Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records, 74495-74499 [2023-23964]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 209 / Tuesday, October 31, 2023 / Notices
to find the information collection
document(s) that are accepting
comments.
2. By regular mail. You may mail
written comments to the following
address: CMS, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs,
Division of Regulations Development,
Attention: Document Identifier/OMB
Control Number: ____, Room C4–26–05,
7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244–1850.
To obtain copies of a supporting
statement and any related forms for the
proposed collection(s) summarized in
this notice, please access the CMS PRA
website by copying and pasting the
following web address into your web
browser: https://www.cms.gov/
Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/
PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRAListing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William N. Parham at (410) 786–4669.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Contents
This notice sets out a summary of the
use and burden associated with the
following information collections. More
detailed information can be found in
each collection’s supporting statement
and associated materials (see
ADDRESSES).
CMS–10652 Virtual Groups for MeritBased Incentive Payment System (MIPS)
Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501–
3520), federal agencies must obtain
approval from the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for each collection of
information they conduct or sponsor.
The term ‘‘collection of information’’ is
defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests
or requirements that members of the
public submit reports, keep records, or
provide information to a third party.
Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA
requires federal agencies to publish a
60-day notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of
information, including each proposed
extension or reinstatement of an existing
collection of information, before
submitting the collection to OMB for
approval. To comply with this
requirement, CMS is publishing this
notice.
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Information Collection
1. Type of Information Collection
Request: Extension of currently
approved Information Collection; Title
of Information Collection: Virtual
Groups for Merit-Based Incentive
Payment System (MIPS); Use: Section
1848(q)(5)(I)(ii) of the 2018 Quality
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Payment Program final rule establishes
that a process must be in place to allow
an individual MIPS eligible clinician or
group consisting of not more than 10
MIPS eligible clinicians to elect, with
respect to a performance period for a
year, to be in a virtual group with at
least one other such individual MIPS
eligible clinician or group. Section
1848(q)(5)(I)(iii) of the Act establishes
the following requirements that pertain
to an election process: (1) individual
eligible clinicians and groups forming
virtual groups are required to make the
election prior to the start of the
applicable performance period under
MIPS and cannot change their election
during the performance period; (2) an
individual eligible clinician or group
may elect to be in no more than one
virtual group for a performance period
and in the case of the group electing to
be in a virtual group for the performance
period, the election applies to all
eligible clinicians in the group; (3) a
virtual group is a combination of TINs;
(4) formal written agreements are
required among the eligible clinicians
(includes individual eligible clinicians
and eligible clinicians within the
groups) electing to be a virtual group;
and (5) the Secretary has the authority
to include other requirements
determined appropriate.
Section 1848(q)(5)(I)(i) of the Act also
provides that MIPS eligible clinicians
electing to be a virtual group must: (1)
have their performance assessed for the
quality and cost performance categories
in a manner that applies the combined
performance of all the MIPS eligible
clinicians in the virtual group to each
MIPS eligible clinician in the virtual
group for the applicable performance
period; and (2) be scored for the quality
and cost performance categories based
on such assessment. Form Number:
CMS–10652 (OMB control number:
0938–1343); Frequency: Yearly;
Affected Public: Individuals and
Households, Private Sector, Business or
other for-profits and Not-for-profit
institutions; Number of Respondents:
16; Total Annual Responses: 16; Total
Annual Hours: 160 (For policy
questions regarding this collection
contact Renee O’Neill at 410–786–8821.)
Dated: October 26, 2023.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office
of Strategic Operations and Regulatory
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023–24012 Filed 10–30–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
Privacy Act of 1974; System of
Records
Indian Health Service,
Department of Health and Human
Services.
ACTION: Notice of a new system of
records.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) is establishing a new
system of records maintained by the
Indian Health Service (IHS) Office of
Clinical and Preventive Services
(OCPS), System Number 09–17–0006,
‘‘Community Health Aide Program
(CHAP) Records.’’ The records in the
new system of records are about
individual healthcare providers who
have applied for Federal certification
under the Community Health Aide
Program (CHAP) created under the
Indian Health Care Improvement Act, as
amended; and individuals serving as
CHAP Certification Board members who
review and evaluate the certification/
recertification applications for
completeness and verify that the
candidates meet the minimum
standards for certification. The CHAP
Certification Board will provide the
respective Area Director with its
recommendation to either certify,
recertify, or deny certification after
reviewing the certification applications.
DATES: In accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552a(e)(4) and (11), this notice is
applicable October 31, 2023, subject to
a 30-day comment period on the routine
uses described below. Please submit any
comments by November 30, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
submitted by mail or email to: Dr. Lori
Christensen, Chief Medical Officer, IHS,
5600 Fishers Lane—Mail Stop: 08E37A,
Rockville, MD 20857, or IHSCHAP@
ihs.gov. Comments are reviewable at
same location. To review comments in
person, please contact the Office of the
Chief Medical Officer at 240–701–3890.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
General questions about this system of
records may be submitted to Heather
McClane, IHS Privacy Act Officer,
ATTN: National Community Health
Aide Program, 5600 Fishers Lane—Mail
Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857, or by
email at Heather.McClane@ihs.gov, or
by phone at 240–479–8521. General
questions may also be submitted to the
Community Health Aide Program,
Office of Clinical and Preventive
SUMMARY:
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Services, at IHSCHAP@ihs.gov.
Additional information is available at
www.ihs.gov/chap.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Consistent
with 25 U.S.C. 1616l, the records system
will be referred to as the Community
Health Aide Program (CHAP) Records.
The purpose of the new system of
records is to preserve and process
records related to Federal certification
of health providers under the CHAP.
CHAP providers include the disciplines
and provider types approved by the
National CHAP Certification Board.
The records include: (1) applications
for CHAP certification submitted by
individual providers (those seeking
certification at any level—e.g., levels I,
II, III, IV, Practitioner, and Therapist,
those seeking recertification, those
previously certified seeking an
additional or different certification,
those denied Federal certification, and
those with revoked Federal
certification); and (2) the qualifications
and recommendations of CHAP
certification board members who review
certification applications and provide
recommendations to Area Directors for
the certification, recertification, or
denial of certification. The Area
Certification Board may also provide
review requests for decertifications and
make recommendations to Area
Directors to decertify individual
providers.
