DOL/ESA-50

SYSTEM NAME:

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Physicians and Health Care Providers Excluded under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

None.

SYSTEM LOCATION:

U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

Providers of medical goods and services, including physicians, hospitals, and providers of medical support services or supplies excluded or considered for exclusion from payment under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act for fraud or abuse (20 CFR § 30.715-30.726, or as updated).

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

Copies of letters, lists and documents from Federal and state agencies concerning the administrative debarment of providers from participation in programs providing benefits similar to those of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and their reinstatement; materials concerning possible fraud or abuse which could lead to exclusion of a provider; documents relative to reinstatement of providers, materials concerning the conviction of providers for fraudulent activities in connection with any Federal or state program for which payments are made to providers for similar medical services; all letters, memoranda, and other documents regarding the consideration of a provider's exclusion, the actual exclusion, or reinstatement under the provisions of 20 CFR ºº 30.715-30.726 (or as updated); copies of all documents in a claim file relating to medical care and/or treatment including bills for such services, as well as letters, memoranda, and other documents obtained during investigations, hearings and other administrative proceedings concerning exclusion for fraud or abuse, as well as reinstatement, along with recommendations and decisions; lists of excluded providers released by the OWCP.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, Title XXXVI of Pub. L. 106-398, October 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654.

PURPOSE(S):

To maintain records in order to determine the propriety of instituting debarment actions under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. These records also provide information on treatment, billing and other aspects of a medical provider's actions, and/or documentation relating to the debarment of the medical care provider under another Federal or state program.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND THE PURPOSE OF SUCH USES:

In addition to those universal routine uses listed in the General Prefatory Statement to this document, disclosure of information from this system of records may be made to the following individuals and entities for the purposes noted when the purpose of the disclosure is compatible with the purpose for which the information is collected:

a. Federal, state or local government agencies, state licensing boards, professional organizations, claimants, patients, employers, insurance companies, and any other entities or individuals, for the purpose of identifying an excluded or reinstated provider, to ensure that authorization is not issued nor payment made to an excluded provider, and for the purpose of providing notice that a formerly excluded provider has been reinstated.

b. Federal, state or local government agencies, state licensing boards, professional organizations, claimants, patients, employers, insurance companies, and any other entities or individuals, for the purpose of obtaining information necessary to ensure that the list of excluded providers is correct, useful, and updated, as appropriate, and for the purpose of obtaining information relevant to a Departmental decision regarding a debarment action. This routine use encompasses the disclosure of such information that will enable the Department to properly verify the identity of a provider, to identify the nature of a violation, and the penalty imposed for such violation.

Note: Disclosure of information contained in the file to the claimant, a person who is duly authorized to act on his/her behalf, or to others to whom disclosure is authorized by these routine uses, may be made over the telephone. Disclosure over the telephone will only be done where the requestor provides appropriate identifying information. Telephonic disclosure of information is essential to permit efficient administration and adjudication of claims.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

None.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THIS SYSTEM:

STORAGE:

The records are in manual files, magnetic tapes or other computer storage media, or on computer printouts.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Material is retrieved either by the name of the provider, a case citation, or date of release.

SAFEGUARDS:

Files and automated data are maintained under supervision of OWCP personnel during normal working hours - only authorized personnel, with the appropriate password, may handle, retrieve, or disclose any information contained therein. Access to electronic records is controlled by password or other user identification code.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

File is retained in the office for three years after the debarment action is final and then transferred to the Federal Records Center, and destroyed thirty years after the debarment action is final. Where the period of exclusion is defined as a set period of time, the file will be retained two years after the period of exclusion expires (or the individual is otherwise reinstated), then transferred to the Federal Records Center, and destroyed thirty years after the debarment action is final.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:

Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

An individual wishing to inquire whether this system of records contains information about him/her may write the system manager at the address above. In order for the record to be located, the individual must provide his or her full name, date of birth, and signature.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE:

Any individual seeking access to non-exempt information about a record within this system of records may write the system manager, and arrangements will be made to provide review of the file. In order for the record to be located, the individual must provide his or her full name, date of birth, and signature.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURE:

Any individual requesting amendment of non-exempt records should contact the system manager. Individuals requesting amendment of records must comply with the Department's Privacy Act regulations at 29 CFR 71.1 and 71.9.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Information in this system is obtained from Federal, state or local government agencies, state licensing boards, professional organizations, claimants, patients, employers, insurance companies, any other entities or individuals, public documents, and newspapers, as well as from other Department of Labor systems of records.

SYSTEM EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2), investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes which is maintained in the investigation files of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, is exempt from subsections (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I), and (f) of 5 U.S.C. 552a. The disclosure of information contained in civil investigative files, including the names of persons and agencies to whom the information has been transmitted, would substantially compromise the effectiveness of the investigation. Knowledge of such investigations would enable subjects to take such action as is necessary to prevent detection of illegal activities, conceal evidence or otherwise escape civil enforcement action. Disclosure of this information could lead to the intimidation of, or harm to, informants and witnesses, and their respective families, and the well being of investigative personnel and their families.