[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 1 (Friday, January 2, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1-2]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30739]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 1 / Friday, January 2, 2015 / Rules 
and Regulations

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

20 CFR Part 404

[Docket No. SSA-2014-0068]
RIN 0960-AH72


Extension of Expiration Dates for Several Body System Listings

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the expiration dates of the following body 
systems in the Listing of Impairments (listings) in our regulations: 
Growth Impairment, Musculoskeletal System, Respiratory System, 
Cardiovascular System, Digestive System, Hematological Disorders, Skin 
Disorders, Neurological, and Mental Disorders. We are making no other 
revisions to these body systems in this final rule. This extension will 
ensure that we 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 January 2, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl A. Williams, Director, Office 
of Medical Policy, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, 
(410) 965-1020. 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). 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 give appropriate consideration 
to the effects of your impairment(s). 20 CFR 404.1525(b), 416.925(b).
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    \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.
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Explanation of Changes

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

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                 Listing                      Current expiration date            Extended expiration date
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Growth Impairment (100.00)...............  January 30, 2015............  January 27, 2017.
Musculoskeletal System (1.00 and 101.00).  July 31, 2015...............  January 27, 2017.
Respiratory System (3.00 and 103.00).....  January 30, 2015............  January 27, 2017.
Cardiovascular System (4.00 and 104.00)..  July 31, 2015...............  January 27, 2017.
Digestive System (5.00 and 105.00).......  January 30, 2015............  January 27, 2017.
Hematological Disorders (7.00 and 107.00)  July 31, 2015...............  January 27, 2017.
Skin Disorders (8.00 and 108.00).........  January 30, 2015............  January 27, 2017.
Neurological (11.00 and 111.00)..........  July 31, 2015...............  January 27, 2017.
Mental Disorders (12.00 and 112.00)......  January 02, 2015............  January 27, 2017.
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    We continue to revise and update all of the listings on a regular 
basis, including those body systems not affected by this final rule. We 
intend to update the nine listings affected by this final rule as 
quickly as possible, but may not be able to publish final rules 
revising these listings by the current expiration dates. 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 provide 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 several body system listings will no longer 
be effective. It makes no substantive changes to our rules. Our current 
regulations \2\ provide that we may extend, revise, or promulgate the 
body system listings again. Therefore, we determined that opportunity 
for prior comment is

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unnecessary, and we are issuing this regulation as a final rule.
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    \2\ See the first sentence of appendix 1 to subpart P of part 
404 of 20 CFR.
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    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 dates for these listings, we will not have the criteria we 
need to assess medical impairments in these 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 criteria 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

    This rule does not create any new or affect any existing 
collections, and therefore does 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.

Carolyn W. Colvin,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

    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]

0
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), 
(i), and (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), (i), and 
(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).


0
2. Amend appendix 1 to subpart P of part 404 by revising items 1, 2, 4, 
5, 6, 8, 9, 12, and 13 of the introductory text before Part A to read 
as follows:

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

* * * * *
    1. Growth Impairment (100.00): January 27, 2017.
    2. Musculoskeletal System (1.00 and 101.00): January 27, 2017.
* * * * *
    4. Respiratory System (3.00 and 103.00): January 27, 2017.
    5. Cardiovascular System (4.00 and 104.00): January 27, 2017.
    6. Digestive System (5.00 and 105.00): January 27, 2017.
* * * * *
    8. Hematological Disorders (7.00 and 107.00): January 27, 2017.
    9. Skin Disorders (8.00 and 108.00): January 27, 2017.
* * * * *
    12. Neurological (11.00 and 111.00): January 27, 2017.
* * * * *
    13. Mental Disorders (12.00 and 112.00): January 27, 2017.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2014-30739 Filed 12-31-14; 8:45 am]
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