Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 241 / Thursday, December 16, 2004 / Notices 75323

Medicare Coordinator, B/S Rhode Island (RI 

BS), 444 Westminster Street, Providence, 

RI 02903–2790. 

Medicare Coordinator, Trailblazer Health 

Enterprises, Meriden Park, 538 Preston 

Ave., Meriden, CT 06450. 

Medicare Coordinator, Upstate Medicare 

Division, 11 Lewis Road, Binghamton, NY 

13902. 

Medicare Coordinator, Empire Medicare 

Services, 2651 Strang Blvd., Yorktown 

Heights, NY, 10598.

Medicare Coordinator, Empire Medicare 

Services, NJ, 300 East Park Drive, 

Harrisburg, PA 17106. 

Medicare Coordinator, Triple S, #1441 F.D., 

Roosevelt Ave., Guaynabo, PR 00968. 

Medicare Coordinator, Group Health Inc., 4th 

Floor, 88 West End Avenue, New York, NY 

10023. 

Medicare Coordinator, Highmark, P.O. Box 

89065, 1800 Center Street, Camp Hill, PA 

17089–9065. 

Medicare Coordinator, Trailblazers Part B, 

11150 McCormick Drive, Executive Plaza 3 

Suite 200, Hunt Valley, MD 21031. 

Medicare Coordinator, Trailblazer Health 

Enterprises, Virginia, P.O. Box 26463, 

Richmond, VA 23261–6463. United 

Medicare Coordinator, Tricenturion, 1 

Tower Square, Hartford, CT 06183. 

Medicare Coordinator, Alabama B/S, 450 

Riverchase Parkway East, Birmingham, AL 

35298. 

Medicare Coordinator, Cahaba GBA, 12052 

Middleground Road, Suite A, Savannah, 

GA 31419. 

Medicare Coordinator, Florida B/S, 532 

Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202–

4918. 

Medicare Coordinator, Administar Federal, 

9901 Linnstation Road, Louisville, KY 

40223. 

Medicare Coordinator, Palmetto GBA, 17 

Technology Circle, Columbia, SC 29203–

0001. 

Medicare Coordinator, CIGNA, 2 Vantage 

Way, Nashville, TN 37228. 

Medicare Coordinator, Railroad Retirement 

Board, 2743 Perimeter Parkway, Building 

250, Augusta, GA 30999. 

Medicare Coordinator, Cahaba GBA, Jackson, 

Miss, P.O. Box 22545, Jackson, MI 39225–

2545. 

Medicare Coordinator, Adminastar Federal 

(IN), 8115 Knue Road, Indianapolis, IN 

46250–1936. 

Medicare Coordinator, Wisconsin Physicians 

Service, P.O. Box 8190, Madison, WI 

53708–8190. 

Medicare Coordinator, Nationwide Mutual 

Insurance Co., P.O. Box 16788, 1 

Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, OH 43216–

6788. 

Medicare Coordinator, Arkansas B/S, 601 

Gaines Street, Little Rock, AR 72203. 

Medicare Coordinator, Arkansas-New 

Mexico, 601 Gaines Street, Little Rock, AR 

72203. 

Medicare Coordinator, Palmetto GBA—

DMERC, 17 Technology Circle, Columbia, 

SC 29203–0001. 

Medicare Coordinator, Trailblazer Health 

Enterprises, 901 South Central Expressway, 

Richardson, TX 75080. 

Medicare Coordinator, Nordian, 636 Grand 

Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309–2551. 

Medicare Coordinator, Kansas B/S, P.O. Box 

239, 1133 Topeka Ave., Topeka, KS 66629–

0001. 

Medicare Coordinator, Kansas B/S—NE, P.O. 

Box 239, 1133 Topeka Ave., Topeka, KS 

66629–0239. 

Medicare Coordinator, Montana B/S, P.O. 

Box 4309, Helena, MT 59601. 

Medicare Coordinator, Nordian, 4305 13th 

Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103–3373. 

Medicare Coordinator, Noridian Bcbsnd (C0), 

730 N. Simms #100, Golden, CO 80401–

4730. 

Medicare Coordinator, Noridian Bcbsnd 

(WY), 4305 13th Avenue South, Fargo, ND 

58103–3373. 

Medicare Coordinator, Utah B/S, P.O. Box 

30270, 2455 Parleys Way, Salt Lake City, 

UT 84130–0270.

Medicare Coordinator, Transamerica 

Occidental, P.O. Box 54905, Los Angeles, 

CA 90054–4905. 

Medicare Coordinator, NHIC—California, 450 

W. East Avenue, Chico, CA 95926. 

Medicare Coordinator, Cigna, Suite 254, 3150 

Lakeharbor, Boise, ID 83703. 

Medicare Coordinator, Cigna, Suite 506, 2 

Vantage Way, Nashville, TN 37228. 

Payment Safeguard Contractors 

Medicare Coordinator, Aspen Systems 

Corporation, 2277 Research Blvd., 

Rockville, MD 20850. 

Medicare Coordinator, DynCorp Electronic 

Data Systems (EDS, 11710 Plaza America 

Drive 5400 Legacy Drive, Reston, VA 

20190–6017. 

Medicare Coordinator, Lifecare Management 

Partners Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. 

6601 Little River Turnpike, Suite 300 

Mutual of Omaha Plaza, Omaha, NE 68175. 

Medicare Coordinator, Reliance Safeguard 

Solutions, Inc., P.O. Box 30207 400 South 

Salina Street, 2890 East Cottonwood Pkwy. 

Syracuse, NY 13202. 

Medicare Coordinator, Science Applications 

International, Inc., 6565 Arlington Blvd. 

P.O. Box 100282, Falls Church, VA. 

Medicare Coordinator, California Medical 

Review, Inc. Integriguard Division Federal 

Sector Civil Group One Sansome Street, 

San Francisco, CA 94104–4448. 

Medicare Coordinator, Computer Sciences 

Corporation Suite 600 3120 Timanus Lane, 

Baltimore, MD 21244. 

