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  1. Home
  2. FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)
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  4. FOIA Annual Reports
  5. HHS Fiscal Year 2022 Freedom of Information Annual Report
  • Freedom of Information Act
    • Submit & Check Status of FOIA Requests
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HHS Fiscal Year 2022 Freedom of Information Annual Report

I.  Basic Information Regarding Report

1. Name, title, address, and telephone number of person(s) to be contacted with questions about the Report:

Arianne Perkins
Acting Director, Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts Division
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
United States Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Suite 729H
Washington D.C. 20201
(202) 690-7453

2. Electronic Address for This Report on the World Wide Web: 

https://www.hhs.gov/foia/reports/annual-reports/index.html

3. Address for Paper Copies of this Report

Contact Arianne Perkins at the address or telephone number listed above, or at: http://www.hhs.gov/foia/contacts/index.html

II. Making a FOIA Request

1. HHS and Operating Division Freedom of Information Officers/FOIA Requester Service Centers:

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
Website:  http://www.hhs.gov/foia
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Suite 729H
Washington D.C. 20201
Phone: (202) 690-7453

Administration for Children and Families (ACF):     
Website: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/foia
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Mary E. Switzer Building
330 C Street, S.W., Room 4004
Washington, D.C.  20201
Phone: 1-888-747-1861

Administration for Community Living (ACL):
Website:  http://www.acl.gov/FOIA
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Administration for Community Living
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 202-795-7377

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): 
Website:  https://www.ahrq.gov/policy/foia/index.html
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Suite 729H
Washington D.C. 20201
Phone: (202) 690-7453

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 
Website:  http://www.cdc.gov/od/foia/
Freedom of Information Act Officer
1600 Clifton Road, N.E., MS T-01
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Phone: 770-488-6277

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): 
Website:  https://www.cms.gov/freedom-information-act-foia-service-center
Freedom of Information Act Officer
North Building, Room C5-11-06
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21244
Phone: 410-786-5353

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): 
Website:  http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/freedom-information
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Division of Freedom of Information
Office the Executive Secretariat, OC
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1035
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 301-796-3900

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): 
Website:  http://www.hrsa.gov/foia/
Freedom of Information Act Officer
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13-N82
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 301-443-1467

Indian Health Service (IHS): 
Website:  http://www.ihs.gov/FOIA
Freedom of Information Act Officer
5600 Fishers Lane, Mailstop 09E70
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 240-460-3711

National Institutes of Health (NIH): 
Website:  http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/foia/
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Building 31, Room 5B35
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2107
Phone: 301-496-5633

Office of Inspector General (OIG):  
Website:  http://oig.hhs.gov/foia/
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Cohen Building, Room 5527
330 Independence Ave, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 202-619-2541

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 
Website:  http://www.samhsa.gov/foia/
Freedom of Information Act Officer
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18E13A
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 240-276-2327

2. Brief description of why some requests are not granted: Documents requested were protected by an exemption and release would have caused harm to the interest protected by the exemption. Information withheld may include home addresses and phone numbers, social security numbers, medical records, proprietary business records, investigatory records, that if released may interfere with open investigations, and drafts of documents.

3. HHS FOIA Regulations:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=790457d918cfcfebe483689ef4ac40bf&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title45/45cfr5_main_02.tpl

Section III: Acronyms, Definitions, and Exemptions

1. Following are definitions of terms used in this report:

a. Administrative Appeal – a request to a federal agency asking that it review at a higher administrative level a FOIA determination made by the agency at the initial request level.

b. Average Number – the number obtained by dividing the sum of a group of numbers by the quantity of numbers in the group.  For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the average number is 8.

c. Backlog – the number of requests or administrative appeals that are pending at an agency at the end of the fiscal year that are beyond the statutory time period for a response.

d. Component – for agencies that process requests on a decentralized basis, a "component" is an entity, also sometimes referred to as an Office, Division, Bureau, Center, or Directorate, within the agency that processes FOIA requests.  The FOIA now requires that agencies include in their Annual FOIA Report data for both the agency overall and for each principal component of the agency.

e. Consultation – the procedure whereby the agency responding to a FOIA request first forwards a record to another agency or component within the same agency for its review because that other agency has an interest in the document. Once the agency in receipt of the consultation finishes its review of the record, it responds back to the agency or component within the same agency that forwarded it.  That agency, in turn, will then respond to the FOIA requester.

