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HHS Fiscal Year 2024 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
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., Room 729H
Washington, D.C. 20201
(202) 690-7453

2. Electronic address for this report on the World Wide Web:
https://www.h hs.gov/fo ia/ re ports/an nu aI-reports/index.htm I </foia/reports/a nnua 1-reports/i ndex. htm I>

3. Address for paper copies of this report
Contact Arianne Perkins at the address or telephone number listed above, or at:
https://www.hhs.gov/foia/contacts/i ndex.htm I </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: https://www.hhs.gov/foia/index.html </foia/index.html>
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 729H
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: (202) 690-7453

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

Administration for Community Living (ACL):
Website: https://acl.gov/FOIA <https://acl.gov/foia>
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Administration for Community Living
330 C Street, S.W., Room 1000
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 202-795-7377

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR):
Website: http://www. h hs.gov/foia/i ndex.htm I </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

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ):
Website: https://www.ahrq.gov/policy/foia/index.html <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/foia/ <http://www.cdc.gov/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/med ica re/regu lations-gu ida nce/legislation/freedom-i nformation-actfoi a-service-center <https://www.cms.gov/med ica re/regulations-gu ida nce/legislation/freedom-i nformation-act-foia-servicecenter>

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: https://www.fda.gov/regu latory-i nformation/freedom-i nformation <https://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: https://www.hrsa.gov/foia/ <https://www.hrsa.gov/foia/>
Freedom of Information Act Officer
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13-W18
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 301-443-2865

Indian Health Service (IHS):
Website: https://www.ihs.gov/FOIA <https://www.ihs.gov/foia>
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Division of Regulatory and Policy Coordination
Office of Management Services
5600 Fishers Lane, Mailstop 09E70
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 240-460-3711

National Institutes of Health (NIH):
Website: https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-publicliaison/freedom-information-act-office <https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communicationspublic-liaison/freedom-information-act-office>

Freedom of Information Act Officer
Building 1, Room 344
1 Center Drive, MSC 0188
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0188
Phone: 301-496-5633

Office of the Inspector General (OIG):
Website: https://oig.hhs.gov/foia/ <https://oig.hhs.gov/foia/>
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Wilbur J. 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: https://www.samhsa.gov/about/laws-regulations-policies/freedom-information-act
<https://www.samhsa.gov/about/laws-regu lations-policies/freedom-i nformation-act>

Freedom of Information Act Officer
5600 Fishers Lane, 18th Floor
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/cu rrent/title-45/su btitle-A/su bcha pter-A/pa rt-5

<https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-

45/subtitle-a/subchapter-a/part-5>

Section Ill: 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 firstparty 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.

I. 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 anotherfederal 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 Abbreviation

Component Name

OS

Office of the Secretary

OIG

Office of the Inspector General

ACL

Administration for Community Living

ACF

Administration for Children and Families

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CMS

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services

FDA

Food and Drug Administration

HRSA

Health Resources and Services Administration

IHS

Indian Health Service

NIH

National Institutes of Health

SAMHSA

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

IV. Exemption 3 Statutes

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

Case
Citation

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

N/A

CDC

14

14

N/A

CDC

1

1

Identifiable

42

u.s.c. §

242m(d)

information for
certain research
and statistical
activities
Information
regarding

22

u.s.c. §

288a(c)

international
programs records
are immune from
search and
disclosure

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Case
Citation

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

CDC

14

CMS

19

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

Sinkfield v.
HUD, No.10885,2012
U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 35233,
at *13-15
(S.D. Ohio
Mar.15,
2012);
Margolin v.
NASA, No.

41

u.s.c. §

Contractor

09-CV-00421,

proposals that

2011 WL

are in the

1303221,at

4702

possession or

*6 (D. Nev.

(formerly

control of an

Mar. 31,

at41

executive agency

2011);

U.S.C.§

and that have not

Hornbostel v.

253b(m)

been set forth or

U.S. Dep't of

(1))

incorporated by

the Interior,

reference into

305 F. Supp.

contracts

2d 21, 30

44

IHS

8

NIH

3

(D.D.C.
2003),
summary
affirmance
granted, No.
03-5257,
2004WL
1900562
(D.C. Cir.
Aug. 25,
2004).

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Case
Citation

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

CDC

5

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

Legal&
Safety
Employer
Research,
41

u.s.c. §

Contractor bid or

2102

proposal

(amending

information;

41

u.s.c. §

423(a)(l))

source selection
information

Inc. v. U.S.
Dep'tofthe
Army, No.

7

Civ. S001748,
2001 WL
34098652,at
*3-4 (E.D.

OS

2

CDC

8

Cal. May 4,
2001)
(d ictum).

Certain
categories of
42

u.s.c. §

262a(h)(l)

information
relating to
biological agents
and toxins

u.s.c. §

Patient safety

299b-22(a)

work product

(3)

information

42

Civ. Beat L.
Ctr. for the
Pub. Int. v.

11

CDC, 929
F.3d 1079,
1084-85 (9th

NIH

3

CDC

1

Cir. 2019).

N/A

1

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

CDC

2

2

N/A

CDC

2

2

N/A

CDC

2

2

Case
Citation

Meyerhoff v.
EPA, 958 F.2d
1498, 150002 (9th Cir.
5 u.s.c. §

Confidential

13109(a)

financial

(2)

disclosure report

(formerly

pertaining to

at5

u.s.c.

certain

app. 4§

government

107(a)(2))

employees

1992); Boyd
V.

Exec. Off.

for U.S.
Att'ys, 161 F.
Supp. 3d 1, 7
(D.D.C.
2015); Seife
v. NIH, 874 F.
Supp. 2d
248,254
(S.D.N.Y.
2012).

Information that
42

u.s.c. §

may identify an

300aa-

individual who

25(c)

received a
vaccine
Certain
biomedical
information

42

u.s.c. §

24l(f)

about an
individual that is
gathered or used
during the course
of biomedical
research

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

Case
Citation

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

N/A

FDA

1

1

N/A

FDA

6

6

N/A

FDA

104

104

FDA

5

5

Identity of a
device user
facility which
makes a report
21

u.s.c. §

360i(b)(2)

that a device has
or may have
caused or
contributed to
the death of a
patient of the
facility

21

u.s.c. §

350d(a)4

Food Registration
Documents
Information
submitted for

42

u.s.c. §

282(j)(6)

publication on
clinicaltrials.gov
that is not
otherwise
publicly available
Certain
information
"concerning any

21

u.s.c. §

331(j)

method or
process which as
a trade secret is
entitled to
protection"

Anderson v.
HHS, 907
F.2d 936,
950-51 (10th
Cir.1990).

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Case
Citation

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

HRSA

2

2

Nosal v. IRS,
523 F. Supp.
3d 72, 79
(D.D.C.
2021);
Church of
Scientology
v. lRS,484
U.S. 9, 15
(1987) (26
U.S.C.§
6103); Elec.
Certain tax return
information, to
include Taxpayer
26

u.s.c.

Identification

§§ 6103,

Numbers of third

6105

Parties, and
certain tax
convention
information

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).

Statute

42

u.s.c. §

Type of
Information
Withheld

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

Case
Citation

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

N/A

HRSA

10

10

N/A

HRSA

4

4

IHS

7

7

IHS

1

1

National

11137(b)

Practitioner Data

(1)

Bank information
Information
disclosed by
manufacturers or
wholesalers
wh ich discloses

42

u.s.c. §

the identity of a

1396r-8(b)

specific

(3)(D)

manufacturer or
wholesaler, or
prices charged
for drugs by such
manufacturer or
wholesaler
N.Y. Times

25

u.s.c. §

1675(g)

Medical quality
assurance
records

Co. v. HHS,
15 F.4th 216,
219 & n.7 (2d
Cir. 2021)
(per curiam).
Yelderv.

28

u.s.c. §

652(d)

"[C]onfidential

DOD, 577 F.

dispute

Supp. 2d

resolution

342, 347-48

communications"

(D.D.C.
2008).

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
overall

Case
Citation

Agency/
component

Number of
Ti mes
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

N/A

NIH

2

2

NIH

1

1

Plans for
35

u.s.c. §

209(f)

development or
marketing of a
federally owned
invention

~

"[T]rade secrets
or commercial or
financial
information that
is privileged or
confidential,
under the
meaning of
section 552(b)(4)
ofTitle 5, which is
obtained in the
15 u.s.c. §
3710a(c)

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
innovation

Pub. 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).

