Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of renewal--VA/IRS/SSA Match Program.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Privacy Act of 1974, as

amended, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on

the Conduct on Matching programs, notice is hereby given of the conduct

of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) computer match. Previous matches

with the IRS verified the self-reported income data of nonservice-

connected veterans. The proposed expanded match encompasses those

categories of veterans who are zero percent service-connected (non-

compensable) receiving treatment for their nonservice-connected

condition. Expanded veterans records included to conform to Pub. L.

104-262, Veterans Health Care Amendments Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The notice will be effective 30 days after publication

in the Federal Register, (November 27, 1998), unless comments dictate

otherwise.

ADDRESSES: Comments or inquiries may be mailed to the Chief Information

Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20420.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Janice E. Wheeler, Program Analyst, Health Eligibility Center Policy

Division, Office of the Chief Information Officer, (202) 273-6276.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has

a statutory obligation (see 38 U.S.C.) to collect income information

from certain veterans applying for medical care and to utilize that

income data to determine the appropriate eligibility category for the

applicant's medical care. Pub. L. 104-262 (Veterans Health Care

Eligibility Reform Act of 1996) requires zero percent non-compensable,

service-connected veterans seen for their nonservice-connected

condition(s) complete a ``Means Test.'' The purpose of completing the

Means Test is to determine if the veteran's income level allows VA to

provide cost-free care for their nonservice-connected conditions. Pub.

L. 101-508 (Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990) authorizes VHA to

verify income data reported by nonservice-connected medical care

applicants.

The goal of these matches is to validate social security numbers

and to obtain IRS/SSA earnings data needed for the income verification

process. For the information of all concerned, a summary report of the

VHA matching program describing the computer matches follows. The VA

records involved in the match are patient medical records maintained in

the ``Patient Medical Record, VA 24VA136.'' The IRS records are from

the Wage and Information Returns (IRP) Master File, Privacy Act System

TreasIRS 22.061. The SSA records are from the Earnings Recording and

Self-Employment Income system, SSA/OSR 09-0-059. In accordance with 5

U.S.C. 552a(o)(2), copies of the computer matching report are being

sent to both Houses of Congress. These matches are expected to commence

no sooner than 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal

Register, (November 27, 1998), or 40 days after copies of this notice

and the agreement are submitted to Congress and the Office of

Management and Budget.

This renewal of the original matching agreement expires on December

31, 1999. It may be extended by the involved Data Integrity Boards

(DIB) for a twelve month period provided all agencies involved certify

to the DIBs, within three months of the termination date of the

original match, that the matching program will be conducted without

change and the matching programs have been conducted in compliance with

the original matching agreement. The matches will not continue past the

legislative authorized date to obtain this information.

Togo D. West, Jr.,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 98-28805 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am]

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