f. Exemption 3 Statute – a federal statute that exempts information from disclosure and which the agency relies on to withhold information under subsection (b)(3) of the FOIA.

g. FOIA Request – a FOIA request is generally a request to a federal agency for access to records concerning another person (i.e., a "third- party" request), or concerning an organization, or a particular topic of interest.  FOIA requests also include requests made by requesters seeking records concerning themselves (i.e., "first-party" requests) when those requesters are not subject to the Privacy Act, such as non- U.S. citizens.  Moreover, because all first-party requesters should be afforded the benefit of both the access provisions of the FOIA as well as those of the Privacy Act, FOIA requests also include any first-party requests where an agency determines that it must search beyond its Privacy Act "systems of records" or where a Privacy Act exemption applies, and the agency looks to FOIA to afford the greatest possible access. All requests which require the agency to utilize the FOIA in responding to the requester are included in this Report.

Additionally, a FOIA request includes records referred to the agency for processing and direct response to the requester.  It does not, however, include records for which the agency has received a consultation from another agency.  (Consultations are reported separately in Section XII of this Report.)

h. Full Grant – an agency decision to disclose all records in full in response to a FOIA request.

i. Full Denial – an agency decision not to release any records in response to a FOIA request because the records are exempt in their entireties under one or more of the FOIA exemptions, or because of a procedural reason, such as when no records could be located.

j. Median Number – the middle, not average, number.  For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the median number is 7.

k. Multi-Track Processing – a system in which simple requests requiring relatively minimal review are placed in one processing track and more voluminous and complex requests are placed in one or more other tracks.  Requests granted expedited processing are placed in yet another track.  Requests in each track are processed on a first in/first out basis.

i. Expedited Processing – an agency will process a FOIA request on an expedited basis when a requester satisfies the requirements for expedited processing as set forth in the statute and in agency regulations.

ii. Simple Request – a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track processing places in its fastest (non- expedited) track based on the low volume and/or simplicity of the records requested.

iii. Complex Request – a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track processing places in a slower track based on the high volume and/or complexity of the records requested.

l. Partial Grant/Partial Denial – in response to a FOIA request, an agency decision to disclose portions of the records and to withhold other portions that are exempt under the FOIA, or to otherwise deny a portion of the request for a procedural reason.

m. Pending Request or Pending Administrative Appeal – a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has not taken final action in all respects.

n. Perfected Request – a request for records which reasonably describes such records and is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any) and procedures to be followed.

o. Processed Request or Processed Administrative Appeal – a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has taken final action in all respects.

p. Range in Number of Days – the lowest and highest number of days to process requests or administrative appeals.

q. Time Limits – the time period in the statute for an agency to respond to a FOIA request (ordinarily twenty working days from receipt of a perfected FOIA request).

2. Following are concise descriptions of the nine FOIA exemptions:

a. Exemption 1:  classified national defense and foreign relations information

b. Exemption 2:  information that is related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency

c. Exemption 3:  information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law

d. Exemption 4:  trade secrets and other confidential business information

e. Exemption 5: inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges

f. Exemption 6:  information involving matters of personal privacy

g. Exemption 7: records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, to the extent that the production of those records (A) could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, (B) would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (C) could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, (D) could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, (E) would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or (F) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual

h. Exemption 8:  information relating to the supervision of financial institutions

i. Exemption 9: geological information on wells

3. Agency Component Abbreviations

Component AbbreviationComponent Name
ACFAdministration for Children and Families
ACLAdministration for Community Living
CDCCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
CMSCenter for Medicare and Medicaid Services
FDAFood and Drug Administration
HRSAHealth Resources and Services Administration
IHSIndian Health Service
NIHNational Institutes of Health
OIGOffice of the Inspector General
OSOffice of the Secretary
SAMHSASubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