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

Case
Citation

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

N/A

NIH

3

3

N/A

NIH

1

1

Registration and
transfer
documentation
7 u.s.c. §

for listed

840l(h)(l)

biological agents

(c)

and toxins, and
information
derived
therefrom
Certain
information that
could
compromise
national security
and reveal
significant and

42 u.s.c. §

not otherwise

247d-

publicly known

7e(e)(l)(A)

vulnerabilities of
existing medical
or public health
defenses against
chemical,
biological,
radiological, or
nuclear threats

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Case
Citation

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

OIG

88

88

OS

3

3

Wash. Post
5 u.s.c. §

Names of

407

employees who

(formerly

provide

at 5 U.S.C.

information or

app. 3 §

complaints to the

7(b))

Inspector General

Co. v. Special
Inspector
Gen. for Afg.
Reconstr.,
486 F. Supp.
3d 141,166
(D.D.C.
2020).

Information
identifying the
42

us.c. §

247d6b(d)

location at which
materials in the
stockpile under
subsection (a) of
this section are
stored

N/A

Statute

Type of
Information
Withheld

Case
Citation

Agency/
Component

Number of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency/
Component

N/A

OS

5

Total
Number
of
Times
Relied
upon by
Agency
Overall

5

Information
received by the
National
Coordinator in
connection with
a claim or
42

u.s.c. §

300jj-52(d)
(2)

suggestion of
possible
information
blocking and that
could reasonably
be expected to
facilitate
identification of
the source of the
information

V.A. FOIA Requests -- Recieved, Processed and
Pending FOIA Requests
Agency/
Component

Number 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

ACF

1028

754

273

1509

ACL

93

155

157

91

CDC

349

1838

1918

269

CMS

3434

30806

30154

4086

Agency/
Component

Number of
Requests
Pending as of
Start of Fiscal
Vear

Number of
Requests
Received in
Fiscal Vear

Number of
Requests
Processed in
Fiscal Vear

Number of
Requests
Pending as of
End of Fiscal
Vear

FDA

4735

11702

12195

4242

HRSA

198

533

427

304

IHS

89

273

254

108

NIH

937

1758

1688

1007

OIG

38

910

628

320

OS

2189

2819

1329

3679

SAMHSA

159

252

248

163

Agency
Overall

13249

51800

49271

15778

After reviewing its database, HHS updated the number of requests pending at the start of the Fiscal Year.

V.B.(1). Disposition of FOIA Requests -- All
Processed Requests

Agency/
Component

Number
of Full
Grants

Number
of
Partial
Grants/
Partial
Denials

ACF

15

19

ACL

17

CDC

Number of Full Denials Based on Rease
Number of
Full Denials
Based on
Exemptions

No
Records

All Records
Referred to
Another
Component
or Agency

Request
Withdraw

0

140

13

18

21

1

24

24

28

255

680

16

304

32

97

CMS

5306

2565

8044

3645

41

1285

FDA

8694

86

212

607

25

1353

Agency/
Component

Number
of Full
Grants

Number
of
Partial
Grants/
Partial
Denials

HRSA

48

57

IHS

62

NIH

Number of Full Denials Based on Rease
Number of
Full Denials
Based on
Exemptions

No
Records

All Records
Referred to
Another
Component
orAgency

Request
Withdraw

12

35

25

16

92

3

47

2

27

751

234

29

171

0

266

OIG

29

109

111

115

32

178

OS

93

143

25

77

230

282

SAMHSA

14

90

0

92

8

20

15284

4096

8453

5257

432

3570

Agency
Overall

V.B.(2). Disposition of FOIA Requests -- "Other"
Reasons for "Full Denials Based on Reasons
Other Than Exemptions"

◄

Agency/
Component

Description of "Other" Reasons
for Denials from Chart B{l)

Number of Times "Other"
Reason Was Relied Upon

Total

ACF

N/A

0

0

ACL

N/A

0

0

rnr

N/A

0

0

57

57

CMS

Unable to Locate or Contact
Requester

.

►

Description of "Other" Reasons
for Denials from Chart B{l)

Agency/
Component

Directed Requester to Another
Entity Subject to the FOIA
FDA

Unable to Locate or Contact

22

Aggregate cases

6

Litigation

7

Directed Requester to Publicly
Available Information

88

1

78

70

Aggregate cases
Directed Requester to Publicly

IHS

Total

60

Requester

HRSA

Number of Times "Other"
Reason Was Relied Upon

Available Information

6

6

NIH

N/A

0

0

OIG

N/A

0

0

Directed Requester to Another
Entity Subject to the FOIA

OS

SAMHSA

8
136

Aggregate cases

128

Aggregate cases

1

1
366

Agency Overall

V.B.(3). Disposition of FOIA Requests -- Number
of Times Exemptions Applied
Agency/
Component

