Release of 2005 UI benefit accuracy data

Signed letter (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/advisories/UIPL/2006/UIPL20-06.pdf):

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY SYSTEM
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Washington, D.C. 20210
CLASSIFICATION: UI
CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL: OWS/DPM
DATE: March 29, 2006
ADVISORY: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 20-06
TO: STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES
FROM: CHERYL ATKINSON, Administrator, Office of Workforce Security
SUBJECT: Procedures for Release of Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) Data for Calendar Year (CY) 2005
RESCISSIONS: None
EXPIRATION DATE: March 31, 2007

1. Purpose. To provide State Workforce Agencies with guidelines and key dates for the completion of CY 2005 UI BAM paid and denied claims sample cases and the publication of CY 2005 BAM program data.

2. References. Benefit Accuracy Measurement State Operations Handbook (ET Handbook No. 395, 4th edition), 20 CFR 602, Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 17-05, and UIPL No. 19-96.

3. Completion of CY 2005 BAM Cases. Chapter VI of ET Handbook No. 395 requires that “a minimum of 98 percent of cases for the year must be completed within 120 days of the ending date of the Calendar Year.” Because April 30, the 120th day of CY 2006, is a Sunday, close of business (c.o.b.) May 1, 2006, is the date of record for state databases. All published BAM program data will be based on CY 2005 BAM paid and denied claims cases that have been signed off by the BAM program supervisor by c.o.b. May 1, 2006.

Changes to the state’s database subsequent to the date of record can result in inconsistencies with the Department of Labor’s (DOL) database that must be reconciled before the BAM program data can be published. States must not reopen any CY 2005 BAM cases after May 1, 2006, until they have reviewed the BAM program data transmitted to them by DOL and have confirmed that these data agree with the BAM paid and denied claims accuracy data produced by the state’s database. Procedures for resolving differences between DOL and state BAM program data are discussed in section 5.

4. Effects of Suspensions of BAM Data Collections. BAM sampling and case investigations were suspended in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and subsequent hurricanes for the following periods:

Alabama - Batches 200538-200553
Arkansas - Batches 200537-200538
Florida - Batches 200544-200552
Louisiana - Batches 200535-200553
Mississippi - Batches 200535-200553.

Case completion and timeliness requirements for these states are waived for CY 2005 cases. DOL plans to publish paid claims accuracy rates for these states based on all CY 2005 cases completed as of May 1, 2006. For the period that BAM operations were suspended, DOL will estimate paid claims accuracy rates using completed CY 2005 case data in conjunction with historical BAM data and UI benefit payment data available from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) 5159 reports. These adjusted paid claims accuracy rates will maintain continuity with the BAM data series and reflect the “core” UI claims workload -- that is, the estimated portion of the UI workload not related to the hurricanes. DOL will not estimate the accuracy of UI payments for hurricane-related claims during the periods in which BAM was suspended. Because of insufficient historical data, BAM denied claims accuracy (DCA) data will not be adjusted.

5. Transmittal of Data and Comment Period. The DOL National Office will produce and transmit to each state by May 15, 2006, paid and denied claims accuracy data, based on the CY 2005 BAM cases as of c.o.b. May 1, 2006. States are encouraged to run the BAM paid claims Annual Report, DCA Error Rates Report, and Improper Denials Rates Report software and compare the results with the rates and report footnotes DOL transmits to them for comment prior to publication. Prior to the date of record, DOL will transmit a footnote lookup table for the CY 2005 BAM paid claims Annual Report and DCA Error Rates Report and Improper Denials Rates Report. Facsimiles of these reports, report definitions, and report footnotes are available in UIPL No. 17-05, Attachments 1 and 2.

