[Federal Register: December 19, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 242)]
[Notices]
[Page 75175-75180]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de05-57]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services
Privacy Act of 1974; Report of a Modified or Altered System of
Records
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice of a Modified or Altered System of Records (SOR).
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of
1974, we are proposing to modify or alter an existing SOR, titled
``Non-Medicare Beneficiary Workers' Compensation (WC) Set-aside File
(WCSAF),'' System No. 09-70-0537, last published at 67 FR 36892 (May
28, 2002). We propose to expand the scope of this system to include
non-Medicare beneficiaries whose applications for a WC Arrangement have
not been approved (denied) as submitted. The disclosure provisions
contained in published routine use number 2 and 3 are deemed to be
duplicative of each other and as such require corrective action. This
modified routine use will now be number 2 and will authorize disclosure
to ``another Federal and/or state agency, agency of a state government,
an agency established by state law, or its fiscal agent.''
We are modifying the language in the remaining routine uses to
provide clarity 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 purpose of the non-Medicare beneficiary WCSAF is to
maintain a file of individuals who were injured while employed; are not
currently Medicare beneficiaries; whose WC Settlement included a WC
Medicare Set-aside Arrangement that is intended to pay for future
medical expenses in place of future Medicare benefits; and was approved
or not approved (denied) by CMS as submitted. The information retrieved
from this system will be disclosed to: (1) Support regulatory,
reimbursement, and policy functions performed within the agency or by a
contractor or consultant; (2) another Federal and/or state agency,
agency of a state government, an agency established by state law, or
its fiscal agent to contribute to the accuracy of CMS' proper payment
of Medicare benefits, enable such agency to administer a Federal health
benefits program, or enable such agency to fulfill a requirement of a
Federal statute or regulation that implements a health benefits program
funded in whole or in part with Federal funds; (3) an individual or
organization for research, evaluation or epidemiological projects
related to the prevention of disease or disability, the restoration or
maintenance of health, or for understanding and improving payment
projects; (4) support constituent requests made to a Congressional
representative; (5) support litigation involving the agency; and (6)
combat fraud and abuse in health benefits programs funded in whole or
in part by Federal funds. We have provided background information about
the modified system in the Supplementary Information section, below.
Although the Privacy Act requires only that the ``routine use'' portion
of the system be published for comment, CMS invites comments on all
portions of this notice. See Effective Date section for comment period.
EFFECTIVE DATE: CMS filed a modified or altered SOR 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 December 13, 2005. We will not disclose
any information under a routine use until 30 days after publication. We
may defer implementation of this system or one or more of the routine
use statements listed below if we receive comments that persuade us to
defer implementation.
ADDRESSES: The public should address comment to the CMS Privacy
Officer, 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: Donna Kettish, Division of Medicare
Secondary Payer Policy Operations, Financial Services Group, Office of
Financial Management, CMS, Mail stop C3-14-16, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850. She can be reached by telephone at
(410) 786-5462, or via e-mail at Donna.Kettish@cms.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice for this system, ``Non Medicare
Beneficiary Workers' Compensation Set-aside File,'' System No. 09-70-
0537, was most recently published in full at 67 Federal Register 36892
(May 28, 2002). CMS is responsible for safeguarding the fiscal
integrity of the Medicare Program. The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 established the ``Medicare Integrity
Program,'' enabling CMS to competitively award contracts with entities
to promote the integrity of the Medicare Program. The Coordination of
Benefit Contractor (COBC) is one of those specialized contractors hired
to increase efficiency and effectiveness by ensuring that the
appropriate payer makes benefit payments by coordinating Medicare and
other benefit payments.
The Electronic Correspondence Referral System (ECRS) is currently
used to transfer data between CMS's
[[Page 75176]]
Medicare contractors and the COBC to establish Medicare Secondary Payer
(MSP) periods of coverage on CMS's Common Working File (CWF) and to
update CWF with the results of a CMS review of a WC Medicare Set-aside
Arrangement Proposal. The CWF is a CMS system, containing Medicare
beneficiary eligibility information that is used for verification and
validation purposes to ensure Medicare claims are paid properly and by
the appropriate payer. The WC Case Control System is used to control
the receipt of WC Medicare Set-aside Arrangement Proposals and tracking
of each proposal through the review process to establishment of the MSP
period of coverage via ECRS. ECRS is also used to transmit WC Medicare
Set-aside Arrangement data from CMS Regional Offices (RO) to the COBC
for Medicare beneficiaries and non-Medicare beneficiaries who have an
approved or denied WC Medicare Set-aside Arrangement to cover future
medical costs resulting from an injury incurred while employed. If the
injury results in disability payments from the Social Security
Administration, there is a reasonable expectation that the injured
individual will also be eligible for Medicare benefits some time after
the WC settlement is made.