IV. Exemption 3 Statutes

StatuteType of Information
Withheld
Case CitationAgency / ComponentNumber of Times
Relied upon
by Agency / Component
Total Number of
Times Relied upon
by Agency Overall
25 U.S.C. § 1675(a)(3)Medical quality assurance recordsN/AIHS66
41 U.S.C. § 4702 (formerly at 41 U.S.C. § 253b(m)(1))Contractor proposals that are in the possession or control of an executive agency and that have not been set forth or incorporated by reference into contractsSinkfield v. HUD, No. 10-885, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35233, at *13-15 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 15, 2012); Margolin v. NASA, No. 09-CV-00421, 2011 WL 1303221, at *6 (D. Nev. Mar. 31, 2011); Hornbostel v. U.S. Dep’t of the Interior, 305 F. Supp. 2d 21, 30 (D.D.C. 2003), summary affirmance granted, No. 03-5257, 2004 WL 1900562 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 25, 2004).IHS532
CDC6
CMS16
OS4
HRSA1
10 U.S.C. § 3309(b) (formerly at 10 U.S.C. § 2305(g))Certain contractor proposalsRoman v. NSA, Nos. 09-2947, 09-4281, 09-3344, 09-2504, 09-5633, 2012 WL 569747, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 22, 2012); Margolin v. NASA, No. 09-CV-00421-LRH-VPC, 2011 WL 1303221, at *6 (D. Nev. Mar. 31, 2011)IHS11
42 U.S.C. § 1395bb(b)Certain information related to Accreditation SurveysN/AIHS11
42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2Confidentiality of patient records maintained in connection with substance abuse education, prevention, training, treatment, rehabilitation, or researchN/AIHS22
5 U.S.C. app. 3 § 7(b)Names of employees who provide information or complaints to the Inspector GeneralWash. Post Co. v. Special Inspector Gen. for Afg. Reconstr., 486 F. Supp. 3d 141, 166 (D.D.C. 2020)IHS127
OIG26
42 U.S.C. § 11137(b)(1)National Practitioner Data Bank informationN/AOIG12
HRSA1
42 U.S.C. § 1306c(e)Information contained on the Death Master FileN/AOIG11
42 U.S.C. § 262a(h)(1)Certain categories of information relating to biological agents and toxinsCiv. Beat L. Ctr. for the Pub. Int. v. CDC, 929 F.3d 1079, 1084-85 (9th Cir. 2019)OIG1739
CDC19
NIH1
OS2
41 U.S.C. § 2102 (amending 41 U.S.C. § 423(a)(1))Contractor bid or proposal information; source selection informationLegal & Safety Emp. Rsch., Inc. v. U.S. Dep't of the Army, No. Civ. S001748, 2001 WL 34098652, at *3-4 (E.D. Cal. May 4, 2001) (dictum)CDC711
OS4
42 U.S.C. §242m(d)Identifiable information for certain research and statistical activitiesN/ACDC2627
OS1
26 U.S.C. §§6103, 6105Certain tax return information, to include Taxpayer Identification Numbers of third Parties, and certain tax convention informationNosal v. IRS, 523 F. Supp. 3d 72, 79 (D.D.C. 2021); Church of Scientology v. IRS, 484 U.S. 9, 15 (1987) (26 U.S.C. § 6103); Elec. Priv. Info. Ctr. v. IRS, 910 F.3d 1232, 1237 (D.C. Cir. 2018); Leonard v. U.S. Dep’of Treasury, 590 F. App’x. 141, 143-44 (3d Cir. 2014) (per curiam); Pac. Fisheries, Inc. v. IRS, 395 F. App’x. 438, 440 (9th Cir. 2010) (unpublished disposition) (26 U.S.C. §§ 6103, 6105).CMS5358
HRSA5
42 U.S.C. § 1320c-9(a)Information related to Quality Improvement Organization records.N/ACMS22
21 U.S.C. § 331(j)Certain information “concerning any method or process which as a trade secret is entitled to protection”Anderson v. HHS, 907 F.2d 936, 950-51 (10th Cir. 1990)FDA1313
42 U.S.C. § 282(j)(6)Information submitted for publication on clinicaltrials.gov that is not otherwise publicly availableN/AFDA4040
21 U.S.C. § 350d(a)4Food Registration DocumentsN/AFDA88
15 U.S.C. § 3710a(c)"[T]rade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential, under the meaning of section 552(b)(4) of Title 5, which is obtained in the conduct of research or as a result of activities under this chapter," which pertains to cooperative research and development agreements for the purpose of technological and industrial innovationPub. Citizen Health Rsch. Grp. v. NIH, 209 F. Supp. 2d 37, 43, 51 (D.D.C. 2002); DeLorme Pub. Co., Inc. v. NOAA, 917 F. Supp. 867, 871-72 (D. Me. 1996), appeal dismissed per stipulation, No. 96-1601 (1st Cir. July 8, 1996).NIH22
42 U.S.C. § 247d-6b(d)Information identifying the location at which materials in the stockpile under subsection (a) of this section are storedN/AOS88
35 U.S.C. § 209(f)Plans for development or marketing of a federally owned inventionN/AOS11
42 U.S.C. § 1396r–8(b)(3)(D)Information disclosed by manufacturers or wholesalers which discloses the identity of a specific manufacturer or wholesaler, or prices charged for drugs by such manufacturer or wholesalerN/AHRSA22

