Privacy Act of 1974; Report of a New System of Records

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In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, we are proposing to establish a new system titled, "Competitive Bidding for Clinical Laboratory Services (CBCLS), System No. 09-70- 0589." The demonstration project is mandated by section 302(b) of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (Public Law (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 CBCLS demonstration and evaluation seek to determine whether competitive bidding can be used to provide quality laboratory services at prices below current Medicare reimbursement rates. Independent, hospital, and physician office laboratories providing non- patient Medicare Part B laboratory services will be required to participate in the demonstration. The purpose of this system is to collect and maintain demographic and health related data on the target population of Medicare beneficiaries who reside in the demonstration area and providers and/or suppliers that are potential participants in the demonstration who provide Medicare Part B clinical laboratory services to such beneficiaries. Information re