Medicare Coordinator, Electronic Data 

Systems (EDS), 11710 Plaza America Drive 

5400 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75204. 

Medicare Coordinator, TriCenturion, L.L.C., 

P.O. Box 100282, Columbia, SC 29202. 

[FR Doc. 04–27529 Filed 12–15–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–03–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Modified 

or Altered System

AGENCY: Department of Health and 

Human Services (HHS) Centers for 

Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

ACTION: Notice of modified or altered 

system of records (SOR). 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, 

we are proposing to modify or alter an 

SOR, ‘‘Medicare Hearings and Appeals 

System (MHAS), System No. 09–70–

5001.’’ We propose to broaden the scope 

of this system to support additional 

levels of claim determination appeals 

administered by CMS pursuant to Title 

XVIII of the Social Security Act (the 

Act). We propose to change the name of 

the system from MHAS to the 

‘‘Medicare Appeals System’’ (MAS) to 

more closely reflect the new and 

broadened scope of activities that will 

become a part of this system. We 

propose to further broaden the scope of 

this system with the inclusions of 

support for appeals processes for both 

the Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) 

appeals at the Qualified Independent 

Contractors (QIC) and Medicare 

Advantage appeals at the Independent 

Review Entity (IRE) Second Level 

Appeal. As an orderly timetable will 

permit, CMS will explore the possibility 

of extending the scope of MAS to 

include all five appeal levels: 

Affiliated Contractors (Carriers and 

Fiscal Intermediaries) and Medicare 

Advantage Organizations (MAO)—the 

First Level Appeal; QIC and IRE—the 

Second Level Appeal; ALJ Hearing—the 

Third Level Appeal; Medicare 

Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) 

Hearing—the Fourth Level Appeal; and 

Federal District Court Judicial Review—

the Fifth Level Appeal. 

In the interim, before deployment of 

the MAS, CMS has developed a midtier, client server-based system known 

as the Medicare Case Tracking System 

(MCATS). MCATS will be utilized if the 

MAS is not available to collect and track 

appeals data, including status, 

timelines, and decision data. It has the 

capability to provide summary reports 

for data analysis, and will comply with 

applicable security and privacy rules, 

regulations, and policies. 

We propose to broaden the scope of 

activities covered by this system with 

the inclusion of related activities 

presented in the 2 published CMS 

systems identified below: (1) 

‘‘Reconsideration and Hearing Case 

Files (Part A)—Hospital Insurance 

Program,’’ System No. 09–70–0508 

(published 47 FR 45725 (Oct. 13, 1982)), 

and (2) ‘‘Review and Fair Hearing Case 

Files (Part B)—Supplementary Medical 

Insurance Program,’’ System No. 09–70–

0512 (47 FR 45727 (Oct. 13, 1982)). 

These 2 systems will be discontinued 

with the completion of this proposed 

75324 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 241 / Thursday, December 16, 2004 / Notices 

modification to MAS since they will 

duplicate many of the same functions. 

We propose to delete published 

routine use number 4 authorizing 

disclosure to the Department of Justice 

(DOJ), and an unnumbered routine use 

authorizing disclosure to SSA. Access to 

the data for these activities will be 

accomplished by the addition of a new 

routine use authorizing release of 

information in this system to ‘‘another 

Federal agency.’’ In addition, we 

propose to add a new routine use for 

QIO to ensure that payment is only 

made for medically necessary services 

and to investigate beneficiary 

complaints about quality of care. We 

will also add 2 new routine uses to 

combat fraud and abuse in certain 

health care programs. 

The security classification previously 

reported as ‘‘None’’ will be modified to 

reflect that the data in this system is 

considered to be ‘‘Level Three Privacy 

Act Sensitive.’’ We are modifying the 

language in the remaining routine uses 

to provide an easy to read format and to 

increase uniformity where appropriate 

to CMS’s intention to disclose 

individual-specific information 

contained in this system. The routine 

uses will then be prioritized and 

reordered according to their usage. We 

will also take the opportunity to update 

any sections of the system that were 

affected by the recent reorganization 

and to update language in the 

administrative sections to correspond 

with language used in other CMS SORs. 

The primary purposes of the system is 

to collect and maintain information 

necessary to: (1) Process the initial, 

organization, and reconsidered 

determination requests, ‘‘Request For 

Hearing or Appeal,’’ made by an 

appellant or appealing party, as required 

for the review of determinations by FFS 

and MAOs; (2) track appeal data, 

including status, timeliness, and 

decisions; and (3) reply to future 

correspondence related to the case. 

Information in this system will also be 

disclosed to: support regulatory and 

policy functions performed within the 

Agency or by a contractor or consultant; 

assist another Federal agency; assist 

QIO; support constituent requests made 

to a congressional representative; 

support litigation involving the agency 

related to this SOR; and, combat fraud 

and abuse in certain health benefits 

programs. We have provided 

background information about the 

modified system 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 

routine uses, CMS invites comments on 

all portions of this notice. See EFFECTIVE

DATES section for comment period.

DATES: Effective Dates: CMS filed a 

modified or altered system report 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) on 

October 1, 2004. To ensure that all 

parties have adequate time in which to 

comment, the modified or altered SOR, 

including routine uses, will become 

effective 30 days from the publication of 

the notice, or 40 days from the date it 

was submitted to OMB and the 

congress, whichever is later, unless 

CMS receives comments that require 

alterations to this notice.

ADDRESSES: The public should address 

comments to: Director, Division of 

Privacy Compliance Data Development, 

Enterprises Databases Group, Office of 

Information Services, CMS, Mail Stop 

N2–04–27, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Crochunis, Director, Division of 

Appeals Operations, Health Plan Policy 

Group, Center for Beneficiary Choices, 

CMS, Room S1–05–06, 7500 Security 

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244–

1850. The telephone number is 410–

786–3203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Description of the Modified System 

Statutory and Regulatory Basis for SOR 

In 1987, CMS established this SOR 

under the authority of sections 205, 

1155, 1156, 1869, and 1872 of the Act. 

