[Federal Register: April 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 75)]
[Notices]
[Page 19711-19716]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ap07-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Privacy Act of 1974; Report of a New System of Records
AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Center for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
ACTION: Notice of a New System of Records (SOR).
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of
1974, we are proposing to establish a new system titled, ``Post-Acute
Care Payment Reform / Continuity of Assessment Report and Evaluation
Demonstration and Evaluation (PAC-CARE), System No. 09-70-0569.'' The
program is authorized under Section 5008 of the Deficit Reduction Act
of 2005, which allows for the establishment of a demonstration program
for purposes of understanding costs and outcomes across different post-
acute care sites. The PAC-CARE will collect information that will
enable CMS to better understand the relationships among patient needs,
post-acute care placement, patient outcomes, and post-acute care
related costs in the Medicare program. Anticipated results of the PAC-
CARE include a standardized assessment instrument for post-acute care
patients and a proposal for site-neutral payment for post-acute care
services.
The purpose of this system is to collect and maintain demographic,
health, and health resource use related data on the target population
of Medicare beneficiaries who require treatment in a designated acute
care or post-acute care facility. We will also collect certain
identifying information on Medicare providers who provide services to
such beneficiaries. Information retrieved from this system may be
disclosed to: (1) Support regulatory, reimbursement, and policy
functions performed within the agency or by a contractor, grantee,
consultant or other legal agent; (2) assist another Federal or state
agency with information to contribute to the accuracy of CMS's proper
payment of Medicare benefits, enable such agency to administer a
Federal health benefits program, or to enable such agency to fulfill a
requirement of Federal statute or regulation that implements a health
benefits program funded in whole or in part with Federal funds; (3)
support an individual or organization for a research project or in
support of an evaluation project related to the prevention of disease
or disability, the restoration or maintenance of health, or payment
related projects; (4) support the functions of Quality Improvement
Organizations; (5) support the functions of national accrediting
organizations; (6) support litigation involving the agency; and (7)
combat fraud, waste, and abuse in certain Federally-funded health
benefits programs. We have provided background information about the
new 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 Date: CMS filed a new SOR report with the Chair of the
House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the Chair of the
Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, and the
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) on April 13, 2007. To ensure that all
parties have adequate time in which to comment, the new system will
become effective 30 days from the publication of
[[Page 19712]]
the notice, or 40 days from the date it was submitted to OMB and the
Congress, whichever is later. 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 comments to the CMS Privacy
Officer, Division of Privacy Compliance, Enterprise Architecture and
Strategy Group, 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 time.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Flood, Division of Payment
Research, Research and Evaluation Group, Office of Research Development
& Information, Mail Stop C3-19-26, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1849. She can be
reached by telephone at 410-786-2583, or via e-mail at
Shannon.Flood@cms.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Medicare beneficiaries frequently require
post-acute care for rehabilitation and recovery following a hospital
stay. The level and length of care required varies with the individual
patient and the condition(s) requiring hospitalization. The type of
care ranges from outpatient therapy to multi-day stays in a variety of
post-acute care settings. The PAC-CARE will study Medicare
beneficiaries as they are discharged from participating hospitals and
move among post-acute care settings. Patient functional assessments
will be performed at regular intervals beginning at hospital discharge
and continuing as patients move among post-acute care settings until
the episode of care has completed. Cost data will be collected from the
post-acute care settings, combined with other cost information
collected by Medicare Fiscal Intermediaries or Carriers, and combined
with claims and patient outcome data to develop a payment reform
proposal.
I. Description of the Proposed System of Records
A. Statutory and Regulatory Basis for SOR
The statutory authority for this system is given under Section 5008
of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
B. Collection and Maintenance of Data in the System
This system will collect and maintain individually identifiable and
other data collected on Medicare beneficiaries who require treatment in
a designated acute care or post-acute care facility. We will also
collect certain identifying information on Medicare providers who
provide services to such beneficiaries. The collected information will
include, but is not limited to: Medicare claims and eligibility data,
name, address, telephone number, health insurance claims number, race/
ethnicity, gender, date of birth, provider name, unique provider
identification number, medical record number, as well as clinical,
demographic, health/well-being, family and/or caregiver contact
information, and background information relating to Medicare issues.
Data will be collected from Medicare administrative and claims records,
PAC-CARE site administrative data systems, patient medical charts,
physician records, and via information submitted by beneficiaries and
providers.
II. Agency Policies, Procedures, and Restrictions on the Routine Use
A. 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 PAC-CARE 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 PAC-CARE.
CMS has the following policies and procedures concerning
disclosures of information that will be maintained in the system.