V.A. FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED AND PENDING FOIA REQUESTS

Agency / ComponentNumber of Requests
Pending as of Start
of Fiscal Year
Number of
Requests Received
in Fiscal Year
Number of
Requests Processed
in Fiscal Year
Number of Requests
Pending as of End
of Fiscal Year
ACF746276120902
ACL26886450
CDC52624002481445
CMS261720289196743232
FDA4119933390354417
HRSA5138336272
IHS147135161121
NIH69419881751931
OIG141812180818
OS2955159216842863
SAMHSA114166101179
AGENCY OVERALL12009384623724113230

* After reviewing its database, HHS updated the number of requests pending at the start of the Fiscal Year for the following components: CMS, FDA, NIH, OS, CDC, IHS, ACF, ACL, and SAMHSA. ** Beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, OS's data accounts for requests previously reported under the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH).

V.B.(1). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- ALL PROCESSED REQUESTS

Agency / ComponentNumber of Full GrantsNumber of Partial Grants / Partial DenialsNumber of Full Denials Based on ExemptionsNumber of Full Denials Based on Reasons Other than Exemptions 
No RecordsAll Records Referred to Another Component or AgencyRequest WithdrawnFee-Related ReasonRecords not Reasonably DescribedImproper FOIA Request for Other ReasonNot Agency RecordDuplicate RequestOther *Explain in Chart BelowTOTAL
ACF23282201115009930120
ACL1001001015100064
CDC555672454183564191535646942481
CMS300721094535302115984552024336767887601119674
FDA667911118247141121767206415102669035
HRSA727894921413254087362
IHS31574210210111564161
NIH62044221208226972370246501751
OIG1042786811076190000371801808
OS119312401493922530105551718531684
SAMHSA166035060128081101
AGENCY OVERALL11227409349065509648289561439844911128115617637241

V.B.(2). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- "OTHER" REASONS FOR "FULL DENIALS BASED ON REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS"

Agency / ComponentDescription of "Other" Reasons for Denials from Chart B(1)Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied UponTOTAL
ACFN/A00
ACLN/A00
CDCLitigation44
CMSUnable to Locate or Contact Requester1111
FDAUnable to Locate or Contact Requester2066
Litigation25
Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information21
HRSAAggregate cases8787
IHSDirected Requester to Publicly Available Information44
NIHN/A00
OIGN/A00
OSDirected Requester to Publicly Available Information33
SAMHSAUnable to Locate or Contact Requester11
AGENCY OVERALL  176

V.B.(3). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED

Agency / ComponentEx. 1Ex. 2Ex. 3Ex. 4Ex. 5Ex. 6Ex. 7(A)Ex. 7(B)Ex. 7(C)Ex. 7(D)Ex. 7(E)Ex. 7(F)Ex. 8Ex. 9
ACF000532700301100
ACL00000000000000
CDC0454215388585202055000
CMS01716247460542429213819400
FDA0158165533410321087200
HRSA00946137120300400
IHS0110864100401000
NIH0032868839450202000
OIG00459310629449019309010900
OS171213012427129085121400
SAMHSA00010500000000
AGENCY OVERALL114262157385577761924412415214612400

VI.A. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OF INITIAL DETERMINATIONS OF FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / ComponentNumber of Appeals
Pending as of Start
of Fiscal Year
Number of
Appeals Received
in Fiscal Year
Number of
Appeals Processed
in Fiscal Year
Number of Appeals
Pending as of End
of Fiscal Year
CMS2043693147
FDA3111611334
OS416288272432
AGENCY OVERALL651440478613

* After reviewing their databases, CMS and FDA adjusted the number of appeals pending as of the start of the Fiscal Year. ** Beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, OS's data accounts for appeals previously reported under OASH.