Notice of this system, ‘‘Medicare 

Hearings and Appeals Systems (MHAS), 

System No. 09–70–5001,’’ was 

published at 52 FR 34846 (Sept. 15, 

1987), and an unnumbered routine use 

for disclosure to SSA was added at 61 

FR 6645 (Feb. 21, 1996). Additional 

authority for the maintenance of this 

system is given under of sections 205 of 

Title II, sections 1155 and 1156 of Title 

XI, sections 1812, 1814, 1816, 1842, 

1869, and 1872 of Title XVIII of the Act, 

as amended (42 United States Code 

(U.S.C.) sections 405, 1320c–4, 1320c–5, 

1395d, 1395f, 1395h, 1395u, 1395ff, and 

1395ii). 

II. Collection and Maintenance of Data 

in the System 

A. Scope of the Data Collected 

The system contains information 

concerning Medicare beneficiaries, 

physicians, providers, and other persons 

involved in furnishing services to health 

insurance beneficiaries. Information on 

beneficiaries consist of name, address, 

social security numbers (SSN), health 

insurance claims numbers (HICN), 

medical services, equipment and 

supplies for which Medicare 

reimbursement is requested, and 

materials used to determine amount of 

benefits allowable under Medicare. 

Information on appellants, physicians, 

and other persons consist of name, work 

address, work phone number, an 

assigned provider identification 

number, specialty, medical services for 

which Medicare reimbursement is 

requested, and materials used to 

determine amounts of benefits allowable 

under Medicare. 

B. Agency Policies, Procedures, and 

Restrictions on the Routine Uses 

The Privacy Act permits us to disclose 

information without an individual’s 

consent if the information is to be used 

for a purpose that is compatible with the 

purpose(s) for which the information 

was collected. Any such disclosure of 

data is known as a ‘‘routine use.’’ The 

government will only release MAS 

information that can be associated with 

an individual as provided for under 

‘‘Section III. Proposed Routine Use 

Disclosures of Data in the System.’’ Both 

identifiable and non-identifiable data 

may be disclosed under a routine use. 

We will only collect the minimum 

personal data necessary to achieve the 

purpose of MAS. CMS has the following 

policies and procedures concerning 

disclosures of information that will be 

maintained in the system. Disclosure of 

information from the SOR will be 

approved only for the minimum 

information necessary to accomplish the 

purpose of the disclosure only after 

CMS:

1. Determines that the use or 

disclosure is consistent with the reason 

that the data is being collected, e.g., 

collecting and maintaining information 

used in processing the appellant’s 

hearing or appeal, to track a particular 

case, and information necessary to reply 

to future correspondence. 

2. Determines that: 

a. The purpose for which the 

disclosure is to be made can only be 

accomplished if the record is provided 

in individually identifiable form; 

b. The purpose for which the 

disclosure is to be made is of sufficient 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 241 / Thursday, December 16, 2004 / Notices 75325

importance to warrant the effect and/or 

risk on the privacy of the individual that 

additional exposure of the record might 

bring; and 

c. There is a strong probability that 

the proposed use of the data would in 

fact accomplish the stated purpose (s). 

3. Requires the information recipient 

to: 

a. Establish administrative, technical, 

and physical safeguards to prevent 

unauthorized use of disclosure of the 

record; 

b. Remove or destroy at the earliest, 

legally permissible-time all 

individually-identifiable information; 

and 

c. Agree to not use or disclose the 

information for any purpose other than 

the stated purpose under which the 

information was disclosed. 

4. Determines that the data are valid 

and reliable. 

III. Proposed Routine Use Disclosures 

of Data in the System 

A. Entities Who May Receive 

Disclosures Under Routine Use 

These routine uses specify 

circumstances, in addition to those 

provided by statute in the Privacy Act 

of 1974, under which CMS may release 

information from the MAS without the 

consent of the individual to whom such 

information pertains. Each proposed 

disclosure of information under these 

routine uses will be evaluated to ensure 

that the disclosure is legally 

permissible, including but not limited to 

ensuring that the purpose of the 

disclosure is compatible with the 

purpose for which the information was 

collected. We are proposing to establish 

or modify the following routine use 

disclosures of information maintained 

in the system: 

1. To support agency contractors, or 

consultants who have been engaged by 

the agency to assist in accomplishment 

of a CMS function relating to the 

purposes for this SOR and who need to 

have access to the records in order to 

assist CMS. 

We contemplate disclosing 

information under this routine use only 

in situations in which CMS may enter 

into a contractual or similar agreement 

with a third party to assist in 

accomplishing a CMS function relating 

to purposes for this SOR. 

CMS occasionally contracts out 

certain of its functions when doing so 

would contribute to effective and 

efficient operations. CMS must be able 

to give a contractor or consultant all 

information that is necessary for the 

contractor or consultant to fulfill its 

duties. In these situations, safeguards 

are provided in the contract prohibiting 

the contractor or consultant from using 

or disclosing the information for any 

purpose other than that described in the 

contract and requires the contractor or 

consultant to return or destroy all 

information at the completion of the 

contract. 

2. To assist another Federal agency in 

the accomplishment of a CMS function 

relating to the purposes for this SOR 

and who need to have access to the 

records in order to support CMS. 

DOJ may require MAS data to assist 

them in investigating and prosecuting 

violations of the Act to which criminal 

penalties attach, or other criminal 

statutes as they pertain to certain 

programs authorized by the Act, and for 

representing the Secretary of the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services. 

We contemplate disclosing 

information under this routine use only 

in situations in which CMS may enter 

into a contractual or similar agreement 

with another Federal agency to assist in 

accomplishing CMS functions relating 

to purposes for this SOR. 

3. To assist Quality Improvement 

Organizations in connection with 

review of claims, or in connection with 

studies or other review activities, 

conducted pursuant to Part B of Title XI 

of the Act and in performing affirmative 

outreach activities to individuals for the 

purpose of establishing and maintaining 

their entitlement to Medicare benefits or 

health insurance plans. 