Disclosure of information from the 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 is being collected; e.g., to collect and maintain
demographic, health, and health resource use related data on the target
population of Medicare beneficiaries who require treatment in a
designated acute care or post-acute care facility. We will also collect
certain identifying information on Medicare providers who provide
services to such beneficiaries.
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, consultants or grantees, who have been
engaged by the agency to assist in the performance of a service related
to this collection and who need to have access to the records in order
to perform the activity.
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 CMS function
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 to give a contractor, consultant or grantee whatever information
is necessary for the contractor or consultant to fulfill its duties. In
these situations, safeguards are provided in
[[Page 19713]]
the contract prohibiting the contractor, consultant or grantee from
using or disclosing the information for any purpose other than that
described in the contract and requires the contractor, consultant or
grantee to return or destroy all information at the completion of the
contract.
2. To another Federal or state agency 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; and/or
c. Assist Federal/state Medicaid programs within the state.
Other Federal or state agencies, in their administration of a
Federal health program, may require PAC-CARE information in order to
support evaluations and monitoring of Medicare claims information of
beneficiaries, including proper reimbursement for services provided.
3. To an individual or organization for a research project or in
support of an evaluation project related to the prevention of disease
or disability, the restoration or maintenance of health, or payment
related projects.
The PAC-CARE data will provide for research or support of
evaluation projects and a broader, longitudinal, national perspective
of the status of Medicare beneficiaries. CMS anticipates that
researchers may have legitimate requests to use these data in projects
that could ultimately improve the care provided to Medicare
beneficiaries and the policies that govern their care.
4. To support Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO) 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.
The QIO may use this data to support quality improvement activities
and other QIO responsibilities as detailed in Title XI Sec. Sec. 1151-
1164.
The QIO will work to implement quality improvement programs,
provide consultation to CMS, its contractors, and to state agencies.
The QIO will assist state agencies in related monitoring and
enforcement efforts, assist CMS and intermediaries in program integrity
assessment, and prepare summary information for release to CMS.
5. To assist national accrediting organization(s) whose accredited
facilities are presumed to meet certain Medicare requirements for
inpatient hospital rehabilitation services (e.g., the Joint Commission
for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the American
Osteopathic Association, or the Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities). Information will be released to these
organizations for only those facilities that they accredit and that
participate in the Medicare program and if they meet the following
requirements:
a. Provide identifying information for post acute care facilities
that have an accreditation status with the requesting deemed
organization;
b. Submission of a finder file identifying beneficiaries/patients
receiving post acute care services;
c. Safeguard the confidentiality of the data and prevent
unauthorized access; and
d. Upon completion of a signed data exchange agreement or a CMS
data use agreement.
At this time, CMS anticipates providing accrediting organizations
with PAC-CARE information to enable them to target potential identified
problems during the organization's accreditation review process of the
facility.
6. 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 and
that the use of such records by the DOJ, court or adjudicatory body is
compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.
Whenever CMS is involved in litigation, and occasionally when
another party is involved in litigation and CMS 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.
7. To a CMS contractor (including, but not necessarily limited to,
fiscal 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, waste, and abuse in such program.
We contemplate disclosing information under this routine use only
in situations in which CMS may enter into a contractual, grantee,
cooperative agreement or consultant relationship with a third party to
assist in accomplishing CMS functions relating to the purpose of
combating fraud, waste, and abuse. CMS occasionally contracts out
certain of its functions or makes grants or cooperative agreements when
doing so would contribute to effective and efficient operations. CMS
must be able to give a contractor, grantee, consultant or other legal
agent whatever information is necessary for the agent to fulfill its
duties. In these situations, safeguards are provided in the contract
prohibiting the agent from using or disclosing the information for any
purpose other than that described in the contract and requiring the
agent to return or destroy all information.
8. 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,
waste, 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, waste, or abuse in such programs.
Other agencies may require PAC-CARE information for the purpose of
combating fraud, waste, and abuse in such Federally funded 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, subparts A and E) 65 FR 82462 (12-28-00). 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.'' (See 45 CFR
164.512(a)(1)).
In addition, our policy will be to prohibit release even of data
not directly identifiable, except pursuant to one of
[[Page 19714]]
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 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 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 Proposed System of Records 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. 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 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 this 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: April 12, 2007.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services.
SYSTEM NO. 09-70-0569
System Name:
``Post-Acute Care Payment Reform/Continuity of Assessment Report
and Evaluation Demonstration and Evaluation (PAC-CARE),'' HHS/CMS/ORDI.
Security Classification:
Level Three Privacy Act Sensitive Data.
System Location:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Data Center, 7500
Security Boulevard, North Building, First Floor, Baltimore, Maryland
21244-1850 and at various co-locations of CMS agents.
