Making fuller use of data on deaths could improve the management of programs in a number of federal agencies although carrying that out would be complex, says a report by the National Academy of Public Administration.
Such data is initially collected by state vital records offices, which provide it directly or indirectly to the SSA for its use in benefits determination. The SSA does share that data with other agencies for purposes such as checking billing by Medicare and Medicaid providers, as well as for general statistical purposes, the report noted.