QIOs will work to implement quality 

improvement programs, provide 

consultation to CMS, its contractors, 

and to ensure that payment is only 

made for medically necessary services. 

QIOs will assist in related monitoring 

and enforcement efforts, assist CMS and 

intermediaries in program integrity 

assessment, investigate beneficiary 

complaints about quality of care, and 

prepare summary information for 

release to CMS. 

4. To support a Member of Congress 

or to a congressional staff member in 

response to an inquiry of the 

congressional office made at the written 

request of the constituent about whom 

the record is maintained. 

Individuals sometimes request the 

help of a Member of Congress in 

resolving some issue relating to a matter 

before CMS. The Member of Congress 

then writes CMS, and CMS must be able 

to give sufficient information to be 

responsive to the inquiry. 

5. To support the Department of 

Justice (DOJ), court or adjudicatory body 

when 

a. The agency or any component 

thereof, or 

b. Any employee of the agency in his 

or her official capacity, or 

c. Any employee of the agency in his 

or her individual capacity where the 

DOJ has agreed to represent the 

employee, or 

d. The United States Government is a 

party to litigation or has an interest in 

such litigation, and by careful review, 

CMS determines that the records are 

both relevant and necessary to the 

litigation.

Whenever CMS is involved in 

litigation, or occasionally when another 

party is involved in litigation and CMS’s 

policies or operations could be affected 

by the outcome of the litigation, CMS 

would be able to disclose information to 

the DOJ, court or adjudicatory body 

involved. 

6. To support a CMS contractor 

(including, but not limited to fiscal 

intermediaries and carriers) that assists 

in the administration of a CMSadministered health benefits program, 

or to a grantee of a CMS-administered 

grant program, when disclosure is 

deemed reasonably necessary by CMS to 

prevent, deter, discover, detect, 

investigate, examine, prosecute, sue 

with respect to, defend against, correct, 

remedy, or otherwise combat fraud or 

abuse in such program. 

We contemplate disclosing 

information under this routine use only 

in situations in which CMS may enter 

into a contract or grant with a third 

party to assist in accomplishing CMS 

functions relating to the purpose of 

combating fraud and abuse. 

CMS occasionally contracts out 

certain of its functions when doing so 

would contribute to effective and 

efficient operations. CMS must be able 

to give a contractor or grantee whatever 

information is necessary for the 

contractor or grantee to fulfill its duties. 

In these situations, safeguards are 

provided in the contract prohibiting the 

contractor or grantee from using or 

disclosing the information for any 

purpose other than that described in the 

contract and requiring the contractor or 

grantee to return or destroy all 

information. 

7. To support another Federal agency 

or to an instrumentality of any 

governmental jurisdiction within or 

under the control of the United States 

(including any state or local 

governmental agency), that administers, 

or that has the authority to investigate 

potential fraud or abuse in, a health 

benefits program funded in whole or in 

part by Federal funds, when disclosure 

is deemed reasonably necessary by CMS 

to prevent, deter, discover, detect, 

investigate, examine, prosecute, sue 

with respect to, defend against, correct, 

75326 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 241 / Thursday, December 16, 2004 / Notices 

remedy, or otherwise combat fraud or 

abuse in such programs. 

Other agencies may require MAS 

information for the purpose of 

combating fraud and abuse in such 

Federally funded programs. 

B. Additional Circumstances Affecting 

Routine Use Disclosures 

This system contains Protected Health 

Information as defined by HHS 

regulation ‘‘Standards for Privacy of 

Individually Identifiable Health 

Information’’ (45 CFR Parts 160 and 164, 

65 FR 82462 (12–28–00), Subparts A 

and E. Disclosures of Protected Health 

Information authorized by these routine 

uses may only be made if, and as, 

permitted or required by the ‘‘Standards 

for Privacy of Individually Identifiable 

Health Information.’’

In addition, our policy will be to 

prohibit release even of data not directly 

identifiable, except pursuant to one of 

the routine uses or if required by law, 

if we determine there is a possibility 

that an individual can be identified 

through implicit deduction based on 

data where the patient population is so 

small that individuals who are familiar 

with the enrollees could, because of the 

small size, use this information to 

deduce the identity of the beneficiary. 

IV. Safeguards 

CMS has safeguards in place for 

authorized users and monitors such 

users to ensure against excessive or 

unauthorized use. Personnel having 

access to the system have been trained 

in the Privacy Act and information 

security requirements. Employees who 

maintain records in this system are 

instructed not to release data until the 

intended recipient agrees to implement 

appropriate management, operational 

and technical safeguards sufficient to 

protect the confidentiality, integrity and 

availability of the information and 

information systems and to prevent 

unauthorized access. 

This system will conform to all 

applicable Federal laws and regulations 

and Federal, HHS and CMS policies and 

standards as they relate to information 

security and data privacy. These laws 

and regulations include but are not 

limited to: the Privacy Act of 1974; the 

Federal Information Security 

Management Act of 2002; the Computer 

Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986; the 

Health Insurance Portability and 

Accountability Act of 1996; the EGovernment Act of 2002, the ClingerCohen Act of 1996; the Medicare 

Modernization Act of 2003, and the 

corresponding implementing 

regulations. OMB Circular A–130, 

Management Of Federal Resources, 

Appendix III, Security of Federal 

Automated Information Resources also 

applies. Federal, HHS, and CMS 

policies and standards include but are 

not limited to: All pertinent NIST 

publications; the HHS Automated 

Information Systems Security Handbook 

and the CMS Information Security 

Handbook. 

V. Effect of the Modified System on 

Individual Rights 

CMS proposes to establish this system 

in accordance with the principles and 

requirements of the Privacy Act and will 

collect, use, and disseminate 

information only as prescribed therein. 

We will only disclose the minimum 

personal data necessary to achieve the 

purpose of MAS. Disclosure of 

information from the SOR will be 

approved only to the extent necessary to 

accomplish the purpose of the 

disclosure. CMS has assigned a higher 

level of security clearance for the 

information in this system to provide 

added security and protection of data in 

this system. 

