1. PURPOSE.To announce Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 training seminars for SWA BAM/DCA Investigators.

2. REFERENCE.ET Handbook No. 395, and UIPL No. 10-01, dated November 23, 2000.

3. BACKGROUND.ET Handbook No. 395 requires SWAs to draw weekly samples of paid and denied intrastate and interstate claims and to conduct in-depth investigations of the sampled cases. Each case represents a large portion of the claimant population, so it is important that SWA staff adhere to methodology prescribed in the Handbook to ensure that the data are collected properly and coded accurately for entry into the BAM /DCA database. BAM data are used in the Government Performance and Results Act overpayment measure and in the analysis of overpayments at both the state and Federal levels. The inclusion of DCA investigations and interstate paid claims investigations in the BAM program in 2001 requires additional training in the conduct of investigations. Therefore, the Department of Labor is offering training for new and experienced investigators to ensure continued validity of the data collected.

4. FY 2004 BAM/DCA State Investigator Training Seminars.

5. Costs. The SWAs are responsible for travel and per diem costs for state staff to attend the training sessions.

6. Logistics. Attached is information on location, hours, hotel arrangements, and ground transportation for each of the upcoming training seminars. Persons with disabilities who wish to attend should send requests for accommodation to the appropriate Regional Office (RO).

7. Action Required. State Administrators are requested to (1) notify appropriate state staff of the upcoming BAM/DCA training seminars and (2) provide RO staff with the name and session preference of each SWA nominee as soon as possible. Reservations should be made with the applicable hotel by the deadlines indicated above.

8. Inquiries. Direct any questions to the appropriate RO.

Attachment

Information for BAM/DCA INVESTIGATOR TRAINING SEMINAR