DCL-04-20, Department of Health and Human Services Electronic Communication Pilot Demonstration

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-04-20

DATE: May 25, 2004

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: Department of Health and Human Services Electronic Communication Pilot Demonstration

Dear Colleague:

The Office of Child Support Enforcement has been selected to take a lead role in support of the Department of Health and Human Services' activities to build electronic technology systems to communicate with states on a secure, electronic basis, including a pilot exploration of digital signatures. The pilot project will use the approach known as Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). PKI uses a combination of technology, policies, and procedures to provide confidentiality, integrity, and authentication for electronic communications. Through the use of digital signatures and encryption, PKI provides a high degree of security in information exchange.

As you know, the Office of Child Support Enforcement has automated some aspects of state plan information using a Web forms interface. Our automation project has been chosen, among other HHS projects, for the PKI demonstration. Our intention, on a pilot basis, is to add digital signature capability to the existing electronic transmission capability for submittal and approval of state plan amendments. If adding digital signatures of state and Federal officials proves to be more efficient, effective, and secure for state plan amendment submittal, it could lead to other Federal programs piloting PKA with their state plans. When these are ultimately finalized, states will no longer be required to submit state plans in writing.

We are working to minimize state staff time and efforts related to participation during the pilot, especially for those states already issuing certificates under their own authority for guaranteeing signatures. For those of you that have not already set up your own certificate authority, digital certificates will be distributed free of charge for the pilot. Technical assistance, at no cost to you, is available to assist you during the pilot.

We anticipate that PKI will reduce time and costs and provide a secure medium for electronic communications. Since our PKI approach is designed to work with all levels of PKI certification, we hope that most, if not all, states will participate in this pilot program. We expect that our findings will serve as models for use across HHS to enhance government to government secure communications. Since the models that we develop should be readily adapted to other plan approval processes and to other HHS business processes, we anticipate that HHS may showcase and subsequently implement this technology on a broader scale.

Your ideas and comments on the project are invited. Contact Joe Gloystein at (202) 401-6741 or jgloystein@acf.hhs.gov. He will be in touch with you, as well, to address concerns and technical questions about participation in the pilot. Conference calls may be scheduled if it appears that they are needed. If you have any policy issues or questions related to the State plan process, please contact Andrew Hagan at (202) 401-5375 or ahagan@acf.hhs.gov

Sincerely,

Sherri Z. Heller, Ed.D.
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc Regional Program Managers ACF Regional Administrators