CMS will take precautionary 

measures to minimize the risks of 

unauthorized access to the records and 

the potential harm to individual privacy 

or other personal or property rights. 

CMS will collect only that information 

necessary to perform the system’s 

functions. In addition, CMS will make 

disclosure from the proposed system 

only with consent of the subject 

individual, or his/her legal 

representative, or in accordance with an 

applicable exception provision of the 

Privacy Act.

CMS, therefore, does not anticipate an 

unfavorable effect on individual privacy 

as a result of the disclosure of 

information relating to individuals.

Dated: October 1, 2004. 

Mark B. McClellan, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services.

System No. 09–70–5001 

SYSTEM NAME: 

‘‘Medicare Appeals System (MAS),’’

HHS/CMS/CBC. 

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: 

Level Three Privacy Act Sensitive. 

SYSTEM LOCATION: 

CMS Data Center, 7500 Security 

Boulevard, North Building, First Floor, 

Baltimore, Maryland 21244–1850. This 

system is also located in locations listed 

in appendix A. 

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE

SYSTEM: 

The system contains information 

concerning Medicare beneficiaries, and 

physicians and other persons involved 

in furnishing services to health 

insurance beneficiaries. 

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM: 

Information contained in this system 

include beneficiary’s name, address, 

social security number (SSN), health 

insurance claims number (HICN), 

medical services, equipment, and 

supplies for which Medicare 

reimbursement is requested, and 

materials used to determine amount of 

benefits allowable under Medicare. 

Information on physicians and other 

persons consists of name, work address, 

work phone number, an assigned 

provider identification number, 

specialty, medical services for which 

Medicare reimbursement is requested, 

materials used to determine amounts of 

benefits allowable under Medicare. 

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM: 

Authority for the maintenance of this 

SOR is given under section 205 of Title 

II, sections 1155 and 1156 of Title XI, 

sections 1812, 1814, 1816, 1842, 1869, 

and 1872 of Title XVIII of the Social 

Security Act (the Act), as amended (42 

United States Code (U.S.C.) sections 

405, 1320c–4, 1320c–5, 1395d, 1395f, 

1395h, 1395u, 1395ff, and 1395ii). 

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM: 

The primary purpose of the system is 

to collect and maintain information 

necessary to: (1) Process the initial, 

organization, and reconsidered 

determination requests, ‘‘Request For 

Hearing or Appeal,’’ made by an 

appellant or appealing party, as required 

for the review of determinations by Feefor-Service and Medicare Advantage 

Organizations; (2) track appeal data, 

including status, timeliness, and 

decisions; and (3) reply to future 

correspondence related to the case. 

Information in this system will also be 

disclosed to: support regulatory and 

policy functions performed within the 

Agency or by a contractor or consultant; 

assist another Federal agency; assist 

QIO; support constituent requests made 

to a congressional representative; 

support litigation involving the agency 

related to this SOR; and, combat fraud 

and abuse in certain health benefits 

programs. 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 241 / Thursday, December 16, 2004 / Notices 75327

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE

SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OR USERS AND

THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES

A. ENTITIES WHO MAY RECEIVE DISCLOSURES

UNDER ROUTINE USE

These routine uses specify 

circumstances, in addition to those 

provided by statute in the Privacy Act 

of 1974, under which CMS may release 

information from the MAS without the 

consent of the individual to whom such 

information pertains. Each proposed 

disclosure of information under these 

routine uses will be evaluated to ensure 

that the disclosure is legally 

permissible, including but not limited to 

ensuring that the purpose of the 

disclosure is compatible with the 

purpose for which the information was 

collected. We are proposing to establish 

or modify the following routine use 

disclosures of information maintained 

in the system: 

1. To support Agency contractors, or 

consultants who have been engaged by 

the Agency to assist in accomplishment 

of a CMS function relating to the 

purposes for this SOR and who need to 

have access to the records in order to 

assist CMS. 

2. To assist another Federal agency in 

the accomplishment of a CMS function 

relating to the purposes for this SOR 

and who need to have access to the 

records in order to support CMS. 

3. To assist Quality Improvement 

Organizations in connection with 

review of claims, or in connection with 

studies or other review activities, 

conducted pursuant to Part B of Title XI 

of the Act and in performing affirmative 

outreach activities to individuals for the 

purpose of establishing and maintaining 

their entitlement to Medicare benefits or 

health insurance plans. 

4. To assist a Member of Congress or 

to a congressional staff member in 

response to an inquiry of the 

congressional office made at the written 

request of the constituent about whom 

the record is maintained. 

5. To assist the Department of Justice 

(DOJ), court or adjudicatory body when: 

a. The Agency or any component 

thereof, or 

b. Any employee of the Agency in his 

or her official capacity, or 

c. Any employee of the Agency in his 

or her individual capacity where the 

DOJ has agreed to represent the 

employee, or 

d. The United States Government is a 

party to litigation or has an interest in 

such litigation, and by careful review, 

CMS determines that the records are 

both relevant and necessary to the 

litigation. 

6. To assist a CMS contractor 

(including, but not limited to fiscal 

intermediaries and carriers) that assists 

in the administration of a CMSadministered health benefits program, 

or to a grantee of a CMS-administered 

grant program, when disclosure is 

deemed reasonably necessary by CMS to 

prevent, deter, discover, detect, 

investigate, examine, prosecute, sue 

with respect to, defend against, correct, 

remedy, or otherwise combat fraud or 

abuse in such program.

7. To assist another Federal agency or 

to an instrumentality of any 

governmental jurisdiction within or 

under the control of the United States 

(including any state or local 

governmental agency), that administers, 

or that has the authority to investigate 

potential fraud or abuse in, a health 

benefits program funded in whole or in 

part by Federal funds, when disclosure 

is deemed reasonably necessary by CMS 

to prevent, deter, discover, detect, 

investigate, examine, prosecute, sue 

with respect to, defend against, correct, 

remedy, or otherwise combat fraud or 

abuse in such programs. 

B. ADDITIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING

ROUTINE USE DISCLOSURES

This system contains Protected Health 

Information as defined by HHS 

regulation ‘‘Standards for Privacy of 

Individually Identifiable Health 

Information’’ (45 CFR Parts 160 and 164, 

65 FR 82462 (12–28–00)), Subparts A 

and E. Disclosures of Protected Health 

Information authorized by these routine 

uses may only be made if, and as, 

permitted or required by the ‘‘Standards 

for Privacy of Individually Identifiable 

Health Information.’’

In addition, our policy will be to 

prohibit release even of data not directly 

identifiable, except pursuant to one of 

the routine uses or if required by law, 

if we determine there is a possibility 

that an individual can be identified 

through implicit deduction based on 

data where the patient population is so 

small that individuals who are familiar 

with the enrollees could, because of the 

small size, use this information to 

deduce the identity of the beneficiary. 

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, 

RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND

DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM: 

STORAGE: 

Computer diskette and on magnetic 

storage media. 

RETRIEVABILITY: 

Information can be retrieved by the 

name, SSN, HICN, and assigned 

provider number. 

SAFEGUARDS: 

CMS has safeguards in place for 

authorized users and monitors such 

users to ensure against excessive or 

unauthorized use. Personnel having 

access to the system have been trained 

in the Privacy Act and information 

security requirements. Employees who 

maintain records in this system are 

instructed not to release data until the 

intended recipient agrees to implement 

appropriate management, operational 

and technical safeguards sufficient to 

protect the confidentiality, integrity and 

availability of the information and 

information systems and to prevent 

unauthorized access. 

This system will conform to all 

applicable Federal laws and regulations 

and Federal, HHS, and CMS policies 

and standards as they relate to 

information security and data privacy. 

These laws and regulations include but 

are not limited to: the Privacy Act of 

1974; the Federal Information Security 

Management Act of 2002; the Computer 

Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986; the 

Health Insurance Portability and 

Accountability Act of 1996; the EGovernment Act of 2002, the ClingerCohen Act of 1996; the Medicare 

Modernization Act of 2003, and the 

corresponding implementing 

regulations. OMB Circular A–130, 

Management Of Federal Resources, 

Appendix III, Security of Federal 

Automated Information Resources also 

applies. Federal, HHS, and CMS 

policies and standards include but are 

not limited to: all pertinent NIST 

publications; the HHS Automated 

Information Systems Security Handbook 

and the CMS Information Security 

Handbook. 

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL: 

Records are maintained in a secure 

storage area with identifiers. Disposal 

occurs ten years after the final 

determination of the case is completed. 

SYSTEM MANAGER AND ADDRESS: 

Director, Division of Appeals 

Operations, Health Plan Policy Group, 

Center for Beneficiary Choices, CMS, 

Room S1–05–06, 7500 Security 

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244–

1850. 

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE: 

For purpose of access, the subject 

individual should write to the system 

manager who will require the system 

name, HICN, address, date of birth, and 

sex, and for verification purposes, the 

subject individual’s name (woman’s 

maiden name, if applicable), social 

security number (SSN). Furnishing the 

SSN is voluntary, but it may make 

searching for a record easier and prevent 

delay. 

75328 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 241 / Thursday, December 16, 2004 / Notices 

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE: 

For purpose of access, use the same 

procedures outlined in Notification 

Procedures above. Requestors should 

also reasonably specify the record 

contents being sought. (These 

procedures are in accordance with 

Department regulation 45 CFR 

5b.5(a)(2)). 

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES: 

The subject individual should contact 

the system manager named above, and 

reasonably identify the record and 

specify the information to be contested. 

State the corrective action sought and 

the reasons for the correction with 

supporting justification. (These 

procedures are in accordance with 

Department regulation 45 CFR 5b.7). 

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES: 

Sources of information contained in 

this records system include data 

collected from the individual on the 

completed form requesting a Medicare 

hearing or appeal. In addition, 

information contained in this SOR may 

be obtained from Medicare carriers or 

intermediaries and Quality 

Improvement Organizations records. 

SYSTEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS

OF THE ACT: 

None.

Appendix A. Health Insurance Claims 

Medicare records are maintained at the 

CMS Central Office (see section 1 below for 

the address). Health Insurance Records of the 

Medicare program can also be accessed 

through a representative of the CMS Regional 

Office (see section 2 below for addresses). 

Medicare claims records are also maintained 

by private insurance organizations that share 

in administering provisions of the health 

insurance programs. These private insurance 

organizations, referred to as carriers and 

intermediaries, are under contract to the 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to 

perform specific task in the Medicare 

program (see section three below for 

addresses for intermediaries, section four 

addresses the carriers, and section five 

addresses the Payment Safeguard 

Contractors. 

1. Central Office Address 

CMS Data Center, 7500 Security Boulevard, 

North Building, First Floor, Baltimore, 

Maryland 21244–1850. 

2. CMS Regional Offices 

• BOSTON REGION—Connecticut, Maine, 

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 

Island, Vermont. John F. Kennedy Federal 

Building, Room 1211, Boston, Massachusetts 

02203. Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. 

• NEW YORK REGION—New Jersey, New 

York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands. 26 Federal 

Plaza, Room 715, New York, New York 

10007, Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. 

• PHILADELPHIA REGION—Delaware, 

District of Columbia, Maryland, 

Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia. Post 

Office Box 8460, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

19101. Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. 

• ATLANTA REGION—Alabama, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, 

Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee. 101 

Marietta Street, Suite 702, Atlanta, Georgia 

30223, Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 

• CHICAGO REGION—Illinois, Indiana, 

Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin. Suite 

A—824, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Office 

Hours: 8 a.m.–4:45 p.m. 

• DALLAS REGION—Arkansas, Louisiana, 

New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, 1200 Main 

Tower Building, Dallas, Texas. Office Hours: 

8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 

• KANSAS CITY REGION—Iowa, Kansas, 

Missouri, Nebraska. New Federal Office 

Building, 601 East 12th Street—Room 436, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Office Hours: 8 

a.m.–4:45 p.m. 

