Privacy Act: Computer matching programs,

[Federal Register: April 5, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 65)]

[Notices]

[Page 17675-17677]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr05ap04-74]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program (Match No. 2003- 01)

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program (CMP).

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, this notice announces the establishment of a CMP that CMS plans to conduct with the North Carolina Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Medical Assistance (DMA). We have provided background information about the proposed matching program 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 matching program, CMS invites comments on all portions of this notice. See ``Effective Dates'' section below for comment period.

EFFECTIVE DATES: CMS filed a report of the CMP 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 March 23, 2004. We will not disclose any information under a matching agreement until 40 days after filing a report to OMB and Congress or 30 days after publication. We may defer implementation of this matching program if we receive comments that persuade us to defer implementation.

ADDRESSES: The public should address comments to: Director, Division of Privacy Compliance Data Development (DPCDD), Enterprise 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: Kathleen McCracken, Health Insurance Specialist, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Financial Management, Program Integrity Group, Mail-stop C3-02-16, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore Maryland 21244-1850. The telephone number is 1-410-786-7487 and e-mail is kmccracken@cms.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Description of the Matching Program

1. General

   The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public Law (Pub. L. 100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by describing the manner in which computer matching involving Federal agencies could be performed and adding certain protections for individuals applying for and receiving Federal benefits.

   [[Page 17676]]

   Section 7201 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 100-508) further amended the Privacy Act regarding protections for such individuals. The Privacy Act, as amended, regulates the use of computer matching by Federal agencies when records in a system of records are matched with other Federal, state, or local government records. It requires Federal agencies involved in computer matching programs to:

   1. Negotiate written agreements with the other agencies participating in the matching programs;

   2. Obtain the Data Integrity Board approval of the match agreements;

   3. Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress and OMB;

   4. Notify applicants and beneficiaries that the records are subject to matching; and,

   5. Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating, or denying an individual's benefits or payments.

2. CMS Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

   CMS has taken action to ensure that all CMPs that this Agency participates in comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.

   Dated: March 23, 2004. Dennis Smith, Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Computer Match No. 2003-01

   NAME:

   ``Computer Matching Agreement Between the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the State of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Department of Medical Assistance (DMA) for Disclosure of Medicare and Medicaid Information.''

   SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

   Level Three Privacy Act Sensitive

   PARTICIPATING AGENCIES:

   The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and State of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

   AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCTING MATCHING PROGRAM:

   This CMA is executed to comply with the Privacy Act of 1974 (Title 5 United States Code (U.S.C.) 552a), as amended, (as amended by Public Law (Pub. L.) 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, titled ``Management of Federal Information Resources'' at 65 FR 77677 (December 12, 2000), and OMB guidelines pertaining to computer matching at 54 FR 25818 (June 19, 1989).

   This agreement provides for information matching fully consistent with the authority of the Secretary of HHS (Secretary). Section 1816 of the Act permits the Secretary to contract with fiscal intermediaries to ``make such audits of the records of providers as may be necessary to insure that proper payments are made under this part,'' and to ``perform such other functions as are necessary to carry out this subsection'' (42 U.S.C. 1395h)(a)).

   Section 1842 of the Social Security Act (the Act) provides that the Secretary may contract with entities known as carriers to ``make such audits of the records of providers of services as may be necessary to assure that proper payments are made'' (42 U.S.C. 1395u(a)(1)(C)); ``assist in the application of safeguards against unnecessary utilization of services furnished by providers of services and other persons to individuals entitled to benefits'' (42 U.S.C. 1395u(a)(2)(B)); and ``to otherwise assist * * * in discharging administrative duties necessary to carry out the purposes of this part'' (42 U.S.C. 1395u(a)(4)).

   Furthermore, Sec. 1874(b) of the Act authorizes the Secretary to contract with any person, agency, or institution to secure on a reimbursable basis such special data, actuarial information, and other information as may be necessary in the carrying out of his functions under this title (42 U.S.C. 1395kk(b)).

   Section 1893 of the Act establishes the Medicare Integrity Program, which the Secretary may contract with eligible entities to conduct a variety of program safeguard activities, including fraud review employing technologies that surpass the capabilities of existing Fiscal Intermediaries and carriers (42 U.S.C. 1395ddd)). The contracting entities are called Program Safeguards Contractors (PSC).