A Tribe or Tribal Organization
supporting a CHAP Certification Board
under an Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA)
agreement may maintain a copy of a
record, but the Tribe’s copy would be a
Tribal record, not a Federal agency
record that is subject to the Privacy Act,
Federal Records Act, or the Freedom of
Information Act, nor would it constitute
the official Federal record.
Roselyn Tso,
Director, Indian Health Service.
SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
Community Health Aide Program
(CHAP) Records, 09–17–0006.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
Unclassified.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
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The addresses of the agency
components responsible for the system
of records are found in the Appendix.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
The official listed in the Appendix for
the Area Office that processed the
particular certification application
involving the subject individual as an
applicant, or with respect to a board
member from that Area’s Certification
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Board, is the relevant System Manager
who the subject individual must contact
to make a Privacy Act request.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
The Indian Health Care Improvement
Act, as amended (25 U.S.C. 1601 et
seq.), and specifically 25 U.S.C. 1616l.
PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
The records in this system of records
will be used to implement the CHAP
under 25 U.S.C. 1616l, including for
these principal purposes:
1. Purposes for which records about
individual providers will be used:
• To process applications for
certification that are submitted by
prospective, current, and former CHAP
providers seeking initial or renewal
Federal certification to provide
community health care, behavioral
health, oral health services, or other
services authorized by the IHS National
CHAP Certification Board to be
provided in a Federal or Tribal facility
operating a CHAP.
• To document the dates and
certification status of CHAP providers,
including changes/modifications in
categories and levels of certification. An
example of a category modification
would be a Dental Health Aide
Therapist adding a level I Behavioral
Health Aide certification. An example of
a change in level would be a level IV
Community Health Aide becoming a
Community Health Aide Practitioner.
• To secure reciprocity for CHAP
providers across jurisdictions and IHSdefined geographical areas (often
referred to as ‘‘Areas’’) by enabling the
National Certification Board, in its
oversight role, to ensure each Area’s
education/training requirements,
standards and procedures meet or
exceed the National standards.
• To ensure that Federal and Tribal
healthcare facilities seeking to hire
current, prospective, and former
Federally certified CHAP providers have
access to the certification status of
providers certified under 25 U.S.C.
1616l.
• To ensure that CHAP providers are
qualified, competent, and capable of
delivering quality healthcare consistent
with the National CHAP Program
Standards and Policies at large, and that
the CHAP providers’ scopes of practice
are in line with their competency, their
training, and the ability of the facility to
provide adequate support, equipment,
services, and staff.
• To inform the staff of health care
facilities seeking to employee CHAP
providers for the purpose of assessing
the providers’ professional competence,
character, and fitness.
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• To inform State health professional
boards that have oversight of CHAP
providers of information they need to
carry out their legally assigned
functions.
2. Purposes for which records about
CHAP Certification Board members will
be used:
• For board staffing and other
administrative purposes and to ensure
program integrity (i.e., to recruit and
select individuals who are qualified to
render certification decisions that
maintain appropriate CHAP levels of
care).
• To document each member’s
membership effective dates and
separations, qualifications, and
decisions related to Area Certification
Board recommendations to Area
Directors.
IHS may also use the records for
secondary purposes, such as program
planning and evaluation, individual
evaluation, continuous quality
improvement, compiling of numbers
and types of providers certified each
cycle, and other purposes consistent
with the authorities in 25 U.S.C. 1616l.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE
SYSTEM:
The records will be about these
categories of individuals:
• Prospective, current, and former
CHAP providers working or seeking to
work in Tribal and Federal healthcare
facilities and those denied certification,
described in more detail as follows:
Æ Prospective—Those who have
sought Federal certification and are
awaiting a decision.
Æ Current—Those who have sought
Federal certification and have been
recommended and issued Federal
certification for any level of provider
approved by the National CHAP
Certification Board. This includes those
who may have advanced, regressed, or
changed their provider type category.
Æ Former—Those who sought Federal
certification and were recommended
and issued Federal certification for any
level of recognized CHAP providers but
whose certification is not current.
Æ Individuals Denied Certification or
Certification Revoked—Those who
applied for certification but whose
application for certification was denied
or had certifications revoked.
• Individuals serving as CHAP
Certification Board Members who
review applications for certification/
recertification and requests for
decertifications to make
recommendations to the respective Area
Director.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
The categories of records will include:
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1. Application for CHAP certification,
which contains:
a. the legal name, other names/alias,
and date of birth of the provider/
applicant;
b. provider/applicant contact
information such as mailing and email
addresses, phone number, and
communication preferences;
c. the names and dates of training and
education programs attended, skills
verification with address and contact
phone number, including such
programs attended as required for
renewal or continuation of certification;
d. applicable employment
information such as employer, employer
address, work phone, work email, fax,
and states where services are provided
or intend to be provided; and
e. application status (e.g. complete,
incomplete, provisional, approved,
denied).
2. Additional records may include:
a. transcripts and training logs from
educational/training programs;
b. documentation of previous
certifications held, revoked, or denied;
c. information regarding liability
insurance coverage;
d. professional performance and
achievement records, such as,
continuing education certificates,
performance awards, adverse or
disciplinary actions, and evaluations
and approvals completed by employers
and supervisors; and employervalidated complaints against providers;
e. records relating to the processing of
and decision on applications for Federal
certification and recertification or
decertification; and for other relevant
Federal certification and recertification
or decertification actions; and
f. records related to the qualifications
of Certification Board Members,
including letters of nomination, letters
from supervisors indicating support of
or opposition to nominations,
Curriculum Vitae, professional contact
information, and dates of membership.
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RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
Information in the records may be
provided by these sources:
• subject individual;
• CHAP Certification Boards;
• educational institutions attended;
• continuing education entities;
• internship, preceptorship, and
practicum sites;
• human resource departments;
• professional associations;
• State and Tribal licensing boards;
• financial institutions from which
these applicants have obtained
educational loans;
• HHS contractors/subcontractors;
• PHS Commissioned Personnel
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Personnel Operations Division and U.S.