States should report any discrepancies or submit questions concerning the BAM paid and denied claims data and footnotes to the National Office, with a copy to the appropriate Regional Administrator, by June 2, 2006. Comments should be sent to Andrew Spisak by e-mail ([email protected]), fax (202-693-3975), or mail:

Andrew Spisak
U. S. Department of Labor
ETA / Office of Workforce Security
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-4522
Washington, DC 20210

National and Regional Office staff will address and reconcile issues raised by the states by June 16, 2006.

6. Federal Publication of BAM Program Data. DOL will publish a CY 2005 BAM analytical report on the ETA Web site: http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov. It will be similar in content to the CY 2004 analytical report, which is available at: http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/bam/2004/bam-cy2004.asp. States should refer to this publication for the types of analyses that will be included in the CY 2005 publication.

DOL will also publish on the ETA Web site a compendium of all states' CY 2005 BAM paid and denied claims data as part of the UI Performs Annual Report. UI Performs is DOL’s performance measurement system for UI. States should refer to the CY 2004 UI Performs Annual Report (http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/ar_04.pdf) for the types of BAM program data that will be included in the CY 2005 publication.

If a state fails to follow the BAM methodology regarding sample selection, data collection, or case completion timeliness prescribed in ET Handbook No. 395 to such an extent that the data are not reliable, DOL will publish an explanation of the major deficiencies in lieu of BAM program data for that state. States must address these deficiencies through the State Quality Service Plan process.

Although UIPL No. 19-96 announced the elimination of the requirement in 20 CFR 602.21(g) that states release BAM program data publicly, states may choose to release their BAM data to the public independent of the Federal release.

7. Key Dates. The following key dates for the public release of CY 2005 BAM data are the latest that the task or action must be completed.

4/14/06  States submit requests for waivers of BAM paid and denied claims timeliness requirements, along with supporting analysis, to the appropriate ETA Regional Administrator.

4/21/06  Regional Offices respond to states on the disposition of state requests for waivers of BAM timeliness requirements.

4/28/06  The National Office electronically transmits the footnote lookup table for the BAM paid and denied claims software to each state's Sun computer.

5/01/06  Each state checks its UI database to: 1) ensure that the BAM supervisor has signed off all BAM paid and denied claims cases which the investigators have completed, and 2) reopen any case in order to update information or correct any data errors. Cases closed by supervisors after May 1, 2006, will not be included in the paid claims Annual Report or the DCA Error Rates and Improper Denials Rates Reports. States must not reopen any CY 2005 cases after May 1, 2006, until they have reviewed the BAM program data transmitted by the National Office and verified the data against their state database or reconciled any differences with DOL.

5/15/06  The National Office transmits the CY 2005 BAM program data to the state administrators.

6/02/06  States review BAM paid and denied claims accuracy rate data and footnotes, and report any discrepancies or submit questions concerning the BAM data or footnotes to the National Office (to the attention of Andrew Spisak, as discussed in section 5), with copies to the appropriate ETA Regional Administrator.

6/16/06  National and Regional Office staff address issues raised by the states and reconcile any differences in state and DOL BAM program data.

6/16/06  States provide the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the contact person (or persons) for public inquiries concerning BAM paid and denied claims data. This information should be sent to the attention of Andrew Spisak at the address, e-mail address, or fax provided in section 5, with copies to the appropriate ETA Regional Administrator.

8/31/06  DOL publishes the CY 2005 BAM data on the ETA Web site.

8. Action. State Administrators are requested to:
a. provide copies of these guidelines to the appropriate staff;
b. send any request for a waiver of BAM timeliness requirements to the appropriate ETA Regional Administrator by c.o.b. April 14, 2006; and
c. ensure that the National Office (to the attention of Andrew Spisak, as discussed in section 5) and the appropriate ETA Regional Administrator are 1) notified by June 2, 2006, of any issues that require the reconciliation of differences between the state’s and DOL’s BAM program data; and 2) provided by June 16, 2006, with the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the person(s) whom interested parties may contact with questions or inquiries about the state's BAM program data.

9. Inquiries. Questions should be directed to the appropriate Regional Office.