The ROs or a CMS contractor will transmit the WC Medicare Set-aside
Arrangement information via ECRS, or the WC Case Control System, for
non-Medicare beneficiaries once they approve or deny the arrangement.
The COBC will maintain ECRS and WC Case Control System transmitted data
in the WCSAF for future matching purposes. The COBC will ``match'' non-
beneficiary WCSAF data against the file it receives each month of new
Medicare eligibles to identify any non-beneficiaries with impending
Medicare entitlement. Once a match occurs, the existence of a WC
Medicare Set-aside Arrangement will be reflected on the new
beneficiary's CWF record and a Lead Medicare Contractor will be
assigned for monitoring expenditures from the WC Medicare Set-aside
Arrangement.
CMS is drawn into a civil action resulting from a WC claim in a
consulting position to ensure that a legal settlement involving an
injured worker considers Medicare's interest with respect to future
claims. CMS RO approval of a WC Medicare Set-aside Arrangement helps
direct the treatment of future disorders or health claims by the
injured worker, ensuring he/she is adequately covered for long-term
care resulting from their WC injury, first by the WC Medicare Set-aside
Arrangement and then by Medicare if necessary.
I. Description of the Modified or Altered System of Records
A. Statutory and Regulatory Basis for SOR
Section 1862 (b)(2) of the Social Security Act (the Act) requires
that Medicare payment may not be made for any item or service to the
extent that payment has been made under a WC law or plan. This section
of the Act and Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 411.46
require CMS to exclude payments once the injured individual becomes a
Medicare beneficiary when payment should be made from WC funds that are
always primary to Medicare payment.
B. Collection and Maintenance of Data in the System
The WCSAF includes standard data for identification including the
name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number, date of the WC
injury/incident, injury diagnosis code(s), effective date and amount of
the WC Medicare Set-aside Arrangement. In addition, data will be
included to enable CMS to manage the WC Medicare Set-aside Arrangement
information when it becomes part of the beneficiary's record on the
CWF. These data include the WC carrier, the administrator of the Set-
aside Arrangement, and the attorney that prepared the arrangement.
II. Agency Policies, Procedures, and Restrictions on the Routine Use
A. Agency Policies, Procedures, and Restrictions on the Routine Use
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 WCSAF 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 WCSAF. CMS has the following policies and procedures
concerning disclosures of information that will be maintained in the
system. Disclosure of information from this system will be approved
only to the extent necessary to accomplish the purpose of the
disclosure and only after CMS:
1. Determines that the use or disclosure is consistent with the
reason that the data are being collected; e.g., ensuring that benefit
payments are made by the appropriate payer by coordinating Medicare and
other benefit payments.
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 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 time all patient-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. The Privacy Act allows 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 compatible use of data is known as a ``routine
use.'' The proposed routine uses in this system meet the compatibility
requirement of the Privacy Act. We are proposing to establish the
following routine use disclosures of information maintained in the
system:
1. To agency contractors, or consultants that have been contracted
by the agency to assist in the performance of a service related to this
system and that need to have access to the records in order to perform
the activity.
CMS contemplates 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 agency business
functions relating to purposes for this system.
CMS occasionally contracts out certain of its functions when doing
so would contribute to effective and efficient operations. CMS must be
able
[[Page 75177]]
to give a contractor whatever information is necessary for the
contractor to fulfill its duties. In these situations, safeguards are
provided in the contract prohibiting the contractor from using or
disclosing the information for any purpose other than that described in
the contract and requires the contractor to return or destroy all
information at the completion of the contract.
2. To another Federal and/or state agency, agency of a state
government, an agency established by state law, or its fiscal agent to:
a. Contribute to the accuracy of CMS's proper payment of Medicare
benefits,
b. Enable such agency to administer a Federal health benefits
program, or as necessary to enable such agency to fulfill a requirement
of a Federal statute or regulation that implements a health benefits
program funded in whole or in part with Federal funds.
Other Federal or state agencies in their administration of a
Federal health program may require WCSAF information in order to
support evaluations and monitoring of Medicare claims information of
beneficiaries, including proper payment for services provided. Releases
of information would be allowed if the proposed use(s) for the
information proved compatible with the purpose for which CMS collects
the information.