VI.B. DISPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS -- ALL PROCESSED APPEALS

Agency / ComponentNumber Affirmed on AppealNumber Partially Affirmed & Partially Reversed/Remanded on AppealNumber Completely Reversed/Remanded on AppealNumber of Appeals Closed for Other ReasonsTOTAL
CMS1009293
FDA240386113
OS431083136272
AGENCY OVERALL681086314478

VI.C.(1). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED

Agency / ComponentEx. 1Ex. 2Ex. 3Ex. 4Ex. 5Ex. 6Ex. 7(A)Ex. 7(B)Ex. 7(C)Ex. 7(D)Ex. 7(E)Ex. 7(F)Ex. 8Ex. 9
CMS0007341102200000
FDA00084420200200
OS0057142140803300
AGENCY OVERALL005222166703203500

VI.C.(2). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS

Agency / ComponentNo RecordsRecords Referred at Initial Request LevelRequest WithdrawnFee-Related ReasonRecords not Reasonably DescribedImproper Request for Other ReasonsNot Agency RecordDuplicate Request or AppealRequest in LitigationAppeal Based Solely on Denial of Request for Expedited ProcessingOther *Explain in chart below
CMS4068011127117
FDA5020000032353
OS11234387161101250
AGENCY OVERALL101210438817212222970

VI.C.(3). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- "OTHER" REASONS

Agency / ComponentDescription of "Other" Reasons for Denial on Appeal from Chart C(2)Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied UponTOTAL
CMSUnable to locate requester1717
FDANo Component Response to Adjudicate2853
Moot25
OSN/A00
AGENCY OVERALL  70

VI.C.(4). RESPONSE TIME FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / ComponentMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of Days
CMS68571812042
FDA1101631677
OS124398.83<12146
AGENCY OVERALL229.84405.18<12146

VI.C.(5). TEN OLDEST PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / Component 10th Oldest Appeal9th8th7th6th5th4th3rd2ndOldest Appeal
CMSDate of Appeal2015-06-182015-04-032014-11-052014-07-162014-03-062014-03-062014-03-062012-04-152012-04-062011-12-07
Number of Days Pending1830188319842062215421542154262726332716
FDADate of Appeal2022-05-262022-05-172022-04-052022-03-182022-02-112022-02-112021-12-202021-12-152021-12-022021-11-02
Number of Days Pending8794124136160160196199208228
OSDate of Appeal2017-01-122017-01-042016-11-302016-10-242016-10-032016-07-262016-05-172015-12-212015-12-102015-12-09
Number of Days Pending1437144314661491150515531601170317101711
AGENCY OVERALLDate of Appeal2015-06-182015-04-032014-11-052014-07-162014-03-062014-03-062014-03-062012-04-152012-04-062011-12-07
Number of Days Pending1830188319842062215421542154262726332716

VII.A. FOIA REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME FOR ALL PROCESSED PERFECTED REQUESTS

Agency / ComponentSIMPLECOMPLEXEXPEDITED PROCESSING
Median Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of DaysMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of DaysMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of Days
ACFN/AN/AN/AN/A80242.57<11629387387221553
ACL6.535.8<1251404040403333
CDC312.14<12992856.95<1625661301618
CMS1717<14941037<119959341641332
FDA94217053718812137402285634
HRSA13<181039<137227272727
IHS71013217427811065N/AN/AN/AN/A
NIH1351.61<1145985.5214.7<11357483485.6289581
OIG35118366321472328328328328
OS212.67<1964143285.56<1217650054911341
SAMHSA200335<115111892205742N/AN/AN/AN/A
AGENCY OVERALL10.4429.63<1151126.8987.86<1217687.31199.211341

VII.B. PROCESSED REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME FOR PERFECTED REQUESTS IN WHICH INFORMATION WAS GRANTED

Agency / ComponentSIMPLECOMPLEXEXPEDITED PROCESSING
Median Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of DaysMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of DaysMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of Days
ACFN/AN/AN/AN/A118273.7131629387387221553
ACL25252525N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
CDC312.83<12993774.29<162585153.313618
CMS1818<14943474<1199572277291332
FDA9411691441841213726595622
HRSA44<185171<137227272727
IHS81012224330411065N/AN/AN/AN/A
NIH1642.59<1123692.5230.1<11357483485.6289581
OIG35118366321472328328328328
OS1031.882560328424.912175530553.33500630
SAMHSA15215214915526027113742N/AN/AN/AN/A
AGENCY OVERALL11.7133.16<1123656.89136.40<1217597.32154.5931332