• DENVER REGION—Colorado, Montana, 

North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming. 

Federal Office Building, 1961 Stout St—

Room 1185, Denver, Colorado 80294. Office 

Hours: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 

• SAN FRANCISCO REGION—American 

Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, 

Nevada. Federal Office Building, 10 Van Ness 

Avenue, 20th Floor, San Francisco, California 

94102. Office Hours: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 

• SEATTLE REGION—Alaska, Idaho, 

Oregon, Washington. 1321 Second Avenue, 

Room 615, Mail Stop 211, Seattle, 

Washington 98101. Office Hours: 8 a.m.–4:30 

p.m. 

3. Intermediary Addresses (Hospital 

Insurance) 

• Medicare Coordinator, Assoc. Hospital 

Serv. Maine (ME BC), 2 Gannett Drive South 

Portland, ME 04106–6911. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Anthem New 

Hampshire, 300 Goffs Falls Road, 

Manchester, NH 03111–0001. 

• Medicare Coordinator, BC/BS Rhode 

Island (RI BC), 444 Westminster Street, 

Providence, RI 02903–3279. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Empire Medicare 

Services, 400 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 

13202. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Cooperativa, P.O. 

Box 363428, San Juan, PR 00936–3428.

• Medicare Coordinator, Maryland B/C, 

P.O. Box 4368, 1946 Greenspring Ave., 

Timonium, MD 21093. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Highmark, P5103, 

120 Fifth Avenue Place, Pittsburgh, PA 

15222–3099. 

• Medicare Coordinator, United 

Government Services, 1515 N. Rivercenter 

Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53212. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Alabama B/C, 450 

Riverchase Parkway East, Birmingham, AL 

35298. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Florida B/C, 532 

Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32202–4918. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Georgia B/C, P.O. 

Box 9048, 2357 Warm Springs Road, 

Columbus, GA 31908. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Mississippi B/C B 

MS, P.O. Box 23035, 3545 Lakeland Drive, 

Jackson, MI 9225–3035. 

• Medicare Coordinator, North Carolina B/

C, P.O. Box 2291, Durham, NC 27702–2291. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Palmetto GBA A/

RHHI, 17 Technology Circle, Columbia, SC 

29203–0001. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Tennessee B/C, 

801 Pine Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402–

2555. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Anthem 

Insurance Co. (Anthm IN), P.O. Box 50451, 

8115 Knue Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250–

1936. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Arkansas B/C, 

601 Gaines Street, Little Rock, AR 72203. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Group Health of 

Oklahoma, 1215 South Boulder, Tulsa, OK 

74119–2827. 

• Medicare Coordinator, TrailBlazer, P.O. 

Box 660156, Dallas, TX 75266–0156. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Cahaba GBA, 

Station 7, 636 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 

50309–2551. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Kansas B/C, P.O. 

Box 239, 1133 Topeka Ave., Topeka, KS 

66629–0001. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Nebraska B/C, 

P.O. Box 3248, Main PO Station, Omaha, NE 

68180–0001. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Mutual of Omaha, 

P.O. Box 1602, Omaha, NE 68101. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Montana B/C, 

P.O. Box 5017, Great Falls Div., Great Falls, 

MT 59403–5017. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Noridian, 4510 

13th Avenue S.W., Fargo, ND 58121–0001. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Utah B/C, P.O. 

Box 30270, 2455 Parleys Way, Salt Lake City, 

UT 84130–0270. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Wyoming B/C, 

4000 House Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82003. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Arizona B/C, P.O. 

Box 37700, Phoenix, AZ 85069. 

• Medicare Coordinator, UGS, P.O. Box 

70000, Van Nuys, CA 91470–0000. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Regents BC, P.O. 

Box 8110 M/S D–4A, Portland, OR 97207–

8110. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Premera BC, P.O. 

Box 2847, Seattle, WA 98111–2847. 

4. Medicare Carriers 

• Medicare Coordinator, NHIC, 75 Sargent 

William Terry Drive, Hingham, MA 02044. 

• Medicare Coordinator, B/S Rhode Island 

(RI BS), 444 Westminster Street, Providence, 

RI 02903–2790. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Trailblazer Health 

Enterprises, Meriden Park, 538 Preston Ave., 

Meriden, CT 06450. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Upstate Medicare 

Division, 11 Lewis Road, Binghamton, NY 

13902. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Empire Medicare 

Services, 2651 Strang Blvd., Yorktown 

Heights, NY 10598. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Empire Medicare 

Services, NJ, 300 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, 

PA 17106. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Triple S, #1441 

F.D., Roosevelt Ave., Guaynabo, PR 00968. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Group Health 

Inc., 4th Floor, 88 West End Avenue, New 

York, NY 10023.

• Medicare Coordinator, Highmark, P.O. 

Box 89065, 1800 Center Street, Camp Hill, 

PA 17089–9065. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Trailblazers Part 

B, 11150 McCormick Drive, Executive Plaza 

3 Suite 200, Hunt Valley, MD 21031. 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 241 / Thursday, December 16, 2004 / Notices 75329

• Medicare Coordinator, Trailblazer Health 

Enterprises, Virginia, P.O. Box 26463, 

Richmond, VA 23261–6463. United Medicare 

Coordinator, Tricenturion, 1 Tower Square, 

Hartford, CT 06183. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Alabama B/S, 450 

Riverchase Parkway East, Birmingham, AL 

35298. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Cahaba GBA, 

12052 Middleground Road, Suite A, 

Savannah, GA 31419. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Florida B/S, 532 

Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202–4918. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Administar 

Federal, 9901 Linnstation Road, Louisville, 

KY 40223. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Palmetto GBA, 17 

Technology Circle, Columbia, SC 29203–

0001. 

