Privacy Act of 1974; Report of a New System of Records, 24718-24723 [E6-6210]

Agencies

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24718-24723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6210]


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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), Centers 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, ``Medicare 
Health Support System (MHS), System No. 09-70-0574.'' The program is 
mandated by

[[Page 24719]]

Section 721 of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement, and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173), which was enacted 
into law on December 8, 2003, and amended Title XVIII of the Social 
Security Act (the Act). The MHS program seeks to improve beneficiary 
self-care and provide beneficiaries and their providers enhanced 
information and support in order to increase adherence to evidence-
based care. Improvements in these areas are expected to generate 
savings to the Medicare program to offset the costs of the payments. 
The statute is designed to support dynamic evolution of the program 
over time, based on program experience and outcomes. Section 1807(c)(1) 
of the Act requires the Secretary of HHS to enter into agreements to 
expand the implementation of successful programs or components to 
additional geographic areas, which may include the implementation of 
the program on a national basis. Prior to widespread implementation of 
the program, an initial 3-year Phase I must provide proof of concept 
through an experimental design involving random assignment of 
beneficiaries to either an intervention or control group.
    The purpose of this system is to collect and maintain demographic 
and health related data on the target population of Medicare 
beneficiaries who are potential participants in the MHS program. 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 constituent requests made to a 
Congressional representative; (5) support litigation involving the 
agency; and (6) combat fraud 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.

EFFECTIVE DATES: 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 18, 2006. To ensure that all 
parties have adequate time in which to comment, the new system will 
become effective 30 days from the publication of 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 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 time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Dehn, Division of Chronic Care 
Improvement Programs, Provider Billing Group, Center for Medicare 
Management, Mail Stop C4-10-07, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1849. She can be 
reached by telephone at 410-786-5721, or via e-mail at 
Melissa.Dehn@cms.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MHS program pays monthly fees to Chronic 
Care Improvement Organizations (CCIO) for improving the quality and 
effectiveness of health care services delivered to Medicare Fee-For-
Service (FFS) beneficiaries. Mandated by Sec.  721 of the MMA, the MHS 
program seeks to: (1) Improve beneficiary self-care, (2) provide 
beneficiaries and their providers enhanced information and support to 
increase adherence to evidence-based care, and (3) improve clinical 
quality and both beneficiary and provider satisfaction. This program is 
designed to achieve Medicare spending targets for populations with one 
or more chronic health conditions. The MHS program enables CMS to test 
the program business design, and program components and to test the 
effect on utilization, cost, and quality of care to Medicare FFS 
beneficiaries.
    Medicare claims for participating beneficiaries will continue to be 
paid of an FFS basis. Separate payments to participating CCIOs will be 
made on a per-person per-month basis, to be derived from savings 
expected through improvements in care coordination for an assigned 
beneficiary population. CMS will evaluate and monitor these individual 
MHS programs using more than 60 individual measures, in four distinct 
areas of performance: (1) Clinical performance, (2) healthcare 
utilization, (3) program activity, and (4) participant satisfaction. 
Additionally, the pilot phase of the program will be evaluated on its 
effectiveness in achieving program goals, and its potential for 
expansion to additional geographic areas.

 I. Description of the Proposed System of Records

A. Statutory and Regulatory Basis for SOR

    The statutory authority for this system is given under the 
provisions of Section 721 of the Medicare Prescription Drug 
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 and Section 1807(a)(1) of 
the Social Security Act.

 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 are potential 
participants in the MHS program and providers who provide services to 
such beneficiaries. Data will be collected from Medicare administrative 
and claims records, CCIO administrative data systems, patient medical 
charts, physician records, and via survey instruments administered to 
beneficiaries and providers. 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. It 
will also include chronic care diagnosis, treatment, program 
participation, and evaluation, survey, and research information

[[Page 24720]]

needed to evaluate the program and develop research reports on 
findings.

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 MHS 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 MHS.
    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 and health related data on the target population of 
Medicare beneficiaries who are potential participants in the MHS 
program. 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 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 MHS 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 MHS 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 many researchers 
will 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 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.
    Beneficiaries sometimes request the help of a Member of Congress in 
resolving an issue relating to a matter before CMS. The Member of 
Congress then writes to 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 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.
    6. 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,

[[Page 24721]]

remedy, or otherwise combat fraud or 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 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.
    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 agencies may require MHS information for the purpose of 
combating fraud 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 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 
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 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.

John R. Dyer,
Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
System No. 09-70-0574

SYSTEM NAME:
    ``Medicare Health Support System (MHS),'' HHS/CMS/CMM.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    Level Three Privacy Act Sensitive Data.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    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 are potential 
participants in the MHS program and their providers who provide 
services to such beneficiaries. Data will be collected from Medicare 
administrative and claims records, CCIO administrative data systems, 
patient medical charts, physician records, and via survey instruments 
administered to beneficiaries and providers.

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. It will also include chronic care 
diagnosis, treatment, program participation, and evaluation, survey, 
and research information needed to evaluate the program and develop 
research reports on findings.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    The statutory authority for this system is given under the 
provisions of Section 721 of the Medicare Prescription Drug 
Improvement, and Modernization Act of

[[Page 24722]]

2003 and Section 1807(a)(1) of the Social Security Act.

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
    The purpose of this system is to collect and maintain demographic 
and health related data on the target population of Medicare 
beneficiaries who are potential participants in the MHS program. 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 constituent requests made to a 
Congressional representative; (5) support litigation involving the 
agency; and (6) combat fraud 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 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 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 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.
    6. 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 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, 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 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 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 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-

[[Page 24723]]

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 information for a total period not to exceed 25 
years. 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 Chronic Care Improvement Programs, Provider 
Billing Group, Center for Medicare Management, CMS, Mail Stop C4-10-07, 
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, 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:
    The data contained in this system of records will be collected from 
Medicare administrative and claims records, CCIO administrative data 
systems, patient medical charts, physician records, and via survey 
instruments administered to beneficiaries and providers.

SYSTEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:
    None.

 [FR Doc. E6-6210 Filed 4-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P