Employers may receive a request from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) prompting the submission of group health plan information to support the IRS/SSA/CMS Data Match Project. The Data Match Program is designed to facilitate shared access to data between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and CMS. The shared data allows each agency to pool information on Medicare beneficiaries who also have coverage under a group health plan, and make determinations as to the coordination of benefits between the two. Cooperation by employers is required by law, and the failure to properly respond to the request within 30 days of receipt may result in the imposition of penalties in the amount of $1,000 per individual listed in the letter.