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

1

2

3

4

5

ACF

0

0

0

0

5

ACL

0

0

0

9

8

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

7{A)

7(8)

7{C)

7{D)

19

0

0

5

0

21

0

0

0

0

Ex. 6

Agency/
Component

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

1

2

3

4

5

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

7(A)

7(8)

7(C)

7(D)

CDC

0

17

46

283

364

606

4

1

8

1

CMS

0

0

19

567

85

9330

1

143

651

5

FDA

0

2

112

220

51

59

54

1

17

7

HRSA

0

0

16

24

8

50

1

1

2

0

IHS

0

1

15

19

13

58

0

0

3

0

NIH

0

1

13

126

83

214

5

0

13

0

OIG

0

2

88

32

17

116

8

0

77

0

OS

0

3

10

39

57

125

9

0

22

0

SAMHSA

0

0

0

90

0

89

0

0

0

0

0

26

319

1409

691

10687

82

146

798

13

Agency
Overall

Ex. 6

VI.A. Administrative Appeals of Initial
Determinations of FOIA Requests -- Received,

J.> r.ocessed anUeDJ ·

dministr; tive Appeals .

Agency/
Component

Number 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

CMS

124

44

59

109

FDA

53

101

79

75

OS

492

290

219

563

Agency Overall

669

435

357

747

After reviewing their databases, CMS, FDA, and OS adjusted the number of appeals pending as of the start
of the Fiscal Year.

VI.B. Disposition of Administrative Appeals -- All
Processed Appeals

Agency/
Component

Number
Affirmed
on
Appeal

Number Partially
Affirmed & Partially
Reversed/Remanded
on Appeal

Number Completely
Reversed/Remanded
on Appeal

Number
of
Appeals
Closed
for
Other
Reasons

CMS

0

0

1

58

59

FDA

24

12

8

35

79

OS

19

7

66

127

219

43

19

75

220

357

Agency
Overall

Total

VI.C.(1). Reasons for Denial on Appeal -- Number
of Times Exemptions Applied
Agency/
Component

Ex.
1

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

Ex.

E

2

3

4

5

6

7(A)

7(8)

7(C)

7(D)

i

CMS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C

FDA

0

0

0

7

4

12

1

0

1

0

C

OS

0

0

0

1

8

8

0

0

2

0

1

0

0

0

8

12

20

1

0

3

0

1

Agency
Overall
◄

►

VI.C.(2). Reasons for Denial on Appeal -- Reasons
Other Than Exemptions

Agency/
Component

No
Records

Records
Referred
at Initial
Request
Level

CMS

5

0

29

0

0

9

FDA

5

0

1

0

0

2

OS

3

1

37

14

2

0

13

1

67

14

2

11

Agency
Overall

Request
Withdrawn

FeeRelated
Reason

Records
not
Reasonably
Described

Improper
Request
for Other
Reasons

•

◄

VI.C.(3). Reasons for Denial on Appeal -- "Other"
Reasons
Agency/
Component

CMS

Description of "Other" Reasons
for Denial on Appeal from Chart
C(2)
Unable to Locate or Contact
Requester
No Component Response to
Adjudicate

FDA

Number of Times
"Other" Reason Was
Relied Upon

Total

13

13

16

Appeal Withdrawn

12

Moot

7

35

Agency/
Component

OS

Description of "Other" Reasons
for Denial on Appeal from Chart
C(2)

Number of Times
"Other" Reason Was
Relied Upon

Agency Performed Adequate Search

3

Moot

14

Total

28

No Component Response to

8

Adjudicate

3

Untimely

76

Agency Overall

VI.C.(4). Response Time for Administrative
Appeals
Agency/
Component

Median
Number of
Days

Average
Number of
Days

Lowest
Number of
Days

Highest
Number of
Days

CMS

734

972

12

3038

FDA

94

122

1

562

OS

134.5

355.4

<l

1821

Agency Overall

224.61

405.65

<l

3038

VI.C.(S). Ten Oldest Pending Administrative
Appeals
10th
Oldest
Appeal

9th

8th

7th

Date of Appeal

2016-10-28

2016-09-22

2016-09-07

2016

Number of Days Pending

1979

2004

2015

2037

Agency/
Component

CMS

10th
Oldest
Appeal

9th

8th

7th

Date of Appeal

2023-06-13

2023-06-06

2023-06-06

2023

Number of Days Pending

325

330

330

343

Date of Appeal

2019-01-08

2018-12-20

2018-12-07

2018

Number of Days Pending

1433

1443

1452

1489

Date of Appeal

2016-09-22

2016-09-07

2016-08-05

2016

Number of Days Pending

2004

2015

2037

2064

Agency/
Component

FDA

OS

Agency Overall

VII.A. FOIA Requests -- Response Time for All
Processed Perfected Requests
Simple
◄

Agency/
Component

Complex

,.