WCSAF data may be released to the State only on those injured
individuals who are not currently Medicare beneficiaries but who have a
WC Medicare Set-aside Arrangement that is intended to pay for future
medical expenses in place of future Medicare benefits that has been
approved, or denied, by CMS.
3. To an individual or organization for research, evaluation or
epidemiological projects related to the prevention of disease or
disability, the restoration or maintenance of health, or for
understanding and improving payment projects.
The WCSAF data will provide the research and evaluations a broader,
longitudinal, national perspective of the status of injured individuals
that are not currently Medicare beneficiaries but have a WC Medicare
Set-aside Arrangement that is intended to pay for future medical
expenses in place of future Medicare benefits that has been approved,
or denied, by CMS.
4. To 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 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. A determination would be made in each instance that,
under the circumstances involved, the purposes served by the use of the
information in the particular litigation is compatible with a purpose
for which CMS collects the information.
6. To a CMS contractor (including, but not necessarily limited to
intermediaries and carriers) that assists in the administration of a
CMS-administered 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.
CMS contemplates 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 CMS functions
relating to the purpose of combating fraud and abuse.
CMS occasionally contracts out certain of its functions when this
would contribute to effective and efficient operations. CMS must be
able to give a contractor whatever information is necessary for the
contractor to fulfill its duties. In these situations, safeguards (like
ensuring that the purpose for which the disclosure is to be made is of
sufficient importance to warrant the effect and/or risk on the privacy
of the individual that additional exposure of the record might bring
and those stated in II.B, above), are provided in the contract
prohibiting the contractor from using or disclosing the information for
any purpose other than that described in the contract and to return or
destroy all information.
7. To 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.
Other State agencies in their administration of a Federal health
program may require WCSAF information for the purpose of preventing,
deterring, discovering, detecting, investigating, examining,
prosecuting, suing with respect to, defending against, correcting,
remedying, or otherwise combating such fraud and abuse in such
programs. Releases of information would be allowed if the proposed
use(s) for the information proved compatible with the purpose for which
CMS collects the information.
B. Additional Provisions Affecting Routine Use Disclosures
To the extent this system contains Protected Health Information
(PHI) 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 such PHI
that are otherwise 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 small
cell sizes (instances 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
[[Page 75178]]
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 may apply 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 E-Government Act of 2002, the Clinger-
Cohen 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 National
Institute of Standards and Technology publications; the HHS Information
Systems Program Handbook and the CMS Information Security Handbook.
V. Effects of the Modified or Altered System of Records on Individual
Rights
CMS proposes to modify this system in accordance with the
principles and requirements of the Privacy Act and will collect, use,
and disseminate information only as prescribed therein. Data in this
system will be subject to the authorized releases in accordance with
the routine uses identified in this system of records.
CMS will take precautionary measures (see item IV above) to
minimize the risks of unauthorized access to the records and the
potential harm to individual privacy or other personal or property
rights of patients whose data are maintained in the system. 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 information relating to
individuals.
Dated: December 12, 2005.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services.
SYSTEM NO. 09-70-0537
System Name:
``Non-Medicare Beneficiary Workers' Compensation (WC) Set-aside
File, (WCSAF).''
Security Classification:
Level 3 Privacy Act Sensitive.
System Location:
Group Health Incorporated, 25 Broadway, New York, New York 10004.
Categories of Individuals Covered by the System:
The system of records will contain data on non-Medicare
beneficiaries that receive an approval or a denial by the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the adequacy of a WC Medicare
Set-aside Arrangement, as part of a WC settlement that is intended to
pay for future medical expenses in place of future Medicare benefits.
Categories of Records in the System:
This system of records will contain the individual-level
identifying data including, but not limited to, name, address, date of
birth, social security number (SSN), date of the WC injury/incident,
injury diagnosis code(s), effective date and amount of the WC Medicare
Set-aside Arrangement. In addition, data will be included to enable CMS
to manage the WC Medicare Set-aside Arrangement information when it
becomes part of a beneficiary's record on the Common Working File.
These data include the WC carrier, the administrator of the WC Medicare
Set-aside Arrangement, and the attorney that prepared the arrangement.
Authority for Maintenance of the System:
Section 1862(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (the Act) requires
that Medicare payment may not be made for any item or service to the
extent that payment has been made under a WC law or plan. This section
of the Act and Title 42 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 411.46 require
CMS to exclude payments once the injured individual becomes a Medicare
beneficiary when payment should be made from WC funds that are always
primary to Medicare payment.