VII.C. PROCESSED SIMPLE REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS

Agency / Component<1-20
Days
21-40
Days
41-60
Days
61-80
Days
81-100 Days101-120 Days121-140 Days141-160 Days161-180 Days181-200 Days201-300 Days301-400 Days401+
Days
TOTAL
ACF00000000000000
ACL61100000001009
CDC2011344020011100227
CMS29168342130000000023056
FDA36324011336248291935232036192024659
HRSA1800000000000018
IHS3870000000000045
NIH9541718535141499583520501409
OIG16980000000000001698
OS372422100000014386
SAMHSA700000020321823
AGENCY OVERALL9842680267116634528462932754126611530

VII.C. PROCESSED COMPLEX REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS

Agency / Component<1-20
Days
21-40
Days
41-60
Days
61-80
Days
81-100 Days101-120 Days121-140 Days141-160 Days161-180 Days181-200 Days201-300 Days301-400 Days401+
Days
TOTAL
ACF231112741014406126109
ACL01000000000001
CDC645366129796957383731185124191563
CMS881115697353432151581459589611919318312688
FDA15845592131311091051006367382441817574151
HRSA195372517141513871510338
IHS1498573373261334114
NIH3739241214109535161545234
OIG064178622110412108
OS35867292450191520272193793291131
SAMHSA4111631253106649
AGENCY OVERALL1167127231193627494382327242237149626414140120486

VII.C. PROCESSED REQUESTS GRANTED EXPEDITED PROCESSING -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS

Agency / Component<1-20
Days
21-40
Days
41-60
Days
61-80
Days
81-100 Days101-120 Days121-140 Days141-160 Days161-180 Days181-200 Days201-300 Days301-400 Days401+
Days
TOTAL
ACF00000000001012
ACL10000000000001
CDC35221710138343510718155
CMS131010010000411
FDA2129100000000113496
HRSA01000000000001
IHS00000000000000
NIH000000000010910
OIG00000000000202
OS10000000000157
SAMHSA00000000000000
AGENCY OVERALL595528101483535131171285

VII.D. PENDING REQUESTS -- ALL PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS

Agency / ComponentSIMPLECOMPLEXEXPEDITED PROCESSING
Number PendingMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysNumber PendingMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysNumber PendingMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of Days
ACF15834766872735.56537539555
ACL367123392763030N/AN/A
CDC133234261.59843123206
CMS20586429777221550644726
FDA396108166396025737361603574
HRSA2557051750N/AN/A
IHS0N/AN/A1203664220N/AN/A
NIH59615222026422531513608604
OIG0N/AN/A1834810N/AN/A
OS24113157.422693621656.8355628687.13
SAMHSA2134951581562670N/AN/A
AGENCY OVERALL1275119.41178.6211513323.85408.23229526.15566.38

VII.E. PENDING REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS

Agency / Component 10th Oldest Request9th8th7th6th5th4th3rd2ndOldest Request
ACFDate of Receipt2017-08-242017-08-032017-04-062017-02-132017-01-092016-09-192015-05-282014-08-052014-07-082014-05-08
Number of Days Pending1281129613791416144015151845204820682109
ACLDate of Receipt2021-01-052020-12-152020-10-152020-09-062020-09-042020-08-122020-04-162020-04-142020-01-152019-01-18
Number of Days Pending439452493518520537619621683931
CDCDate of Receipt2020-09-142020-07-132020-07-082020-06-292020-06-122020-05-062020-04-242020-04-152020-04-142020-03-20
Number of Days Pending514558561567578604612619620637
CMSDate of Receipt2017-02-032016-11-182016-09-132016-08-122016-08-112016-05-252016-04-142015-12-092015-11-192015-11-02
Number of Days Pending1426147215181539154015941623171017231736
FDADate of Receipt2015-04-162015-04-132015-03-272015-02-132015-02-032015-01-222014-08-182014-05-092014-02-252013-08-26
Number of Days Pending1874187718881917192519332039210821612284
HRSADate of Receipt2022-03-312022-03-302022-03-302022-02-012022-02-182022-02-142021-12-202021-04-192021-04-052018-12-06
Number of Days Pending127128128148155159196365375957
IHSDate of Receipt2019-04-192019-04-192019-04-192019-04-162019-04-162019-04-042019-02-102018-11-022018-08-202017-10-13
Number of Days Pending86886886887187187991698210341247
NIHDate of Receipt2018-06-272018-04-032018-03-282018-02-072018-02-072018-01-042017-11-132017-08-282017-03-232016-08-11
Number of Days Pending1064112411281153116211851220127213821534
OIGDate of Receipt2022-05-172022-05-132022-04-182022-04-042022-03-302022-02-222022-01-202022-01-102021-02-012020-12-09
Number of Days Pending9597116126129155177184419452
OSDate of Receipt2016-05-102016-04-042016-03-222016-02-012015-12-242015-09-012015-08-272015-04-062015-02-032015-01-26
Number of Days Pending1606162716411676170017781781188219251931
SAMHSADate of Receipt2018-08-202018-08-162018-06-262018-06-202018-02-162017-09-192017-06-132017-03-062016-12-132016-07-05
Number of Days Pending1032103410701074116012621330140014541566
AGENCY OVERALLDate of Receipt2015-02-052015-01-262015-01-222014-08-182014-08-052014-07-082014-05-092014-05-082014-02-252013-08-26
Number of Days Pending1925193119332039204820682108210921612284

