[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