• Medicare Coordinator, CIGNA, 2 Vantage 

Way, Nashville, TN 37228. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Railroad 

Retirement Board, 2743 Perimeter Parkway, 

Building 250, Augusta, GA 30999. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Cahaba GBA, 

Jackson Miss, P.O. Box 22545, Jackson, MI 

39225–2545. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Adminastar 

Federal (IN), 8115 Knue Road, Indianapolis, 

IN 46250–1936. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Wisconsin 

Physicians Service, P.O. Box 8190, Madison, 

WI 53708–8190. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Nationwide 

Mutual Insurance Co., P.O. Box 16788, 1 

Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Oh 3216–6788. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Arkansas B/S, 601 

Gaines Street, Little Rock, AR 72203. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Arkansas-New 

Mexico, 601 Gaines Street, Little Rock, AR 

72203. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Palmetto GBA—

DMERC, 17 Technology Circle, Columbia, SC 

29203–0001. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Trailblazer Health 

Enterprises, 901 South Central Expressway, 

Richardson, TX 75080. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Nordian, 636 

Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309–2551. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Kansas B/S, P.O. 

Box 239, 1133 Topeka Ave., Topeka, KS 

66629–0001. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Kansas B/S—NE, 

P.O. Box 239, 1133 Topeka Ave., Topeka, KS 

66629–0239. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Montana B/S, 

P.O. Box 4309, Helena, MT 59601. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Nordian, 4305 

13th Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103–3373. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Noridian 

BCBSND (CO), 730 N. Simms #100, Golden, 

CO 80401–4730. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Noridian 

BCBSND (WY), 4305 13th Avenue South, 

Fargo, ND 58103–3373. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Utah B/S, P.O. 

Box 30270, 2455 Parleys Way, Salt Lake City, 

UT 84130–0270. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Transamerica 

Occidental, P.O. Box 54905, Los Angeles, CA 

90054–4905. 

• Medicare Coordinator, NHIC—

California, 450 W. East Avenue, Chico, CA 

95926. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Cigna, Suite 254, 

3150 Lakeharbor, Boise, ID 83703. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Cigna, Suite 506, 

2 Vantage Way, Nashville, TN 37228. 

5. Payment Safeguard Contractors 

• Medicare Coordinator, Aspen Systems 

Corporation, 2277 Research Blvd., Rockville, 

MD 20850. 

• Medicare Coordinator, DynCorp 

Electronic Data Systems (EDS), 11710 Plaza 

America Drive 5400 Legacy Drive, Reston, 

VA 20190–6017. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Lifecare 

Management Partners Mutual of Omaha 

Insurance Co. 6601 Little River Turnpike, 

Suite 300 Mutual of Omaha Plaza, Omaha, 

NE 68175. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Reliance 

Safeguard Solutions, Inc., P. O. Box 30207 

400 South Salina Street, 2890 East 

Cottonwood Pkwy. Syracuse, NY 13202. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Science 

Applications International, Inc., 6565 

Arlington Blvd. P. O. Box 100282, Falls 

Church, VA. 

• Medicare Coordinator, California 

Medical Review, Inc. Integriguard Division 

Federal Sector Civil Group One Sansome 

Street, San Francisco, CA 94104–4448. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Computer 

Sciences Corporation Suite 600 3120 

Timanus Lane, Baltimore, MD 21244. 

• Medicare Coordinator, Electronic Data 

Systems (EDS), 11710 Plaza America Drive 

5400 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75204. 

• Medicare Coordinator, TriCenturion, 

L.L.C., P. O. Box 100282, Columbia, SC 

29202.

[FR Doc. 04–27530 Filed 12–15–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–03–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

National Cancer Institute; Notice of 

Closed Meeting 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice 

is hereby given of the following 

meeting. 

The meeting will be closed to the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions set forth in sections 

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., 

as amended. The contract proposals and 

the discussions could disclose 

confidential trade secrets or commercial 

property such as patentable material, 

and personal information concerning 

individuals associated with the contract 

proposals, the disclosure of which 

would constitute a clearly unwarranted 

invasion of personal privacy.

Name of Committee: National Cancer 

Institute Special Emphasis Panel, SEER 

Expansion Renewals. 

Date: January 4, 2005. 

Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate contract 

proposals. 

Place: National Institutes of Health, 6116 

Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852 

(Telephone conference call.) 

Contact Person: C. Michael Kerwin, PhD, 

MPH, Scientific Review Administrator, 

Special Review and Logistics Branch, 

Division of Extramural Activities, National 

Cancer Institute, National Institutes of 

Health, 6116 Executive Boulevard, Room 

8057, MSC 8329, Bethesda, MD 20892–8329. 

(301) 496–7421. kerwinm@mail.nih.gov.

This notice is being published less than 15 

days prior to the meeting due to the timing 

limitations imposed by the review and 

funding cycle.

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 93.392, Cancer Construction; 

93.393, Cancer Cause and Prevention 

Research; 93.394, Cancer Detection and 

Diagnosis Research; 93.395, Cancer 

Treatment Research; 93.396, Cancer Biology 

Research; 93.397, Cancer Centers Support; 

93.398, Cancer Research Manpower; 93.399, 

Cancer Control, National Institutes of Health, 

HHS.)

Dated: December 9, 2004. 

LaVerne Y. Stringfield, 

Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy.

[FR Doc. 04–27494 Filed 12–15–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institute of Health 

National Cancer Institute; Notice of 

Closed Meeting 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice 

is hereby given of the following 

meeting. 

The meeting will be closed to the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions set forth in sections 

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), title 5 U.S.C., 

as amended. The grant applications and 

the discussions could disclose 

confidential trade secrets or commercial 

property such as patentable material, 

and personal information concerning 

individuals associated with the grant 

applications, the disclosure of which 

would constitute a clearly unwarranted 

invasion of personal privacy.

Name of Committee: National Cancer 

Institute Special Emphasis Panel. 

Date: February 10–11, 2005. 

Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications. 

Place: Gaithersburg Marriott Washington 

Center, 9751 Washingtonian Boulevard, 

Gaithersburg, MD 20878. 

Contact Person: Gerald G. Lovinger, PhD, 

Scientific Review Administrator, Special 

Review and Resources Branch, Division of 

Extramural Activities, National Cancer