VIII.A. REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Agency / ComponentNumber GrantedNumber DeniedMedian Number of Days to AdjudicateAverage Number of Days to AdjudicateNumber Adjudicated Within Ten Calendar Days
ACF114044041
ACL10331
CDC14023211.57370
CMS163771235
FDA5659433649
HRSA111<1311
IHS0234422
NIH11071010.3788
OIG293511
OS215156276.235
SAMHSA00N/AN/A0
AGENCY OVERALL22010295.897.991193

VIII.B. Requests for Fee Waiver

Agency / ComponentNumber GrantedNumber DeniedMedian Number of Days to AdjudicateAverage Number of Days to Adjudicate
ACF10553553
ACL00N/AN/A
CDC16930211.84
CMS61616
FDA00N/AN/A
HRSA1315<12
IHS252511
NIH824340.7
OIG2135
OS64368.5366.3
SAMHSA00N/AN/A
AGENCY OVERALL2303658.779.65

IX. FOIA Personnel and Costs

Agency / ComponentPERSONNELCOSTS
Number of "Full-Time FOIA Employees"Number of "Equivalent Full-Time FOIA Employees"Total Number of "Full-Time FOIA Staff"Processing CostsLitigation-Related CostsTotal Costs
ACF101.0511.05$1,412,650.00$0.00$1,412,650.00
ACL01.001.00$117,421.50$0.00$117,421.50
CDC171.0018.00$2,924,621.10$3,624.00$2,928,245.10
CMS3162.0093.00$7,636,625.86$246,493.47$7,883,119.33
FDA1602.95162.95$5,100,000.00$1,200,000.00$6,300,000.00
HRSA50.005.00$582,186.00$0.00$582,186.00
IHS20.002.00$221,729.00$0.00$221,729.00
NIH333.0036.00$6,768,691.61$9,500.00$6,778,191.61
OIG32.005.00$757,862.00$3,000.00$760,862.00
OS225.7027.70$3,266,262.10$3,047,475.42$6,313,737.52
SAMHSA11.002.00$220,687.00$0.00$220,687.00
AGENCY OVERALL28479.70363.70$29,008,736.17$4,510,092.89$33,518,829.06

X. Fees Collected for Processing Requests

Agency / ComponentTotal Amount of Fees CollectedPercentage of Total Costs
ACF$0.000.0000%
ACL$0.000.0000%
CDC$19,425.560.6600%
CMS$155,533.412.0400%
FDA$447,791.008.7800%
HRSA$0.000.0000%
IHS$0.000.0000%
NIH$75,852.491.1200%
OIG$18,517.002.4400%
OS$0.000.0000%
SAMHSA$0.000.0000%
AGENCY OVERALL$717,119.462.4700%

XI.A. Number of Times Subsection (C) Used

Agency / ComponentNumber of Times Subsection Used
ACF0
ACL0
CDC0
CMS0
FDA0
HRSA0
IHS0
NIH0
OIG0
OS0
SAMHSA0
AGENCY OVERALL0

XI.B. Number of Subsection (A)(2) Postings

Agency / ComponentNumber of Records Posted by the FOIA OfficeNumber of Records Posted by Program Offices
ACF4820
ACL00
CDC00
CMS3191
FDA85019000
HRSA423
IHS40
NIH36191
OIG0240
OS151707
SAMHSA00
AGENCY OVERALL139421352