Office of Personnel Management
personnel records;
• any HHS OPDIV or other Federal
agencies maintaining records relevant to
the applicant’s qualifications, such as an
agency where the individual worked as
an employee or contractor, or the
Department of the Treasury which
maintains records of individuals
disqualified to receive Federal
payments;
• State or local governments;
• professional boards such as the
Federation of State Medical Boards or
similar non-government entities; and
• third parties providing reviews
concerning the subject individual.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE
SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND
PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
In addition to the disclosures
authorized directly in the Privacy Act at
5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(4)
through (b)(11), these routine uses
specify circumstances under which the
agency may disclose information from
this system of records to a non-HHS
officer or employee without the consent
of the subject individual. IHS will
prohibit redisclosures, or may permit
only certain redisclosures, as required
or authorized by law. Each proposed
disclosure permitted directly in the
Privacy Act or under these routine uses
will also be evaluated to ensure that the
disclosure is legally permissible under
any other applicable laws.
1. Disclosures for Evaluation of
Healthcare Delivery Services. Records
about applicants and certified providers
may be disclosed to organizations
authorized to conduct evaluation
studies concerning the delivery of
health care services by the IHS and HHS
(e.g., Joint Commission on the
Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations).
2. Disclosures to CHAP Certification
Boards and Contractors to perform
duties. Certification records about
CHAP providers may be disclosed to
CHAP Certification Boards authorized
by IHS, consistent with 25 U.S.C 1616l.
This includes disclosures to the nonFederal members of a CHAP
Certification Board and to employees of
a Tribe or Tribal organization who have
a need to have access to the information
in performance of their duties or
activities for such boards and
organizations operating under an Indian
Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (ISDEAA) agreement.
3. Disclosures for certification
software vendors/contractors. Records
may be disclosed to a certification
software vendor performing or working
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on a contract for IHS and who has a
need to have access to the information
in the performance of its duties or
activities for IHS in accordance with
law and with the contract.
4. Disclosures for Evaluation or
Verification of Application Data. IHS
may disclose biographic data and
information supplied by an applicant to
(a) contacts listed on the applications
and associated forms for the purpose of
evaluating the applicant’s professional
qualifications, personal characteristics,
experience, and suitability, (b) a
Federal, state, or local government
health profession licensing or
certification board, or (c) a health care
oversight or professional monitoring
organization or program (e.g.,
accreditation surveyors, or the National
Practitioner Data Bank) for the purpose
of verifying that a clinician’s claimed
background and employment data are
valid and all claimed credentials are
current and in good standing.
5. Disclosures for Reimbursement of
Care Purposes. Records about a
provider’s certification status may be
disclosed to Federal, state, private and
third-party payers that need to know the
provider’s certification status to issue
reimbursements for care rendered by the
provider.
6. Disclosures to OPM. Records about
providers may be disclosed to the Office
of Personnel Management (OPM) if the
records are relevant to the individual’s
application for or maintenance of Civil
Service appointments.
7. Disclosures for human resource
matters. Records pertaining to IHS
certification decisions may be disclosed
to Federal, state, local, or Tribal entities
when necessary for them to address
human resources matters arising from
IHS certification decisions.
8. Disclosures for Compliance
Monitoring. Records about a current
provider or board member may be
disclosed to relevant governmental
agencies for the purpose of monitoring
the individual’s compliance with
applicable laws and standards, on an
ongoing basis, to ensure that the
individual remains qualified for Federal
certification or to serve as a CHAP
Certification Board member.
9. Disclosure to Department of Justice
or in Proceedings. HHS may disclose
information from this system of records
to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to
a court or other tribunal, when any of
the following is a party to litigation or
similar proceedings or has an interest in
such proceedings, and HHS determines
that the proceedings are likely to affect
HHS or any of its components: (a) HHS,
or any component thereof; (b) any HHS
employee in their official capacity; (c)
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any HHS employee in their individual
capacity where the DOJ (or HHS, where
it is authorized to do so) has agreed to
represent the employee; or (d) the
United States or any agency thereof. In
order to disclose information in these
circumstances, HHS must determine
that the use of such records by the DOJ,
the court or other tribunal is relevant
and necessary to the proceedings and
would help in the effective
representation of the governmental
party or interest.
10. Disclosures to Congressional
Office. Records may be disclosed to a
congressional office from the record of
an individual in response to a verified
inquiry from the congressional office
made at the written request of that
individual.
11. Reporting Violations or Potential
Violations of Law. In the event that a
record in this system of records on its
face, or in conjunction with other
records, indicates a violation or
potential violation of law, whether civil,
criminal, or regulatory in nature, and
whether arising by general statute or
particular program statute, or by
regulation, rule, or order issued
pursuant thereto, the relevant records in
this system of records may be referred
to the appropriate agency, whether
Federal, state, local, or Tribal, charged
with enforcing or implementing the
statute or rule, regulation, or order
issued pursuant thereto.
12. Disclosure in the Event of a
Security Breach Experienced by HHS.
Records may be disclosed to appropriate
agencies, entities, and persons when: (1)
HHS suspects or has confirmed that
there has been a breach of the system of
records; (2) HHS has determined that as
a result of the suspected or confirmed
breach there is a risk of harm to
individuals, HHS (including its
information systems, programs, and
operations), the Federal Government, or
national security; and (3) the disclosure
made to such agencies, entities, and
persons is reasonably necessary to assist
in connection with HHS efforts to
respond to the suspected or confirmed
breach or to prevent, minimize, or
remedy such harm.
13. Disclosure to Assist another
Agency Experiencing a Security Breach.
Records may be disclosed to another
Federal agency or Federal entity, when
HHS determines that information from
this system of records is reasonably
necessary to assist the recipient agency
or entity in: (1) responding to a
suspected or confirmed breach or (2)
preventing, minimizing, or remedying
the risk of harm to individuals, the
recipient agency or entity (including its
information systems, programs, and
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operations), the Federal Government, or
national security, resulting from a
suspected or confirmed breach.
14. Medical Quality Assurance
Disclosures. Records about providers
and board members may be disclosed
for any purpose authorized by 25 U.S.C.
1675(d) or (e)(2). To the extent the
records are protected by 25 U.S.C. 1675,
the records may only be disclosed in
accordance with the exceptions in 25
U.S.C. 1675(d) and (e)(2).