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Low
Nun
ofD

ACF

201.5

272.88

2

1367

56

178.98

<1

ACL

2

62.55

<1

739

544.5

470.46

1

CDC

10

17.67

<1

323

26

58.28

<1

CMS

10

12

<1

597

7

44

<1

FDA

9

24

1

1183

57

206

1

HRSA

3

7

<1

129

28

89

<1

IHS

6

25.33

1

30

27

142.453

1

NIH

18

130.84

<1

1103

26

95.65

<1

OIG

10

24.1

<1

142

47

52.97

<1

OS

3

15.27

<1

1433

73

434

<1

Simple
Agency/
Component

SAMHSA
Agency
Overall

Complex

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Low
Nun
ofD

2

24

<1

343

113

167

<1

10.00

24.54

<1

1433

21.35

88.46

<1

VII.B. Processed Requests -- Response Time for
Perfected Requests in Which Information Was
Granted
Simple
Agency/
Component

Complex

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Low
Nun
ofD

ACF

78

136

40

352

421

570.42

6

ACL

52

134.94

<1

537

306

342.48

3

CDC

17

26.38

<1

323

40

78.84

<1

CMS

15

15

<1

153

23

74

<1

FDA

10

24

1

719

54

180

1

--

-,

29

161

171

2 ►

◄

IHS

8

9

1

20

38

186.83

2

NIH

19

103.78

<1

1029

34

102.87

<1

OIG

38.5

47.08

<1

142

47

53.75

<1

OS

12.5

49.80

<1

1433

95.5

277.01

3

SAMHSA

208

208

73

343

222

240

1

Simple
Agency/
Component

Agency
Overall

Complex

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Low
Nun
ofD

13.40

24.90

<l

1433

40.04

114.92

<l

VII.C. Processed Simple Requests -- Response
Time in Day Increments

...

Agency/
Component

<1-20
Days

2140
Days

4160
Days

6180
Days

81100
Days

101120
Days

121140
Days

141160
Days

161180
Days

ACF

6

4

3

3

0

0

0

1

0

ACL

57

5

3

3

1

0

1

1

1

CDC

210

60

11

7

3

1

1

2

1

CMS

4794

321

90

8

4

0

1

1

0

FDA

5738

604

190

89

69

64

38

30

18

HRSA

47

2

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

IHS

84

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

NIH

332

71

16

16

6

11

4

5

5

OIG

323

70

55

30

29

9

4

2

0

OS

376

27

31

5

3

3

1

0

0

SAMHSA

27

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

11994

1167

399

162

115

88

51

42

25

Agency
Overall
◄

...

•

VII.C. Processed Complex Requests -- Response
Time in Day Increments
Agency/
Component

<1-20
Days

2140
Days

4160
Days

6180
Days

81100
Days

101120
Days

121140
Days

141160
Days

161180
Days

ACF

84

15

14

2

3

15

9

13

5

ACL

4

3

1

0

0

0

0

2

1

CDC

545

233

129

62

64

31

34

12

14

CMS

15205

1223

622

440

329

258

219

185

154

FDA

1525

694

329

194

130

166

132

139

145

HRSA

134

19

19

7

11

9

13

2

12

IHS

47

47

13

7

5

5

1

2

0

NIH

402

178

108

50

37

18

9

10

6

OIG

16

18

28

12

6

4

3

1

0

OS

220

122

30

19

14

11

9

11

8

SAMHSA

65

10

5

13

7

7

2

7

4

Agency
Overall

18247

2562

1298

806

606

524

431

384

349

◄

►

VII.C. Processed Requests Granted Expedited
Processing-- Response Time in Day Increments
Agency/
Component

<120
Days

2140
Days

4160
Days

6180
Days

81100
Days

101120
Days

121140
Days

141160
Days

161180
Days

ACF

0

1

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

ACL

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Agency/
Component

<120
Days

2140
Days

4160
Days

6180
Days

81100
Days

101120
Days

121140
Days

141160
Days

161180
Days

CDC

5

5

3

1

1

1

1

0

0

CMS

5

3

1

2

1

1

0

0

1

FDA

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

HRSA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

IHS

7

4

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

NIH

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OIG

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OS

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SAMHSA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Agency
Overall