Categories of Individuals Covered by the System:
This system will collect and maintain individually identifiable and
other data collected on Medicare beneficiaries who require treatment in
a designated acute care or post-acute care facility. We will also
collect certain identifying information on Medicare providers who
provide services to such beneficiaries.
Categories of Records in the System:
The collected information will include, but is not limited to:
Medicare claims and eligibility data, name, address, telephone number,
health insurance claims number, race/ethnicity, gender, date of birth,
provider name, unique provider identification number, medical record
number, as well as clinical, demographic, health/well-being, family
and/or caregiver contact information, and background information
relating to Medicare issues. Data will be collected from Medicare
administrative and claims records, PAC-CARE site administrative data
systems, patient medical charts, physician records, and via information
submitted by beneficiaries and providers.
Authority for Maintenance of the System:
The statutory authority for this system is given under Section 5008
of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
Purpose(s) of the System:
The purpose of this system is to collect and maintain demographic,
health, and health resource use related data on the target population
of Medicare beneficiaries who require treatment in a designated acute
care or post-acute care facility. We will also collect certain
identifying information on Medicare providers who provide services to
such beneficiaries. Information retrieved from this system may be
disclosed to: (1) Support regulatory, reimbursement, and policy
functions performed within the agency or by a contractor, grantee,
consultant or other legal agent; (2) assist another Federal or state
agency with information to contribute to the accuracy of CMS's proper
payment of Medicare benefits, enable such agency to administer a
Federal health benefits program, or to enable such agency to fulfill a
requirement of Federal statute or regulation that implements a health
benefits program funded in whole or in part with Federal funds; (3)
support an individual or organization for a research project or in
support of an evaluation project related to the prevention of disease
or disability, the restoration or maintenance of health, or payment
related projects; (4) support the functions of Quality Improvement
Organizations; (5) support the functions of national accrediting
organizations; (6) support litigation involving the agency; and (7)
combat fraud, waste, and abuse in certain Federally-funded health
benefits programs.
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, consultants or grantees, who have been
engaged by the agency to assist in the performance of a service related
to this collection and
[[Page 19715]]
who need to have access to the records in order to perform the
activity.
2. To another Federal or state agency 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; and/or
c. Assist Federal/state Medicaid programs within the state.
3. To an individual or organization for a research project or in
support of an evaluation project related to the prevention of disease
or disability, the restoration or maintenance of health, or payment
related projects.
4. To support Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO) 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.
5. To assist national accrediting organization(s) whose accredited
facilities are presumed to meet certain Medicare requirements for
inpatient hospital rehabilitation services (e.g., the Joint Commission
for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the American
Osteopathic Association, or the Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities). Information will be released to these
organizations for only those facilities that they accredit and that
participate in the Medicare program and if they meet the following
requirements:
a. Provide identifying information for post acute care facilities
that have an accreditation status with the requesting deemed
organization;
b. Submission of a finder file identifying beneficiaries/patients
receiving post acute care services;
c. Safeguard the confidentiality of the data and prevent
unauthorized access; and
d. Upon completion of a signed data exchange agreement or a CMS
data use agreement.
6. 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 and
that the use of such records by the DOJ, court or adjudicatory body is
compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.
7. To a CMS contractor (including, but not necessarily limited to,
fiscal 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, waste, and abuse in such program.
8. 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,
waste, 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, waste, 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, subparts A and E) 65 FR 82462 (12-28-00). 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.'' (See 45 CFR 164.512(a)
(1)).
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 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 electronic media.
Retrievability:
The collected data are retrieved by an individual identifier; e.g.,
beneficiary name or HICN.
Safeguards:
CMS has safeguards in place for authorized users and monitors such
users to ensure against 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:
Records will be retained until an approved disposition authority is
obtained from the National Archives and Records Administration. 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, Research and Evaluation Group, Office of Research
Development
[[Page 19716]]
& Information, Mail Stop C3-19-26, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1849.
Notification Procedure:
For purpose of access, the subject individual should write to the
system manager who will require the system name, employee
identification number, tax identification number, national provider
number, and for verification purposes, the subject individual's name
(woman's maiden name, if applicable), HICN, and/or SSN (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).
Records Source Categories:
Data will be collected from Medicare administrative and claims
records (Outcome and Assessment Information Set, Inpatient
Rehabilitation Facilities Patient Assessment Instrument, Long Term Care
Minimum Data Set), post-acute care site administrative data systems,
patient medical charts, physician records, and via information
submitted by beneficiaries and providers.
Systems Exempted From Certain Provisions of the Act:
None.
[FR Doc. E7-7404 Filed 4-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P