15. Disclosures of Certification Status.
Records about current or former CHAP
providers, individuals denied
certification, or individuals seeking
certification may be disclosed to
Federal, state, local and Tribal
governmental entities with authority to
maintain records concerning the
issuance, retention, or revocation of
Federal certifications necessary to
practice a health professional
occupation or specialty.
16. Disclosures to the public.
Information about a provider’s
certification status may be made public
for awareness of which providers are
currently in good standing as CHAP
providers, or to share how many
providers are certified to help determine
the need for more providers or training
facilities based on clinical need, and
would be limited to information that
would be required to be disclosed to the
public under the Freedom of
Information Act.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF
RECORDS:
The records will be stored in file
folders and computer-based electronic
files on the secure IHS network indexed
by name and record number in
accordance with current IHS policy.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF
RECORDS:
The records will be retrieved by the
subject individual’s name or
certification number (for current and
former CHAP providers) and any other
identifying numbers necessary to ensure
that the records retrieved are about the
intended individual.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND
DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
Upon approval of a disposition
schedule by the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA), the
records will be disposed of when
eligible for destruction under the
schedule, if the records are no longer
needed for administrative, audit, legal,
or operational purposes. While the
records are unscheduled, they must be
retained indefinitely. Note that CHAP is
an expansion of the use of CHAP
providers throughout the IHS health
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system, and only the Alaska CHAP
maintains historical and archived
records.
ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL
SAFEGUARDS:
The records will be protected from
unauthorized access by the following
safeguards. All safeguards will conform
to applicable laws, rules, and policies,
including the HHS Information Security
and Privacy Program, https://
www.hhs.gov/ocio/securityprivacy/, the
E-Government Act of 2002, as amended
(44 U.S.C. ch. 35), pertinent National
Institutes of Standards and Technology
(NIST) publications, and OMB Circular
A–130, Managing Information as a
Strategic Resource.
Authorized Users: Access will be
limited to authorized users who (1) have
a need for such records in the
performance of their official duties and
(2) are advised of the confidentiality of
the records and the civil and criminal
penalties for misuse. Particularly as the
IHS transitions to an electronic records
system, authorized users may include
individuals and entities outside of HHS
who are given certain access for
purposes of facilitating specific
disclosures authorized under the
Privacy Act, including the routine uses
described above. For example,
authorized users may include: National
Certification Board members, Area
Certification Board members, IHS Area
Offices, Office of Clinical and
Preventive Services CHAP staff, clinical
supervision staff and additional IHS or
Tribal staff with oversight
responsibilities related to CHAP
providers within an Indian Health
Program, as defined in 25 U.S.C.
1603(12).
At each location where records in this
system will be maintained, a list of
users or categories of users having an
official need-to-know has been
developed and is maintained.
Physical Safeguards: Paper records
will be kept in locked metal filing
cabinets or in locked desk drawers in
secured rooms at all times when not
actually in use during working hours
and at all times during non-working
hours. Record storage areas, including
file cabinets and desks, are not left
unattended or unlocked during office
hours, including lunch hours.
Administrative Safeguards: Only
persons who have an official need-toknow will be entrusted with records
from this system of records, and they
will be instructed to safeguard the
confidentiality of the records and to
destroy all copies or to return such
records when the need to know has
ended. Instructions will include the
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statutory penalties for noncompliance.
Proper charge-out procedures will be
followed for the removal of records from
the area in which they are maintained.
Authorized users will receive privacy
and security training before record
access is granted and annually
thereafter. When copying records for
authorized purposes, employees are
instructed to ensure that any imperfect
pages are not left in the reproduction
room where they can be read but are
destroyed or obliterated. Area Privacy
Coordinators have routine access for
monitoring compliance with privacy
regulations.
Technical Safeguards: Records in the
electronic system will be secured by
encryption and intrusion detection
systems. Access to electronic records
will be controlled by user name and
password.
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RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
To request access to records about you
in this system of records, submit a
written access request addressed to the
relevant System Manager (see the
Appendix and the ‘‘System Manager(s)’’
section of this SORN). The request must:
• Reasonably describe the records
sought.
• Include (as applicable) the name of
the IHS Service Unit relevant to your
certification application, or the name of
the Area Certification Board on which
you served, and pertinent dates.
• Include (for contact purposes and
identity verification purposes) your full
name, current address, telephone
number and/or email address, date and
place of birth, signature, evidence of
other names used (if seeking records
retrieved by a name other than your
current name), and, if needed by the
agency, sufficient particulars contained
in the records (such as, record number
or other identifying numbers) to enable
the agency to locate the records and
distinguish between records on subject
individuals with the same name.
In addition, to verify your identity,
your signature on the request must be
notarized or the request must include,
above your signature, your written
certification that you are the individual
who you claim to be and that you
understand that the knowing and willful
request for or acquisition of a record
pertaining to an individual under false
pretenses is a criminal offense subject to
a fine of up to $5,000.
In your written request, you may
request that copies of the records be sent
to you or include your signed, written
consent directing that the records be
sent to a third party, or you may request
an appointment to review the records in
person (including with a person of your
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:18 Oct 30, 2023
Jkt 262001
choosing, if you provide written
authorization for agency personnel to
discuss the records in that person’s
presence). If you make an appointment
to review the records in person, you
must bring at least one piece of tangible
identification, such as a driver’s license
or passport, to the appointment. You
may also request an accounting of
disclosures that have been made of
records about you, if any. Requests by
telephone will not be accepted.
To the extent the records are Medical
Quality Assurance records protected by
25 U.S.C. 1675, the records may be
disclosed only in accordance with the
exceptions in 25 U.S.C. 1675(d) and
(e)(2), because the Privacy Act right of
access provisions are superseded by the
confidentiality provisions protecting
Medical Quality Assurance Records.
Accordingly, Medical Quality
Assurance Records will only be released
pursuant to the Privacy Act when the
Agency has decided to release the
records in accordance with 25 U.S.C.
1675(d) or (e)(2).