28

14

5

4

2

2

2

0

1

VII.D. Pending Requests --All Pending Perfected
Requests
◄

Simple
Agency/
Component

•

Exp,

Complex

Number
Pending

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Number
Pending

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Nun
Pen

ACF

20

116.5

915.6

1476

533.5

679.03

9

ACL

52

33

59.44

37

317

342.73

0

CDC

21

10

55.38

192

37

88.47

1

CMS

468

4

22

3577

93

205

41

FDA

368

92

174

3836

312

455

38

Simple
Agency/
Component

Exp,

Complex

Number
Pending

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Number
Pending

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Nun
Pen

HRSA

2

80

80

301

139

174

1

IHS

0

N/A

N/A

101

207

383.82

0

NIH

316

567

578.41

653

133

276.95

6

OIG

282

79.5

94.03

38

360

300.89

0

OS

1567

33

56.90

1971

742

809.06

42

SAMHSA

0

N/A

N/A

163

116

189

0

3096

101.24

127.75

12345

322.43

438.99

138

Agency
Overall

VII.E. Pending Requests -- Ten Oldest Pending
Perfected Requests
10th
Oldest
Request

9th

8th

7th

Date of Receipt

2017-11-13

2017-11-13

2017-11-03

2017

Number of Days Pending

1720

1720

1725

1727

Date of Receipt

2023-01-31

2022-12-22

2022-11-15

2022

Number of Days Pending

419

444

470

503

Date of Receipt

2023-05-26

2023-05-23

2023-05-12

2023

Number of Days Pending

337

340

347

390

Date of Receipt

2017-12-18

2017-12-15

2017-12-15

2017

Number of Days Pending

1696

1697

1697

1740

Agency/
Component

ACF

◄

.,..,

.

CDC

CMS

10th
Oldest
Request

9th

8th

7th

Date of Receipt

2015-08-27

2015-08-04

2015-07-24

2015

Number of Days Pending

2273

2290

2297

2332

Date of Receipt

2023-01-25

2023-01-23

2023-01-13

2022

Number of Days Pending

422

423

429

439

Date of Receipt

2020-03-27

2020-01-28

2020-01-07

2019

Number of Days Pending

1046

1171

1187

1194

Date of Receipt

2019-07-15

2019-05-30

2019-05-06

2018

Number of Days Pending

1303

1334

1351

1478

Date of Receipt

2023-02-15

2023-02-07

2023-01-31

2023

Number of Days Pending

407

413

418

427

Date of Receipt

2017-03-08

2017-02-08

2017-02-01

2017

Number of Days Pending

1893

1912

1917

1918

Date of Receipt

2022-08-08

2022-08-01

2022-06-10

2022

Number of Days Pending

537

542

576

590

Date of Receipt

2015-08-04

2015-07-24

2015-06-04

2015

Number of Days Pending

2290

2297

2332

2364

Agency/
Component

FDA

HRSA

IHS

NIH

OIG

OS

SAMHSA

Agency Overall

VIII.A. Requests for Expedited Processing
Agency/
Component

Number
Granted

Number
Denied

Median
Number of
Daysto
Adjudicate

Average
Number of
Daysto
Adjudicate

Number
Adjudicated
Within Ten
Calendar Days

ACF

4

2

52

56.66

3

ACL

0

0

N/A

N/A

0

Agency/
Component

Number
Granted

Number
Denied

Median
Number of
Daysto
Adjudicate

Average
Number of
Daysto
Adjudicate

Number
Adjudicated
Within Ten
Calendar Days

CDC

19

155

1

1.62

173

CMS

28

119

7

13

110

FDA

1

563

2

2.63

564

HRSA

1

37

5

9

26

IHS

12

21

4

6.25

28

NIH

2

34

14

15.31

11

OIG

0

0

N/A

N/A

0

OS

8

41

1

270

37

SAMHSA

0

0

N/A

N/A

0

Agency
Overall

75

972

3.36

17.52

952

VIII.B. Requests for Fee Waiver
Agency/
Component

Number
Granted

Number
Denied

Median Number of
Days to Adjudicate

Average Number of
Days to Adjudicate

ACF

0

0

N/A

N/A

ACL

0

0

N/A

N/A

CDC

123

159

1

1.62

CMS

72

39

3

9

FDA

0

3

212

153.67

HRSA

67

40

3

6

IHS

68

0

1

1

NIH

20

3

27

116

Agency/
Component

Number
Granted

Number
Denied

Median Number of
Days to Adjudicate

Average Number of
Days to Adjudicate

OIG

0

0

N/A

N/A

OS

0

8

318

557.75

SAMHSA

0

0

0

0

Agency Overall

350

252

7.98

16.21

IX. FOIA Personnel and Costs
Personnel

Costs
Total
Number
of
"FullTime
FOIA
Staff"