XII.A. Backlogs of FOIA Requests and Administrative Appeals

Agency / ComponentNumber of Backlogged Requests as of End of Fiscal YearNumber of Backlogged Appeals as of End of Fiscal Year
ACF876N/A
ACL36N/A
CDC257N/A
CMS2126145
FDA418829
HRSA48N/A
IHS114N/A
NIH776N/A
OIG13N/A
OS2714407
SAMHSA172N/A
AGENCY OVERALL11320581

XII.B. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING CONSULTATIONS

Agency / ComponentNumber of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Pending at the Agency as of Start
of the Fiscal Year
Number of
Consultations Received from Other Agencies During the Fiscal Year
Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Processed by the Agency During the Fiscal YearNumber of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Pending at the Agency as of End
of the Fiscal Year
ACF912165
ACL0000
CDC17929415
CMS1634
FDA036360
HRSA0220
IHS0330
NIH1543223
OIG028280
OS849111065
SAMHSA0000
AGENCY OVERALL112324324112

After reviewing its database, HHS adjusted the number of consults pending as of the start of the Fiscal Year for the following components: OS, CMS and NIH.

XII.C. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST CONSULTATIONS RECEIVED FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND PENDING AT THE AGENCY

Agency / Component 10th Oldest Consultation9th8th7th6th5th4th3rd2ndOldest Consultation
ACFDateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A2022-07-142020-07-272020-07-082020-05-042018-08-23
Number of Days00000555495626071031
ACLDateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Number of Days0000000000
CDCDate2021-09-292021-09-232021-07-162020-08-172020-06-102020-06-102020-06-102020-06-022020-03-272019-07-15
Number of Days253257305533580580580586632807
CMSDateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A2022-09-282021-10-262020-11-24
Number of Days00000003235465
FDADateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Number of Days0000000000
HRSADateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Number of Days0000000000
IHSDateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Number of Days0000000000
NIHDate2022-04-082022-04-062022-04-042022-04-042022-04-012022-02-222022-01-192022-01-112022-01-102021-10-22
Number of Days121123125125126154177182183236
OIGDateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Number of Days0000000000
OSDate2018-11-262018-11-202018-11-192018-08-072018-07-092018-06-252018-04-192018-03-162018-02-142018-02-08
Number of Days9689719721043106410731119114311641168
SAMHSADateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Number of Days0000000000
AGENCY OVERALLDate2018-11-202018-11-192018-08-232018-08-072018-07-092018-06-252018-04-192018-03-162018-02-142018-02-08
Number of Days97197210311043106410731119114311641168

XII.D.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- REQUESTS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED

Agency / ComponentNUMBER OF REQUESTS RECEIVEDNUMBER OF REQUESTS PROCESSED
Number Received During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual ReportNumber Received During Fiscal Year from Current Annual ReportNumber Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual ReportNumber Processed During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
ACF206276251120
ACL48883364
CDC2477240025642481
CMS16285202891619119674
FDA8529933384239035
HRSA247383240362
IHS129135214161
NIH1949198818351751
OIG1151181211541808
OS1993159219671684
SAMHSA14416680101
AGENCY OVERALL33158384623295237241

The numbers for last year's annual report for OS reflect the combined totals of OS and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH).

XII.D.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- BACKLOGGED REQUESTS

Agency / ComponentNumber of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual ReportNumber of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
ACF722876
ACL2036
CDC282257
CMS17282126
FDA35774188
HRSA4248
IHS134114
NIH555776
OIG1113
OS27802714
SAMHSA104172
AGENCY OVERALL995511320

The numbers for last year's annual report for OS reflect the combined totals of OS and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH).

XII.E.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- APPEALS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED

Agency / ComponentNUMBER OF APPEALS RECEIVEDNUMBER OF APPEALS PROCESSED
Number Received During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual ReportNumber Received During Fiscal Year from Current Annual ReportNumber Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual ReportNumber Processed During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
CMS24361293
FDA4711696113
OS281288390272
AGENCY OVERALL352440498478

The numbers for last year's annual report for OS reflect the combined totals of OS and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH).

XII.E.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- BACKLOGGED APPEALS

Agency / ComponentNumber of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual ReportNumber of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
CMS219145
FDA2729
OS400407
AGENCY OVERALL646581

The numbers for last year's annual report for OS reflect the combined totals of OS and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH).

Content created by Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Division
Content last reviewed February 16, 2023
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