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
To request correction of a record
about you in this system of records,
submit a written request to the relevant
System Manager (see the Appendix and
the ‘‘System Manager(s)’’ section of this
SORN). The request must contain the
same information required for an access
request and include verification of your
identity in the same manner required for
an access request. In addition, the
request must reasonably identify the
record, specify the information
contested, and state the corrective
action sought and the reasons for
requesting the correction. The request
should include supporting information
to show how the record is factually
inaccurate, incomplete, untimely, or
irrelevant. The right to contest records
is limited to information that is factually
inaccurate, incomplete, untimely
(obsolete), or irrelevant.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
PO 00000
Frm 00099
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
HISTORY:
None.
Appendix:
Chief Medical Officer, Office of the Director,
HQ, 5600 Fishers Lane, MS 08E37A,
Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: 204–701–
3890, Fax No: 301–594–6213
Director—Alaska Area Office, 4141
Ambassador Dr., Suite 300, Anchorage AK
99508, Phone: 907–729–3683
Director—Albuquerque Area Office, 4101
Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 225,
Albuquerque, NM 87110–3988, Phone:
505–256–6800, Fax No. 505–256–6847
Director—Bemidji Area Office, Indian Health
Service, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Bemidji Technology Park,
2225 Cooperative Ct. NW, Bemidji, MN
56601, Phone: (218) 444–0452
Director—Billings Area Office, 2900 4th
Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101
Director—California Area Office, 650 Capitol
Mall, Suite 7–100, Sacramento, CA 95814,
Phone: 916–930–3927, Fax No: 916–930–
3952
Director—Great Plains Area Office, 115 4th
Avenue SE, Room 309, Aberdeen, SD
57401, Phone: 605–226–7581, Fax No:
605–226–7541
Director—Nashville Area Office, 711
Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214,
Phone: 915–467–1500
Director—Navajo Area Office, P.O. Box 9020,
Window Rock, AZ 86515, Phone: 928–871–
5801, Fax No: 928–871–5872
Director—Oklahoma City Area Office, 701
Market Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73114,
Phone: 405–951–3820, Fax: 405–951–3780
Director—Phoenix Area Office, Two
Renaissance Square, 40 N Central Avenue,
Suite 504, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Phone: 602–
364–5039
Director—Portland Area Indian Health
Service, 1414 NW Northrup Street, Suite
800, Portland, OR 97209, Phone: 503–414–
5555 Fax: 503–414–5554
Director—Tucson Area Office, 7900 South J
Stock Road, Tucson, AZ 85746, Phone:
520–547–8140
[FR Doc. 2023–23964 Filed 10–30–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4166–14–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
To find out if the system of records
contains a record about you, submit a
written notification request to the
relevant System Manager (see the
Appendix and the ‘‘System
Manager(s)’’section of this SORN). The
request must identify this system of
records, contain the same information
required for an access request, and
include verification of identity in the
same manner required for an access
request.
None.
74499
Request for Public Comment: 30-Day
Information Collection: Application for
Participation in the IHS Scholarship
Program
Indian Health Service, HHS.
Notice and request for
comments. Request for revision to a
collection.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In compliance the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the Indian
Health Service (IHS) invites the general
public to comment on the information
collection titled, ‘‘Application for
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM
31OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74495-74499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23964]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
AGENCY: Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice of a new system of records.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is establishing a new
system of records maintained by the Indian Health Service (IHS) Office
of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS), System Number 09-17-0006,
``Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) Records.'' The records in the
new system of records are about individual healthcare providers who
have applied for Federal certification under the Community Health Aide
Program (CHAP) created under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, as
amended; and individuals serving as CHAP Certification Board members
who review and evaluate the certification/recertification applications
for completeness and verify that the candidates meet the minimum
standards for certification. The CHAP Certification Board will provide
the respective Area Director with its recommendation to either certify,
recertify, or deny certification after reviewing the certification
applications.
DATES: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and (11), this notice is
applicable October 31, 2023, subject to a 30-day comment period on the
routine uses described below. Please submit any comments by November
30, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail or email to: Dr.
Lori Christensen, Chief Medical Officer, IHS, 5600 Fishers Lane--Mail
Stop: 08E37A, Rockville, MD 20857, or [email protected]. Comments are
reviewable at same location. To review comments in person, please
contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer at 240-701-3890.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General questions about this system of
records may be submitted to Heather McClane, IHS Privacy Act Officer,
ATTN: National Community Health Aide Program, 5600 Fishers Lane--Mail
Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857, or by email at
[email protected], or by phone at 240-479-8521. General questions
may also be submitted to the Community Health Aide Program, Office of
Clinical and Preventive
[[Page 74496]]
Services, at [email protected]. Additional information is available at
www.ihs.gov/chap.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Consistent with 25 U.S.C. 1616l, the records
system will be referred to as the Community Health Aide Program (CHAP)
Records. The purpose of the new system of records is to preserve and
process records related to Federal certification of health providers
under the CHAP. CHAP providers include the disciplines and provider
types approved by the National CHAP Certification Board.
The records include: (1) applications for CHAP certification
submitted by individual providers (those seeking certification at any
level--e.g., levels I, II, III, IV, Practitioner, and Therapist, those
seeking recertification, those previously certified seeking an
additional or different certification, those denied Federal
certification, and those with revoked Federal certification); and (2)
the qualifications and recommendations of CHAP certification board
members who review certification applications and provide
recommendations to Area Directors for the certification,
recertification, or denial of certification. The Area Certification
Board may also provide review requests for decertifications and make
recommendations to Area Directors to decertify individual providers.
A Tribe or Tribal Organization supporting a CHAP Certification
Board under an Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
(ISDEAA) agreement may maintain a copy of a record, but the Tribe's
copy would be a Tribal record, not a Federal agency record that is
subject to the Privacy Act, Federal Records Act, or the Freedom of
Information Act, nor would it constitute the official Federal record.
Roselyn Tso,
Director, Indian Health Service.
SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) Records, 09-17-0006.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
Unclassified.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
The addresses of the agency components responsible for the system
of records are found in the Appendix.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
The official listed in the Appendix for the Area Office that
processed the particular certification application involving the
subject individual as an applicant, or with respect to a board member
from that Area's Certification Board, is the relevant System Manager
who the subject individual must contact to make a Privacy Act request.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
The Indian Health Care Improvement Act, as amended (25 U.S.C. 1601
et seq.), and specifically 25 U.S.C. 1616l.
PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
The records in this system of records will be used to implement the
CHAP under 25 U.S.C. 1616l, including for these principal purposes:
1. Purposes for which records about individual providers will be
used:
To process applications for certification that are
submitted by prospective, current, and former CHAP providers seeking
initial or renewal Federal certification to provide community health
care, behavioral health, oral health services, or other services
authorized by the IHS National CHAP Certification Board to be provided
in a Federal or Tribal facility operating a CHAP.
To document the dates and certification status of CHAP
providers, including changes/modifications in categories and levels of
certification. An example of a category modification would be a Dental
Health Aide Therapist adding a level I Behavioral Health Aide
certification. An example of a change in level would be a level IV
Community Health Aide becoming a Community Health Aide Practitioner.
To secure reciprocity for CHAP providers across
jurisdictions and IHS-defined geographical areas (often referred to as
``Areas'') by enabling the National Certification Board, in its
oversight role, to ensure each Area's education/training requirements,
standards and procedures meet or exceed the National standards.
To ensure that Federal and Tribal healthcare facilities
seeking to hire current, prospective, and former Federally certified
CHAP providers have access to the certification status of providers
certified under 25 U.S.C. 1616l.
To ensure that CHAP providers are qualified, competent,
and capable of delivering quality healthcare consistent with the
National CHAP Program Standards and Policies at large, and that the
CHAP providers' scopes of practice are in line with their competency,
their training, and the ability of the facility to provide adequate
support, equipment, services, and staff.
To inform the staff of health care facilities seeking to
employee CHAP providers for the purpose of assessing the providers'
professional competence, character, and fitness.
To inform State health professional boards that have
oversight of CHAP providers of information they need to carry out their
legally assigned functions.
2. Purposes for which records about CHAP Certification Board
members will be used:
For board staffing and other administrative purposes and
to ensure program integrity (i.e., to recruit and select individuals
who are qualified to render certification decisions that maintain
appropriate CHAP levels of care).
To document each member's membership effective dates and
separations, qualifications, and decisions related to Area
Certification Board recommendations to Area Directors.
IHS may also use the records for secondary purposes, such as
program planning and evaluation, individual evaluation, continuous
quality improvement, compiling of numbers and types of providers
certified each cycle, and other purposes consistent with the
authorities in 25 U.S.C. 1616l.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
The records will be about these categories of individuals:
Prospective, current, and former CHAP providers working or
seeking to work in Tribal and Federal healthcare facilities and those
denied certification, described in more detail as follows:
[cir] Prospective--Those who have sought Federal certification and
are awaiting a decision.
[cir] Current--Those who have sought Federal certification and have
been recommended and issued Federal certification for any level of
provider approved by the National CHAP Certification Board. This
includes those who may have advanced, regressed, or changed their
provider type category.
[cir] Former--Those who sought Federal certification and were
recommended and issued Federal certification for any level of
recognized CHAP providers but whose certification is not current.
[cir] Individuals Denied Certification or Certification Revoked--
Those who applied for certification but whose application for
certification was denied or had certifications revoked.
Individuals serving as CHAP Certification Board Members
who review applications for certification/recertification and requests
for decertifications to make recommendations to the respective Area
Director.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
The categories of records will include:
[[Page 74497]]
1. Application for CHAP certification, which contains:
a. the legal name, other names/alias, and date of birth of the
provider/applicant;
b. provider/applicant contact information such as mailing and email
addresses, phone number, and communication preferences;
c. the names and dates of training and education programs attended,
skills verification with address and contact phone number, including
such programs attended as required for renewal or continuation of
certification;
d. applicable employment information such as employer, employer
address, work phone, work email, fax, and states where services are
provided or intend to be provided; and
e. application status (e.g. complete, incomplete, provisional,
approved, denied).
2. Additional records may include:
a. transcripts and training logs from educational/training
programs;
b. documentation of previous certifications held, revoked, or
denied;
c. information regarding liability insurance coverage;
d. professional performance and achievement records, such as,
continuing education certificates, performance awards, adverse or
disciplinary actions, and evaluations and approvals completed by
employers and supervisors; and employer-validated complaints against
providers;
e. records relating to the processing of and decision on
applications for Federal certification and recertification or
decertification; and for other relevant Federal certification and
recertification or decertification actions; and
f. records related to the qualifications of Certification Board
Members, including letters of nomination, letters from supervisors
indicating support of or opposition to nominations, Curriculum Vitae,
professional contact information, and dates of membership.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
Information in the records may be provided by these sources:
subject individual;
CHAP Certification Boards;
educational institutions attended;
continuing education entities;
internship, preceptorship, and practicum sites;
human resource departments;
professional associations;
State and Tribal licensing boards;
financial institutions from which these applicants have
obtained educational loans;
HHS contractors/subcontractors;
PHS Commissioned Personnel Operations Division and U.S.
Office of Personnel Operations Division and U.S. Office of Personnel
Management personnel records;
any HHS OPDIV or other Federal agencies maintaining
records relevant to the applicant's qualifications, such as an agency
where the individual worked as an employee or contractor, or the
Department of the Treasury which maintains records of individuals
disqualified to receive Federal payments;
State or local governments;
professional boards such as the Federation of State
Medical Boards or similar non-government entities; and
third parties providing reviews concerning the subject
individual.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
In addition to the disclosures authorized directly in the Privacy
Act at 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(4) through (b)(11), these
routine uses specify circumstances under which the agency may disclose
information from this system of records to a non-HHS officer or
employee without the consent of the subject individual. IHS will
prohibit redisclosures, or may permit only certain redisclosures, as
required or authorized by law. Each proposed disclosure permitted
directly in the Privacy Act or under these routine uses will also be
evaluated to ensure that the disclosure is legally permissible under
any other applicable laws.
1. Disclosures for Evaluation of Healthcare Delivery Services.
Records about applicants and certified providers may be disclosed to
organizations authorized to conduct evaluation studies concerning the
delivery of health care services by the IHS and HHS (e.g., Joint
Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations).
2. Disclosures to CHAP Certification Boards and Contractors to
perform duties. Certification records about CHAP providers may be
disclosed to CHAP Certification Boards authorized by IHS, consistent
with 25 U.S.C 1616l. This includes disclosures to the non-Federal
members of a CHAP Certification Board and to employees of a Tribe or
Tribal organization who have a need to have access to the information
in performance of their duties or activities for such boards and
organizations operating under an Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) agreement.
