacy Act of 1974 or mentioned in this system of records notice.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system:

Storage:

Paper in file folders and electronic storage media.

Retrievability:

By individual's surname/Social Security Number (SSN) and sponsor's Social Security Number (SSN).

Safeguards:

Records are maintained within secured buildings in areas accessible only to persons having official need-to-know, and who are properly trained and screened. Automated segments are protected by controlled system passwords governing access to data.

Retention and disposal:

Nominal index files, including register numbers assigned, are destroyed after 5 years. Records of transient value (e.g., issuance of spectacles/prosthetics, diet/food plan, etc.) are destroyed within 3 months of patient's release. Other records have varying periods of retention: Record of birth/death 2 years; patient accountability (admission/discharge) 5 years; blood donor 5 years or when no longer needed for medical/legal reasons whichever is longer; record of patient's personal property 3 years.

System manager(s) and address:

Chief Information Officer, Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Army Medical Command, ATTN: MCIM, 2050 Worth Road, Suite 13, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6013.

Notification procedure:

Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system should address written inquiries to the Patient Administrator at the medical facility where service/care was provided. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to the Army's compilation of systems of records notices.

For verification purposes, individual should provide the full name, Social Security Number (SSN), details which will assist in locating record, and signature.

Record access procedures:

Individuals seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system should address written inquiries to the Patient Administrator at the medical facility where service/care was provided. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to the Army's compilation of systems of records notices.

For verification purposes, individual should provide the full name, Social Security Number (SSN), details which will assist in locating record, and signature.

Contesting record procedures:

The Army's rules for accessing records, and for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are contained in Army Regulation 340-21; 32 CFR part 505; or may be obtained from the system manager.

Record source categories:

From the individual; medical facility records and reports.

Exemptions claimed for the system:

None.