MEDIA NOTICE
Tuesday, January 15, 2002

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Citizens’ Council on Health Care
1954 University Ave. W., Suite 8
St. Paul, MN 55104
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CONTACT:Twila Brase, R.N., President
PHONE: 651-646-8935
http://www.cchconline.org
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Addendum to Public Comments on Medicare Database:

CCHC asks for 90-day extension to public comment period
before disclosure of patient data begins.

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CCHC LETTER TO CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES:
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January 15, 2002

Citizens’ Council on Health Care
1954 University Ave. W., Suite 8
St. Paul, MN 55104


Director
Division of Data Liaison and Distribution
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Room N2-04-27
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850


RE: Doc.01-3005 - Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records


Dear Director:

Please accept this addendum to the public comments submitted today by email to Ned Burford (nburford@cms.hhs.gov).

Citizens’ Council on Health Care requests that a 90-day extension to the public comments period on the Medicare Beneficiary Database and the eleven proposed routine uses. We understand that disclosure under the eleven routine uses can begin tomorrow.

Given the timing of the notice - in the midst of holiday festivities - the public has had little time to become informed or to react to the CMS notice for the Medicare Beneficiary Database. And public policy organizations, including ours, needs more time to inform the public about the agency’s plans.

In addition, the mail in D.C. has been slowed by the Anthrax scare, many senior citizens who will be placed on the database may not have access to the Internet to read the notice and there was initially no email address for response.

You have stated in the Federal Register notice that public comments may persuade you to defer implementation of the Medicare Beneficiary Database. It is important that you allow enough time to receive those comments.

Thank you for considering our request.

Sincerely,


Twila Brase, R.N.
President, CCHC







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Citizens’ Council on Health Care
1954 University Ave.W., Suite 8
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-646-8935 phone
651-646-0100 fax
http://www.cchconline.org
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