3. Disclosures for certification software vendors/contractors.
Records may be disclosed to a certification software vendor performing
or working on a contract for IHS and who has a need to have access to
the information in the performance of its duties or activities for IHS
in accordance with law and with the contract.
4. Disclosures for Evaluation or Verification of Application Data.
IHS may disclose biographic data and information supplied by an
applicant to (a) contacts listed on the applications and associated
forms for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's professional
qualifications, personal characteristics, experience, and suitability,
(b) a Federal, state, or local government health profession licensing
or certification board, or (c) a health care oversight or professional
monitoring organization or program (e.g., accreditation surveyors, or
the National Practitioner Data Bank) for the purpose of verifying that
a clinician's claimed background and employment data are valid and all
claimed credentials are current and in good standing.
5. Disclosures for Reimbursement of Care Purposes. Records about a
provider's certification status may be disclosed to Federal, state,
private and third-party payers that need to know the provider's
certification status to issue reimbursements for care rendered by the
provider.
6. Disclosures to OPM. Records about providers may be disclosed to
the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) if the records are relevant to
the individual's application for or maintenance of Civil Service
appointments.
7. Disclosures for human resource matters. Records pertaining to
IHS certification decisions may be disclosed to Federal, state, local,
or Tribal entities when necessary for them to address human resources
matters arising from IHS certification decisions.
8. Disclosures for Compliance Monitoring. Records about a current
provider or board member may be disclosed to relevant governmental
agencies for the purpose of monitoring the individual's compliance with
applicable laws and standards, on an ongoing basis, to ensure that the
individual remains qualified for Federal certification or to serve as a
CHAP Certification Board member.
9. Disclosure to Department of Justice or in Proceedings. HHS may
disclose information from this system of records to the Department of
Justice (DOJ), or to a court or other tribunal, when any of the
following is a party to litigation or similar proceedings or has an
interest in such proceedings, and HHS determines that the proceedings
are likely to affect HHS or any of its components: (a) HHS, or any
component thereof; (b) any HHS employee in their official capacity; (c)
[[Page 74498]]
any HHS employee in their individual capacity where the DOJ (or HHS,
where it is authorized to do so) has agreed to represent the employee;
or (d) the United States or any agency thereof. In order to disclose
information in these circumstances, HHS must determine that the use of
such records by the DOJ, the court or other tribunal is relevant and
necessary to the proceedings and would help in the effective
representation of the governmental party or interest.
10. Disclosures to Congressional Office. Records may be disclosed
to a congressional office from the record of an individual in response
to a verified inquiry from the congressional office made at the written
request of that individual.
11. Reporting Violations or Potential Violations of Law. In the
event that a record in this system of records on its face, or in
conjunction with other records, indicates a violation or potential
violation of law, whether civil, criminal, or regulatory in nature, and
whether arising by general statute or particular program statute, or by
regulation, rule, or order issued pursuant thereto, the relevant
records in this system of records may be referred to the appropriate
agency, whether Federal, state, local, or Tribal, charged with
enforcing or implementing the statute or rule, regulation, or order
issued pursuant thereto.
12. Disclosure in the Event of a Security Breach Experienced by
HHS. Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and
persons when: (1) HHS suspects or has confirmed that there has been a
breach of the system of records; (2) HHS has determined that as a
result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to
individuals, HHS (including its information systems, programs, and
operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (3) the
disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably
necessary to assist in connection with HHS efforts to respond to the
suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such
harm.
13. Disclosure to Assist another Agency Experiencing a Security
Breach. Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal
entity, when HHS determines that information from this system of
records is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or
entity in: (1) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (2)
preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals,
the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems,
programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national
security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.
14. Medical Quality Assurance Disclosures. Records about providers
and board members may be disclosed for any purpose authorized by 25
U.S.C. 1675(d) or (e)(2). To the extent the records are protected by 25
U.S.C. 1675, the records may only be disclosed in accordance with the
exceptions in 25 U.S.C. 1675(d) and (e)(2).
15. Disclosures of Certification Status. Records about current or
former CHAP providers, individuals denied certification, or individuals
seeking certification may be disclosed to Federal, state, local and
Tribal governmental entities with authority to maintain records
concerning the issuance, retention, or revocation of Federal
certifications necessary to practice a health professional occupation
or specialty.
16. Disclosures to the public. Information about a provider's
certification status may be made public for awareness of which
providers are currently in good standing as CHAP providers, or to share
how many providers are certified to help determine the need for more
providers or training facilities based on clinical need, and would be
limited to information that would be required to be disclosed to the
public under the Freedom of Information Act.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
The records will be stored in file folders and computer-based
electronic files on the secure IHS network indexed by name and record
number in accordance with current IHS policy.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
The records will be retrieved by the subject individual's name or
certification number (for current and former CHAP providers) and any
other identifying numbers necessary to ensure that the records
retrieved are about the intended individual.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
Upon approval of a disposition schedule by the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA), the records will be disposed of when
eligible for destruction under the schedule, if the records are no
longer needed for administrative, audit, legal, or operational
purposes. While the records are unscheduled, they must be retained
indefinitely. Note that CHAP is an expansion of the use of CHAP
providers throughout the IHS health system, and only the Alaska CHAP
maintains historical and archived records.
ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
The records will be protected from unauthorized access by the
following safeguards. All safeguards will conform to applicable laws,
rules, and policies, including the HHS Information Security and Privacy
Program, https://www.hhs.gov/ocio/securityprivacy/, the E-Government
Act of 2002, as amended (44 U.S.C. ch. 35), pertinent National
Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) publications, and OMB
Circular A-130, Managing Information as a Strategic Resource.
Authorized Users: Access will be limited to authorized users who
(1) have a need for such records in the performance of their official
duties and (2) are advised of the confidentiality of the records and
the civil and criminal penalties for misuse. Particularly as the IHS
transitions to an electronic records system, authorized users may
include individuals and entities outside of HHS who are given certain
access for purposes of facilitating specific disclosures authorized
under the Privacy Act, including the routine uses described above. For
example, authorized users may include: National Certification Board
members, Area Certification Board members, IHS Area Offices, Office of
Clinical and Preventive Services CHAP staff, clinical supervision staff
and additional IHS or Tribal staff with oversight responsibilities
related to CHAP providers within an Indian Health Program, as defined
in 25 U.S.C. 1603(12).