Processing
Costs

LitigationRelated Costs

Agency/
Component

Number of
"Full-Time
FOIA
Employees"

Number of
"Equivalent
Full-Time
FOIA
Employees"

ACF

18

15.03

33.03

$2,581,500.00

$439,000.00

ACL

1

0.00

1.00

$181,216.00

$0.00

CDC

24

1.00

25.00

$4,616,980.45

$495,533.68

CMS

36

36.00

72.00

$10,814,302.30

$478,082.97

FDA

159

9.00

168.00

$34,244,000.00

$6,840,000.00

HRSA

5

0.28

5.28

$1,092,457.00

$211,486.00

IHS

2

0.05

2.05

$278,659.90

$6,257.32

NIH

55

2.00

57.00

$6,469,393.22

$1,163,474.29

OIG

3

1.00

4.00

$535,327.00

$133,832.00

OS

31

5.90

36.90

$4,941,247.26

$4,383,356.52

SAMHSA

2

0.00

2.00

$390,401.17

$0.00

Personnel

Agency/
Component

Agency
Overall

Costs

Number of
"Full-Time
FOIA
Employees"

Number of
"Equivalent
Full-Time
FOIA
Employees"

Total
Number
of
"FullTime
FOIA
Staff"

Processing
Costs

LitigationRelated Costs

336

70.26

406.26

$66,145,484.30

$14,151,022.78

* The cost figures reported in Section IX represent a rightsizing in terms of how costs are tracked and
reported by the Department compared to previous years.

X. Fees Collected for Processing Requests
Agency/ Component

Total Amount of Fees Collected

Percentage of Total Costs

ACF

$0.00

0.0000%

ACL

$0.00

0.0000%

CDC

$20,699.12

0.4500%

CMS

$130,240.66

1.2000%

FDA

$561,535.75

1.6400%

HRSA

$2,467.00

0.2300%

IHS

$0.00

0.0000%

NIH

$37,843.51

0.5800%

OIG

$0.00

0.0000%

OS

$0.00

0.0000%

SAMHSA

$0.00

0.0000%

Agency Overall

$752,786.04

1.1400%

◄-------------------------

►

XI.A. Number of Times Subsection (C) Used
Agency/ Component

Number of Times Subsection Used

ACF

0

ACL

0

CDC

0

CMS

0

FDA

0

HRSA

0

IHS

0

NIH

0

OIG

0

OS

0

SAMHSA

0

Agency Overall

0

XI.B. Number of Subsection (A)(2) Postings
Agency/
Component

Number of Records Posted by
the FOIA Office

Number of Records Posted by
Program Offices

ACF

1

1

ACL

0

0

CDC

100

0

CMS

7

4751

FDA

2563

2203

HRSA

18

3363668

IHS

19

95

Agency/
Component

Number of Records Posted by
the FOIA Office

Number of Records Posted by
Program Offices

NIH

0

0

OIG

0

98

OS

5

1377

SAMHSA

0

0

Agency Overall

2713

3372193

XII.A. Backlogs of FOIA Requests and
Administrative Appeals
Agency/
Component

Number of Backlogged Requests
as of End of Fiscal Vear

Number of Backlogged Appeals
as of End of Fiscal Vear

ACF

1346

N/A

ACL

78

N/A

CDC

110

N/A

CMS

2640

109

FDA

3893

74

HRSA

258

N/A

IHS

83

N/A

NIH

838

N/A

OIG

277

N/A

OS

3020

547

SAMHSA

142

N/A

Agency Overall

12685

730

XII.B. Consultations on FOIA Requests -Received, Processed, and Pending Consultations

Agency/
Component

Number of
Consultations
Received from
Other Agencies
that were
Pending at the
Agency asof
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 Year

Number of
Consultations
Received from
Other Agencies
that were
Pending at the
Agency as of
End
of the Fiscal
Year

