Texas Human Resources Code 22.029 – Project for Fraud Detection and Prevention Through Data Matching
(a) In order to enhance the state’s ability to detect and prevent fraud in the payment of claims under federal and state entitlement programs, the commission shall implement a data matching project as described by Subsection (b). The costs of developing and administering the data matching project shall be paid entirely from amounts recovered by participating agencies as a result of potential fraudulent occurrences or administrative errors identified by the project.
(b) The project shall involve the matching of database information among all agencies using electronic funds transfer and other participating agencies. The commission shall contract through a memorandum of understanding with each agency participating in the project. After the data has been matched, the commission shall furnish each participating agency with a list of potential fraudulent occurrences or administrative errors.
Terms Used In Texas Human Resources Code 22.029
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) Source: OCC
- Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
(c) Each agency participating in a matching cycle shall document actions taken to investigate and resolve fraudulent issues noted on the list provided by the commission. The commission shall compile the documentation furnished by participating agencies for each matching cycle.
(d) Agencies participating under Subsection (b) shall cooperate fully with the commission in the prompt provision of data in the requested format, for the identification of suspected fraudulent occurrences, or administrative errors as the commission may otherwise reasonably request in order to carry out the intent of this section.
(e) The commission and participating agencies providing source data for the project shall take all necessary steps to protect the confidentiality of information provided as part of this project, in compliance with all existing state and federal privacy guidelines.