At each location where records in this system will be maintained, a
list of users or categories of users having an official need-to-know
has been developed and is maintained.
Physical Safeguards: Paper records will be kept in locked metal
filing cabinets or in locked desk drawers in secured rooms at all times
when not actually in use during working hours and at all times during
non-working hours. Record storage areas, including file cabinets and
desks, are not left unattended or unlocked during office hours,
including lunch hours.
Administrative Safeguards: Only persons who have an official need-
to-know will be entrusted with records from this system of records, and
they will be instructed to safeguard the confidentiality of the records
and to destroy all copies or to return such records when the need to
know has ended. Instructions will include the
[[Page 74499]]
statutory penalties for noncompliance. Proper charge-out procedures
will be followed for the removal of records from the area in which they
are maintained. Authorized users will receive privacy and security
training before record access is granted and annually thereafter. When
copying records for authorized purposes, employees are instructed to
ensure that any imperfect pages are not left in the reproduction room
where they can be read but are destroyed or obliterated. Area Privacy
Coordinators have routine access for monitoring compliance with privacy
regulations.
Technical Safeguards: Records in the electronic system will be
secured by encryption and intrusion detection systems. Access to
electronic records will be controlled by user name and password.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
To request access to records about you in this system of records,
submit a written access request addressed to the relevant System
Manager (see the Appendix and the ``System Manager(s)'' section of this
SORN). The request must:
Reasonably describe the records sought.
Include (as applicable) the name of the IHS Service Unit
relevant to your certification application, or the name of the Area
Certification Board on which you served, and pertinent dates.
Include (for contact purposes and identity verification
purposes) your full name, current address, telephone number and/or
email address, date and place of birth, signature, evidence of other
names used (if seeking records retrieved by a name other than your
current name), and, if needed by the agency, sufficient particulars
contained in the records (such as, record number or other identifying
numbers) to enable the agency to locate the records and distinguish
between records on subject individuals with the same name.
In addition, to verify your identity, your signature on the request
must be notarized or the request must include, above your signature,
your written certification that you are the individual who you claim to
be and that you understand that the knowing and willful request for or
acquisition of a record pertaining to an individual under false
pretenses is a criminal offense subject to a fine of up to $5,000.
In your written request, you may request that copies of the records
be sent to you or include your signed, written consent directing that
the records be sent to a third party, or you may request an appointment
to review the records in person (including with a person of your
choosing, if you provide written authorization for agency personnel to
discuss the records in that person's presence). If you make an
appointment to review the records in person, you must bring at least
one piece of tangible identification, such as a driver's license or
passport, to the appointment. You may also request an accounting of
disclosures that have been made of records about you, if any. Requests
by telephone will not be accepted.
To the extent the records are Medical Quality Assurance records
protected by 25 U.S.C. 1675, the records may be disclosed only in
accordance with the exceptions in 25 U.S.C. 1675(d) and (e)(2), because
the Privacy Act right of access provisions are superseded by the
confidentiality provisions protecting Medical Quality Assurance
Records. Accordingly, Medical Quality Assurance Records will only be
released pursuant to the Privacy Act when the Agency has decided to
release the records in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 1675(d) or (e)(2).
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
To request correction of a record about you in this system of
records, submit a written request to the relevant System Manager (see
the Appendix and the ``System Manager(s)'' section of this SORN). The
request must contain the same information required for an access
request and include verification of your identity in the same manner
required for an access request. In addition, the request must
reasonably identify the record, specify the information contested, and
state the corrective action sought and the reasons for requesting the
correction. The request should include supporting information to show
how the record is factually inaccurate, incomplete, untimely, or
irrelevant. The right to contest records is limited to information that
is factually inaccurate, incomplete, untimely (obsolete), or
irrelevant.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
To find out if the system of records contains a record about you,
submit a written notification request to the relevant System Manager
(see the Appendix and the ``System Manager(s)''section of this SORN).
The request must identify this system of records, contain the same
information required for an access request, and include verification of
identity in the same manner required for an access request.
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
HISTORY:
None.
Appendix:
Chief Medical Officer, Office of the Director, HQ, 5600 Fishers
Lane, MS 08E37A, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: 204-701-3890, Fax No:
301-594-6213
Director--Alaska Area Office, 4141 Ambassador Dr., Suite 300,
Anchorage AK 99508, Phone: 907-729-3683
Director--Albuquerque Area Office, 4101 Indian School Rd. NE, Suite
225, Albuquerque, NM 87110-3988, Phone: 505-256-6800, Fax No. 505-
256-6847
Director--Bemidji Area Office, Indian Health Service, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Bemidji Technology Park,
2225 Cooperative Ct. NW, Bemidji, MN 56601, Phone: (218) 444-0452
Director--Billings Area Office, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT
59101
Director--California Area Office, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7-100,
Sacramento, CA 95814, Phone: 916-930-3927, Fax No: 916-930-3952
Director--Great Plains Area Office, 115 4th Avenue SE, Room 309,
Aberdeen, SD 57401, Phone: 605-226-7581, Fax No: 605-226-7541
Director--Nashville Area Office, 711 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville,
TN 37214, Phone: 915-467-1500
Director--Navajo Area Office, P.O. Box 9020, Window Rock, AZ 86515,
Phone: 928-871-5801, Fax No: 928-871-5872
Director--Oklahoma City Area Office, 701 Market Drive, Oklahoma
City, OK 73114, Phone: 405-951-3820, Fax: 405-951-3780
Director--Phoenix Area Office, Two Renaissance Square, 40 N Central
Avenue, Suite 504, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Phone: 602-364-5039
Director--Portland Area Indian Health Service, 1414 NW Northrup
Street, Suite 800, Portland, OR 97209, Phone: 503-414-5555 Fax: 503-
414-5554
Director--Tucson Area Office, 7900 South J Stock Road, Tucson, AZ
85746, Phone: 520-547-8140
[FR Doc. 2023-23964 Filed 10-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4166-14-P