   NCDHHS, acting through DMA, is charged with the administration of the Medicaid program in North Carolina and is the single state agency for such purpose. DMA may act as an agent or representative of the Federal government for any purpose in furtherance of DMA's functions or administration of the Federal funds granted to the state. The North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 108A, Part 6, authorizes DMA to establish a Medical Assistance Program and to authorize payments of all or part of the cost of medical and other remedial care for eligible persons.

   DMA's disclosure of the Medicaid data pursuant to this agreement is for purposes directly connected with the administration of the Medicaid program, specifically, the detection, prosecution and deterrence of fraud and abuse (F&A) in the Medicaid program.

   PURPOSE(S) OF THE MATCHING PROGRAM:

   The purpose of this agreement is to establish the conditions, safeguards, and procedures under which CMS will conduct a computer matching program with NCDHHS, DMA, to study claims, billing, and eligibility information to detect suspected instances of Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse (F&A) in the State of North Carolina. CMS and DMA will provide a CMS contractor, AdvanceMed, a CSC Company (hereinafter referred to as the ``Custodian''), with Medicare and Medicaid records pertaining to eligibility, claims, and billing which the Custodian will match in order to merge the information into a single database. Utilizing fraud detection software, the information will then be used to identify patterns of aberrant practices requiring further investigation. The following are examples of the type of aberrant practices that may constitute F&A by practitioners, providers, and suppliers in the State of North Carolina expected to be identified in this matching program: (1) Billing for provisions of more than 24 hours of services in one day, (2) providing treatment and services in ways more statistically significant than similar practitioner groups, and (3) up-coding and billing for services more expensive than those actually performed.

   CATEGORIES OF RECORDS AND INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE MATCH:

   This CMP will enhance the ability of CMS and DMA to detect F&A by matching claims data, eligibility, and practitioner, provider, and supplier enrollment records of Medicare beneficiaries, practitioners, providers, and suppliers in the State of North Carolina against records of North Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries, practitioners, providers, and suppliers in the State of North Carolina.

   DESCRIPTION OF RECORDS TO BE USED IN THE MATCHING PROGRAM--CMS SYSTEMS OF RECORDS (SOR):

   The release of the data for CMS are maintained in the following SOR:

   National Claims History (NCH), System No. 09-70-0005 was most recently published in the Federal Register, at 67 FR 57015 (September 6, 2002). NCH contains records needed to facilitate obtaining Medicare utilization review data that can be used to study

   [[Page 17677]]

   the operation and effectiveness of the Medicare program. Matched data will be released to DMA pursuant to the routine use as set forth in the system notice.

   Carrier Medicare Claims Record, System No. 09-70-0501 published in the Federal Register at 67 FR 54428 (August 22, 2002). Matched data will be released to DMA pursuant to the routine use as set forth in the system notice.

   Enrollment Database, System No. 09-70-0502 (formerly known as the Health Insurance Master Record) published at 67 FR 3203 (January 23, 2002). Matched data will be released to DMA pursuant to the routine use set forth in the system notice.

   Intermediary Medicare Claims Record, System No. 09-70-0503 published in the Federal Register at 67 FR 65982 (October 29, 2002). Matched data will be released to DMA pursuant to the routine use as set forth in the system notice.

   Unique Physician/Provider Identification Number (formerly known as the Medicare Physician Identification and Eligibility System), System No. 09-70-0525, was most recently published in the Federal Register at 53 FR 50584 (Dec 16, 1988). Matched data will be released to DMA pursuant to the routine use as set forth in the system notice.

   Medicare Supplier Identification File, System No. 09-70-0530 was most recently published in the Federal Register, at 67 FR 48184 (July 23, 2002). Matched data will be released to DMA pursuant to the routine use as set forth in the system notice.

   Medicare Beneficiary Database, System No. 09-70-0536 published in the Federal Register at 66 FR 63392 (December 6, 2001). Matched data will be released to DMA pursuant to the routine use as set forth in the system notice.

   DMA data are maintained in the following data files: ``Medicaid RFF035 File Paid Claims,'' ``Medicaid Combined Provider Master File,'' and ``Medicaid Eligibility File.''

   INCLUSIVE DATES OF THE MATCH:

   The CMP shall become effective no sooner than 40 days after the report of the Matching Program is sent to OMB and Congress, or 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, which ever is later. The matching program will continue for 18 months from the effective date and may be extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain conditions are met.

   [FR Doc. 04-7631 Filed 4-2-04; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4120-03-P