ACF

4

29

16

17

ACL

0

0

0

0

CDC

5

115

118

2

CMS

2

9

10

1

FDA

0

83

83

0

HRSA

1

8

9

0

IHS

0

7

7

0

NIH

40

55

28

67

OIG

1

92

83

10

OS

96

227

169

154

SAMHSA

0

0

0

0

149

625

523

251

Agency
Overall

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

XII.C. Consultations on FOIA Requests -- Ten
Oldest Consultations Received From Other
Agencies and Pending at the Agency
10th Oldest
Consultation

9th

8th

7th

Date

2024-02-01

2024-01-05

2023-12-04

2023-11-30

Number of Days

168

186

208

210

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

Date

2022-04-08

2022-04-06

2022-04-04

2022-04-04

Number of Days

620

622

624

624

Date

2024-08-29

2024-08-28

2024-08-27

2024-08-27

Number of Days

21

22

23

23

Agency/
Component

ACF

ACL

CDC

CMS

FDA

HRSA

IHS

NIH

OIG

10th Oldest
Consultation

9th

8th

7th

Date

2020-09-29

2020-05-26

2020-05-20

2020-02-21

Number of Days

999

1087

1090

1153

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

Date

2020-09-29

2020-05-26

2020-05-20

2020-02-21

Number of Days

999

1087

1090

1153

Agency/
Component

OS

SAMHSA

Agency Overall

XII.D.(1). Comparison of Numbers of Requests
From Previous and Current Annual Report -Requests Received and Processed
Number of Requests Received

Number of Requests Processed

Number
Received
During Fiscal
Year from Last
Year's Annual
Report

Number
Received
During Fiscal
Year from
Current
Annual Report

Number
Processed
During Fiscal
Year from Last
Year's Annual
Report

Number
Processed
During Fiscal
Year from
Current Annual
Report

ACF

321

754

209

273

ACL

140

155

97

157

CDC

1951

1838

2048

1918

CMS

28579

30806

28894

30154

FDA

10447

11702

10144

12195

HRSA

466

533

339

427

IHS

180

273

210

254

NIH

1716

1758

1699

1688

Agency/
Component

Number of Requests Received

Number of Requests Processed

Number
Received
During Fiscal
Year from Last
Year's Annual
Report

Number
Received
During Fiscal
Year from
Current
Annual Report

Number
Processed
During Fiscal
Year from Last
Year's Annual
Report

Number
Processed
During Fiscal
Year from
Current Annual
Report

OIG

1077

910

1057

628

OS

1432

2819

2100

1329

SAMHSA

221

252

241

248

Agency
Overall

46530

51800

47038

49271

Agency/
Component

XII.D.(2). Comparison of Numbers of Requests
From Previous and Current Annual Report -Backlogged Requests
Agency/
Component

Number of Backlogged Requests as
of End of the Fiscal Year from
Previous Annual Report

Number of Backlogged Requests
as of End of the Fiscal Year from
Current Annual Report

ACF

913

1346

ACL

43

78

CDC

186

110

CMS

2479

2640

FDA

4349

3893

HRSA

167

258

IHS

74

83

NIH

807

838

OIG

33

277

Agency/
Component

Number of Backlogged Requests as
of End of the Fiscal Year from
Previous Annual Report

Number of Backlogged Requests
as of End of the Fiscal Year from
Current Annual Report

OS

2066

3020

SAMHSA

139

142

Agency Overall

11256

12685

XII.E.(1). Comparison of Numbers of
Administrative Appeals From Previous and
Current Annual Report -- Appeals Received and
Processed
Number of Appeals Received

Number of Appeals Processed

Number
Received
During Fiscal
Year from Last
Year's Annual
Report

Number
Received
During Fiscal
Year from
Current
Annual Report

Number
Processed
During Fiscal
Year from Last
Year's Annual
Report

Number
Processed
During Fiscal
Year from
Current Annual
Report

CMS

29

44

50

59

FDA

150

101

131

79

OS

287

290

230

219

466

435

411

357

Agency/
Component

Agency
Overall

XII.E.(2). Comparison of Numbers of
Administrative Appeals From Previous and
Current Annual Report -- Backlogged Appeals
Agency/
Component

Number of Backlogged Appeals as
of End of the Fiscal Year from
Previous Annual Report

Number of Backlogged Appeals as
of End of the Fiscal Year from
Current Annual Report

CMS

124

109

FDA

44

74

OS

472

547

Agency Overall

640

730

Content created by Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Division
Content last reviewed February 21, 2025