Purpose(s) of The System:
The primary purpose of the non-Medicare beneficiary WCSAF is to
maintain a file of individuals who were injured while employed; are not
currently Medicare beneficiaries; whose WC Settlement included a WC
Medicare Set-aside Arrangement that is intended to pay for future
medical expenses in place of future Medicare benefits; and was approved
or not approved (denied) by CMS as submitted. The information retrieved
from this system will be disclosed to: (1) Support regulatory,
reimbursement, and policy functions performed within the agency or by a
contractor or consultant; (2) another Federal and/or state agency,
agency of a state government, an agency established by state law, or
its fiscal agent to contribute to the accuracy of CMS' proper payment
of Medicare benefits, enable such agency to administer a Federal health
benefits program, or enable such agency to fulfill a requirement of a
Federal statute or regulation that implements a health benefits program
funded in whole or in part with Federal funds; (3) an individual or
organization for research, evaluation or epidemiological projects
related to the prevention of disease or disability, the restoration or
maintenance of health, or for understanding and improving payment
projects; (4) support constituent requests made to a Congressional
representative; (5) support litigation involving the agency; and (6)
combat fraud and abuse in health benefits programs funded in whole or
in part by Federal funds.
Routine Uses of Records Maintained in the System, Including Categories
or Users and the Purposes of Such Uses:
A. The Privacy Act allows 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 compatible use of data is known as a ``routine
use.'' The proposed routine uses in this system meet the compatibility
requirement of the Privacy Act. We are proposing to establish the
following routine use disclosures of information maintained in the
system:
1. To agency contractors, or consultants that have been contracted
by the agency to assist in the performance of a service related to this
system and that need to have access to the records in order to perform
the activity.
2. To another Federal and/or state agency, agency of a state
government, an agency established by state law, or its fiscal agent to:
a. Contribute to the accuracy of CMS's proper payment of Medicare
benefits,
[[Page 75179]]
b. Enable such agency to administer a Federal health benefits
program, or as necessary to enable such agency to fulfill a requirement
of a Federal statute or regulation that implements a health benefits
program funded in whole or in part with Federal funds.
3. To an individual or organization for research, evaluation or
epidemiological projects related to the prevention of disease or
disability, the restoration or maintenance of health, or for
understanding and improving payment projects.
4. To 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 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 a CMS contractor (including, but not necessarily limited to
intermediaries and carriers) that assists in the administration of a
CMS-administered 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 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 Provisions Affecting Routine Use Disclosures:
To the extent this system contains Protected Health Information
(PHI) 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 such PHI
that are otherwise 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 small
cell sizes (instances 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:
All records are stored on magnetic media.
Retievability:
The records are retrieved alphabetically by the name and/or SSN of
the subject of the records.
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 may apply 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 E-Government Act of 2002, the Clinger-
Cohen 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 National
Institute of Standards and Technology publications; the HHS Information
Systems Program Handbook and the CMS Information Security Handbook.
Retention and Disposal:
CMS will retain identifiable WCSAF data for a period of 6 years and
3 months unless the injured individual becomes a Medicare beneficiary
prior to that period of time. When either of these criteria is met, the
information stored on the injured individual will be deleted from the
WCSAF. All claims-related records are encompassed by the document
preservation order and will be retained until notification is received
from DOJ.
System Manager And Address:
Director, Division of Medicare Secondary Payer Policy Operations,
Financial Services Group, Office of Financial Management, CMS, Mail
Stop C3-14-16, 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, and for verification
purposes, the subject individual's name (woman's maiden name, if
applicable), address, date of birth, date of WC injury/incident,
diagnosis, effective date and amount of the WC Medicare Set-aside
Arrangement. (Furnishing the SSN is voluntary, but it may make
searching for a record easier and prevent delay).
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:
The Electronic Correspondence Referral System, Workers Comp Case
[[Page 75180]]
Control System, Medicare contractors and the Coordination of Benefit
Contractor, Common Working File, CMS Regional Offices, an agency of a
State government, Medicare beneficiaries and non-Medicare beneficiaries
that have an approved or denied WC Medicare Set-aside arrangement to
cover future medical costs resulting from an injury incurred while
employed and the Social Security Administration.
Systems Exempted From Certain Provision of the Act:
None.
[FR Doc. E5-7486 Filed 12-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P