Extension of Expiration Dates for Two Body System Listings

Published date24 September 2019
Citation84 FR 49950
Record Number2019-20444
SectionRules and Regulations
CourtSocial Security Administration
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
                [Rules and Regulations]
                [Pages 49950-49951]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-20444]
                =======================================================================
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
                20 CFR Part 404
                [Docket No. SSA-2019-0036]
                RIN 0960-AI44
                Extension of Expiration Dates for Two Body System Listings
                AGENCY: Social Security Administration.
                ACTION: Final rule.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: We are extending the expiration dates of the following body
                systems in the Listing of Impairments (listings) in our regulations:
                Respiratory Disorders and Genitourinary Disorders. We are making no
                other revisions to these body systems in this final rule. This
                extension ensures that we will 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 September 24, 2019.
                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), 416.924(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
                consider the effects of your impairment(s). 20 CFR 404.1525(b),
                416.925(b).
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 \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.
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Explanation of Changes
                 In this final rule, we are extending the dates on which the
                listings for the following two body systems will no longer be effective
                as set out in the following chart:
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Listing Current expiration date Extended expiration date
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Respiratory Disorders 3.00 and 103.00.... October 7, 2019............. December 10, 2021.
                Genitourinary Disorders 6.00 and 106.00.. December 9, 2019............ December 10, 2021.
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 We continue to revise and update the listings on a regular basis,
                including those body systems not affected by this final rule.\2\ We
                intend to update the two listings affected by this final rule as
                necessary based on medical advances 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.
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 \2\ Since we last extended the expiration dates of the listings
                affected by this final rule in June 2016 (81 FR 37138) and October
                2014 (79 FR 61221), we published final rules revising the medical
                criteria for evaluating hematological disorders (80 FR 21159
                (2015)), cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases) (80 FR 28821
                (2015)), neurological disorders (81 FR 66137 (2016)), mental
                disorders (81 FR 66137 (2016)), and human immunodeficiency virus
                (HIV) infection (81 FR 86915 (2016)).
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                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 two body system listings will no longer be
                effective. It makes no substantive changes to our rules. Our current
                regulations \3\ provide that we may extend, revise, or
                [[Page 49951]]
                promulgate the body system listings again. Therefore, we determined
                that opportunity for prior comment is unnecessary, and we are issuing
                this regulation as a final rule.
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 \3\ See the first sentence of appendix 1 to subpart P of part
                404 of 20 CFR.
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 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 two 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 requirements 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.
                Executive Order 13771
                 This regulation does not impose novel costs on the public and as
                such is considered an exempt regulatory action under E.O. 13771.
                Paperwork Reduction Act
                 This final rule does not create any new or affect any existing
                collections and, therefore, do 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.
                Andrew Saul,
                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) and
                (h)-(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) and (h)-(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 in the introductory text
                by revising items 4 and 7 to read as follows:
                Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Part 404--Listing of Impairments
                * * * * *
                 4. Respiratory Disorders (3.00 and 103.00): December 10, 2021.
                * * * * *
                 7. Genitourinary Disorders (6.00 and 106.00): December 10, 2021.
                * * * * *
                [FR Doc. 2019-20444 Filed 9-23-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
                

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT