HHS Fiscal Year 2015 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.

Michael S. Marquis
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:
http://www.hhs.gov/foia/reports/annual-reports/2015/index.html

3. Address for Paper Copies of this Report

Contact Michael Marquis or Michael Bell, FOIA Public Liaison, 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 Officer
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Suite 729H
Washington D.C. 20201
(202) 690-7453

Administration for Children and Families (ACF):
Website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/acf_foia.html
Freedom of Information Officer
9Mary E. Switzer Building
330 C Street, S.W., Room 4004
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 202-401-9215

Administration for Community Living (ACL):
Website: http://www.acl.gov/Site_Utilities/FOIA/index.aspx
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Administration for Community Living
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 202-357-3540

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ):
Website: http://www.ahrq.gov/news/foia.htm
Freedom of Information Officer
Program Support Center
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 19-01
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: (301) 443-3403

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Website: http://www.cdc.gov/od/foia/
Freedom of Information Officer
1600 Clifton Road, N.E., MS D-54
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Phone: 404-498-1580

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
Website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/foia/
Freedom of Information Officer
North Building, Room N2-20-06
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21244
Phone: 410-786-5353

Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
Website: http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/foi/
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Division of Freedom of Information
Office the Executive Secretariat, OC
12420 Parklawn Drive, Room 1020
Rockville, Maryland 20857
301-796-3900 (main)

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA):
Website: http://www.hrsa.gov/foia/
Freedom of Information Officer
Parklawn Building, Room 14-15
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 301-443-3376

Indian Health Service (IHS):
Website: http://www.ihs.gov/AdminMngrResources/FOIA/
Freedom of Information Officer
12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 450
Twinbrook II, Metro Plaza Building
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 301-443-1116

National Institute of Health (NIH):
Website: http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/foia/
Freedom of Information Officer
Building 31, Room 5B35
31 Center Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Phone: 301-496-5633

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), including the U.S. Public Health Service:
Website: http://www.psc.gov/foia/
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Program Support Center
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 19-01
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: (301) 443-3403

Office of Inspector General (OIG):
Website: http://oig.hhs.gov/foia/
Freedom of Information Officer
Cohen Building, Suite 1062
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 Officer
1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 8-1042
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 240-276-2137

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: http://www.hhs.gov/foia/45cfr5.html


III. Acronyms, Definitions, and Exemptions:

1. The following acronyms / agency component abbreviations, are utilized in this report:

Component Abbreviation

Component Name

OS Office of the Secretary
ACF Administration for Children and Families
ACL Administration for Community Living
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CMS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
FDA Food and Drug Administration
HRSA Health Resources and Services Administration
IHS Indian Health Service
NIH National Institutes of Health
OASH Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
OIG Office of Inspector General
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

2. Following are definitions of terms used in this Report:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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).

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

Exemption 1: classified national defense and foreign relations information

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

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

Exemption 4: trade secrets and other confidential business information

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

Exemption 6: information involving matters of personal privacy

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

Exemption 8: information relating to the supervision of financial institutions

Exemption 9: geological information on wells


IV. Exemption 3 Statutes

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

5 U.S.C. app. § 107(a) (Ethics in Government Act of 1978) Financial disclosure information pertaining to certain government employees Meyerhoff v. EPA, 958 F.2d 1498, 1500-02 (9th Cir. 1992); Seife v. NIH, 874 F. Supp. 2nd 248, 254 (S.D.N.Y. 2012); Concepcion v. FBI, 606 F. Supp. 2d 14, 33 (D.D.C. 2009), renewed motion for summary judgment granted in part on other grounds, 699 F. Supp. 2d 106 (D.D.C. 2010); Glascoe v. DoJ, No. 04-0486, 2005 WL 1139269, at *1 (D.D.C. May 15, 2005).

OS

2

5

   

NIH

2

   

OASH

1

41 USC. § 253b(m)(1) (currently at 41 U.S.C. § 4702) 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 contracts Sinkfield 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).

OS

1

53

   

CDC

6

   

CMS

44

   

HRSA

1

   

NIH

1

42 U.S.C. § 262a(h) Bioterrorism-related information  

OS

1

28

   

CDC

14

   

NIH

1

   

OIG

12

42 U.S.C. § 11137 (b) Adverse reports of a health care practitioner's conduct reported to the National Practitoner Database None

HRSA

4

5

   

OASH

1

41 U.S.C. § 2102 (amending 41 U.S.C. § 423(a)(1))* (Procurement Integrity Act) Contractor bid or proposal information; source selection information Legal & Safety Employer Research, 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).

CDC

1

2

   

HRSA

1

42 U.S.C. § 247d-6b(d) National stockpile information - technical data or scientific information that is created or obtained during the countermeasure and product advanced research and development  

CDC

4

4

21 U.S.C. § 331(j) (Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) 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).

FDA

41

41

21 U.S.C. § 350d(a)(5) Food facility registration information  

FDA

1

1

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(A) (National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986) "Except as provided in subparagraph (B), Information submitted to a special master or the court in a proceeding on a petition [for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program]… without the express written consent of the person who submitted the information" Long v. DOJ, 778 F. Supp. 2d 222, 234 (N.D.N.Y. 2011).

HRSA

3

3

5 U.S.C. § 574(j)- Administrative Dispute Resolutions Act Confidential communications with agency Ombudsman (3rd party neutral)  

NIH

1

1

15 U.S.C. § 3710a© (Federal Technology Transfer Act) "Trade secrets or commercial or financial, 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 innovation Public. Citizen Health Researach Group v. NIH, 209 F. supp. 2d 37, 43, 51 (D.D.C. 2002); DeLorme Pub. Col, Inc., v. NOAA, 917 F. Supp.867, 873-72 (D. Me. 1996), appeal dismissed per stipulation, No. 96-1601 (1st Cir. July 8, 1996).

NIH

2

2

42 USC § 1306c Master Death File records  

OIG

3

3

5 U.S.C. app. 3 § (7)(b) Names of employees who provide information or complaints to the Inspector General  

OIG

11

11

Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e), enacted by Act of July 30, 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-78, 91 Stat. 319 Certain records pertaining to grand jury proceedings PSussman v. USMS, 494 F.3d 1106, 1113 (D.C. Cir. 2007); Fund for Constitutional Gov't v. Nat'l Archives & Records Serv., 656 F.2d 856, 867-68 (D.C. Cir. 1981); Durham v. U.S. Atty. Gen., No. 06-843, 2008 WL 620744, at *2 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 3, 2008); Cozen O'Connor v. U.S. Dep't of Treasury, 570 F. Supp. 2d 749, 776 (E.D. Pa. 2008).

OIG

11

11


V. A. FOIA Requests -- Received, Processed and Pending FOIA Requests

Component / Agency

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

OS

314

1,071

1,113

272

ACF

772

850

1,100

522

ACL

0

11

11

0

CDC

685

1,020

943

762

CMS

4,717

26,566

28,153

3,130

FDA

2,896

9,958

10,145

2,709

HRSA

92

379

419

52

IHS

20

149

130

39

NIH

84

1,273

1,268

89

OIG

34

1,276

1,304

6

OASH

120

357

423

54

SAMHSA

51

175

177

49

AGENCY OVERALL

9,785

43,085

45,186

7,684

Due to data entry delays in reporting the correct ending / beginning pending case counts, the following changes are reported for the HHS components:

ACF reported 763 at the end of FY 2014, 772 at the beginning of FY 2015;

ACL reported 2 at the end of FY 2014, 0 at the beginning of FY 2015;

CDC reported 691 at the end of FY 2014, 685 at the beginning of FY 2015;


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

Agency /
Component

Number of Full Grants

Num-
ber of Partial Grants / Partial Denials

Num-
ber
of
Full
Denials Based
on Exemp-
tions

Number of Full Denials Based on Reasons Other than Exemptions

 

No Re-
cords

All Records Re-
ferred
to
Another Com-
ponent or Agency

Re-
quest With-
drawn

Fee-
Related Reason

Records not Reason-
ably
Described

Im-
proper FOIA Re-
quest for Other Reason

Not Agency Record

Dup-
licate Re-
quest

Other *Explain in Chart Below

TOTAL

OS

101

255

41

95

493

20

0

5

14

70

19

0

1,113

ACF

211

798

0

13

20

13

0

5

5

20

15

0

1,100

ACL

6

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

11

CDC

204

222

28

139

58

217

13

13

17

22

10

0

943

CMS

8,309

4,011

5,691

4,477

253

1,501

398

567

801

561

409

1,175

28,153

FDA

8,037

107

159

432

30

1,146

46

29

43

0

116

0

10,145

HRSA

85

154

11

65

36

34

0

4

5

8

16

0

419

IHS

29

23

4

13

10

40

0

0

8

1

2

0

130

NIH

797

153

8

115

28

121

1

11

13

17

4

0

1,268

OIG

266

225

148

110

46

303

4

3

91

85

23

0

1,304

OASH

177

128

93

9

3

10

0

0

1

2

0

0

423

SAMHSA

35

67

9

35

2

5

0

2

1

18

3

0

177

AGENCY
OVERALL

18,258

6,148

6,192

5,503

979

3,410

462

639

999

804

617

1,175

45,186


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 (1)

Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied Upon

TOTAL

CMS Duplicate request closed after resolving system operating deficiencies.

1,175

1,175

AGENCY OVERALL    

1,175


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

Agency / Component

Ex.
1

Ex.
2

Ex.
3

Ex.
4

Ex.
5

Ex.
6

Ex. 7(A)

Ex. 7(B)

Ex. 7(C)

Ex. 7(D)

Ex. 7(E)

Ex. 7(F)

Ex.
8

Ex.
9

OS

1

1

3

70

155

211

17

3

117

0

1

0

0

0

ACF

0

0

0

38

3

672

0

0

15

0

3

15

0

0

ACL

0

0

0

3

1

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CDC

0

1

24

82

38

182

18

11

13

0

4

1

0

0

CMS

0

0

44

228

53

7,177

10

11

1,076

208

32

0

0

0

FDA

0

0

42

135

17

24

95

0

8

3

2

0

0

0

HRSA

0

0

9

117

29

11

1

0

1

1

0

4

0

0

IHS

0

1

0

8

13

16

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

NIH

0

0

7

29

37

4

18

0

6

0

0

0

0

0

OIG

0

7

12

33

301

145

2

176

1

13

1

0

0

0

OASH

0

0

2

56

52

103

2

0

42

0

12

12

0

0

SAMHSA

0

0

0

61

5

70

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

AGENCY OVERALL

1

10

143

860

704

8,619

164

201

1,280

225

55

32

0

0


VI. A. Administrative Appeals of Initial Determinations of FOIA Requests -- Recieved, Processed, and Pending Administrative 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

OS

183

196

190

189

CMS

243

116

92

267

AGENCY OVERALL

426

312

282

456

Due to data entry delays in reporting the correct ending / beginning pending appeal counts, the following changes are reported for the HHS components: OS reported 175 at the end of FY 2014, 183 at the beginning of FY 2015, and CMS reported 245 at the end of FY 2014, 243 at the beginning of FY 2015.


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

TOTAL

OS

64

25

4

97

190

CMS

0

1

1

90

92

AGENCY OVERALL

64

26

5

187

282


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

Agency / Component

Ex. 1

Ex. 2

Ex. 3

Ex. 4

Ex. 5

Ex. 6

Ex. 7(A)

Ex. 7(B)

Ex. 7(C)

Ex. 7(D)

Ex. 7(E)

Ex. 7(F)

Ex. 8

Ex. 9

OS

0

1

5

13

14

32

0

0

20

0

0

0

0

0

CMS

0

0

1

3

4

38

0

0

11

0

1

0

0

0

AGENCY OVERALL

0

1

6

16

18

70

0

0

31

0

1

0

0

0


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

Agency / Component

No
Re-
cords

Re-
cords
Re-
ferred
at
Initial Request Level

Request With-
drawn

Fee-
Related Reason

Records not Rea-
sonably Described

Im-
proper
Re-
quest
for
Other
Rea-
sons

Not
Agency Record

Du-
plicate
Re-
quest
or
Appeal

Re-
quest
in
Liti-
gation

Appeal Based
Solely
on
Denial
of
Request
for
Expedited Processing

Other *Explain
in
chart
below

OS

2

7

74

0

0

3

1

2

5

3

0

CMS

0

2

83

0

0

1

0

3

0

0

0

AGENCY
OVERALL

2

9

157

0

0

4

1

5

5

3

0


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

Agency / Component

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

Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied Upon

TOTAL

OS N/A

0

0

CMS N/A

0

0

AGENCY OVERALL

   

0


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

OS

392.00

531.00

1.00

2,746.00

CMS

468.00

488.00

9.00

996.00

AGENCY OVERALL

342.05

385.59

<1

1,911.00


VI. C. (5). Ten Oldest Pending Administrative Appeals

Agency / Component

 

10th Oldest Appeal

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

Oldest Appeal

OS

Date of
Appeal

2011-
07-18

2011-
06-21

2011-
05-16

2011-
04-28

2011-
01-11

2010-
07-06

2010-
07-06

2010-
06-07

2010-
06-07

2009-
11-20

Number of
Days Pending

1054

1072

1097

1102

1109

1183

1312

1312

1332

1466

CMS

Date of
Appeal

2012-
07-30

2012-
07-04

2012-
06-19

2012-
05-29

2012-
04-23

2012-
04-11

2011-
12-09

2011-
11-18

2011-
06-24

2011-
06-01

Number of
Days Pending

795

812

823

838

863

870

954

968

1069

1086

AGENCY OVERALL

Date of
Appeal

2011-
06-21

2011-
06-01

2011-
05-16

2011-
05-09

2011-
04-28

2011-
01-11

2010-
07-06

2010-
07-06

2010-
06-07

2009-
11-20

Number of
Days Pending

1072

1086

1097

1102

1109

1183

1312

1312

1332

1466


VII. A. Processed Requests - Response Time for All Processed Perfected Requests

Agency / Component

SIMPLE

COMPLEX

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Me-
dian
Num-
ber
of
Days

Av-
erage
Num-
ber of
Days

Low-
est Num-
ber
of Days

Highest Num-
ber of Days

Median Num-
ber of Days

Average Num-
ber of Days

Low-
est Num-
ber of Days

High-
est Num-
ber of Days

Median Num-
ber of Days

Average Num-
ber of Days

Low-
est Num-
ber of Days

High-
est Num-
ber of Days

OS

<1

3.3

<1

37

133

211.68

22

1395

70.5

70.5

65

76

ACF

27

78

1

791

63

143

1

765

10

13

2

302

ACL

23

33

13

90

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CDC

33

101.39

<1

1225

22

159.52

<1

1334

59.5

85.7

6

288

CMS

10

10

1

191

22

73

1

1109

161

189

<1

594

FDA

5

18

1

200

72

186

1

1583

862

862

862

862

HRSA

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

25

67

<1

695

12

12

12

12

IHS

10

15

5

60

45

65

70

266

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

NIH

11

13

1

78

37

63

1

984

17

17

10

24

OIG

1

4

1

20

21

28

1

287

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

OASH

6

6.65

1

31

43.38

19

21

276

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

SAMHSA

6

35

1

429

61

106

1

502

5

5

5

5

AGENCY OVERALL

9

15.1

<1

1225

38

103.24

<1

1583

298

315.65

2

862


VII. B. Processed Requests - Response Time for Perfected Requests in Which Information Was Granted

Component / Agency

SIMPLE

COMPLEX

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Median Num-
ber of Days

Average Num-
ber of Days

Low-
est Num-
ber of Days

High-
est Num-
ber of Days

Median Num-
ber of Days

Average Num-
ber of Days

Low-
est Num-
ber of Days

High-
est Num-
ber of Days

Median Num-
ber of Days

Average Num-
ber of Days

Low-
est Num-
ber of Days

High-
est Num-
ber of Days

OS

10

12.03

<1

37

118.5

187.3

22

1395

65

65

65

65

ACF

23

76

<1

791

65

132

1

765

18

85

2

302

ACL

23

33

13

90

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CDC

57

130.75

<1

1225

113

233.48

<1

1334

52

77.75

6

228

CMS

18

16

1

134

32

94

1

1079

119

148

<1

471

FDA

5

18

1

200

73

187

1

1583

862

862

862

862

HRSA

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

25

29

<1

695

12

12

12

12

IHS

10

15

5

29

45

65

70

266

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

NIH

13

15

1

78

41

63

2

984

10

10p>

10

10

OIG

2

7

1

20

29

42

1

287

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

OASH

7

8

1

23

43

69

21

276

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

SAMHSA

6

37

1

424

54

85

1

487

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

AGENCY
OVERALL

9

16.95

<1

1225

43

114.62

<1

1583

367

382.73

2

862


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 Days

101-120 Days

121-140 Days

141-160 Days

161-180 Days

181-200 Days

201-300 Days

301-400 Days

401+
Days

TOTAL

OS

668

18

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

686

ACF

397

86

9

11

20

47

97

118

109

17

17

3

6

937

ACL

4

5

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

11

CDC

185

52

35

29

16

21

10

11

13

11

21

18

34

456

CMS

17,098

62

59

22

1

1

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

17,245

FDA

5,249

559

178

96

50

60

46

28

44

28

0

0

0

6,338

HRSA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

IHS

21

23

19

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

63

NIH

787

176

21

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

990

OIG

762

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

762

OASH

23

193

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

217

SAMHSA

59

2

5

3

2

2

2

0

0

0

5

0

1

81

AGENCY OVERALL

25,253

1,176

327

167

91

131

156

157

166

57

43

21

41

27,786


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 Days

101-120 Days

121-140 Days

141-160 Days

161-180 Days

181-200 Days

201-300 Days

301-400 Days

401+
Days

TOTAL

OS

0

43

50

48

26

24

27

16

15

8

56

31

62

406

ACF

53

13

7

10

2

1

7

22

7

2

4

5

17

150

ACL

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CDC

211

39

16

15

11

13

8

6

7

3

21

12

15

437

CMS

4,203

2,958

507

281

198

163

111

124

124

105

432

382

421

10,009

FDA

975

431

225

132

132

79

62

160

76

141

481

316

525

3,735

HRSA

186

96

13

15

10

10

13

5

9

2

15

16

9

399

IHS

0

0

0

6

20

10

2

6

6

2

7

0

0

59

NIH

62

70

36

30

14

6

5

6

4

5

10

3

1

252

OIG

212

156

32

18

11

9

5

1

2

1

1

0

0

448

OASH

0

1

94

35

26

12

4

4

10

4

9

6

0

205

SAMHSA

13

20

13

12

4

5

5

2

0

3

8

2

6

93

AGENCY OVERALL

5,915

3,827

993

602

454

332

249

352

260

276

1,044

773

1,116

16,193


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 Days

101-120 Days

121-140 Days

141-160 Days

161-180 Days

181-200 Days

201-300 Days

301-400 Days

401+
Days

TOTAL

OS

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

ACF

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

ACL

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CDC

4

3

3

2

2

1

0

0

1

3

1

0

0

20

CMS

4

2

1

2

1

2

0

2

2

4

9

2

4

35

FDA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

HRSA

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

IHS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

NIH

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

OIG

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OASH

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SAMHSA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

AGENCY OVERALL

12

7

4

6

3

3

0

2

3

7

10

2

5

64


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

Component / Agency

SIMPLE

COMPLEX

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Number Pending

Median Number of Days

Average Number of Days

Number Pending

Median Number of Days

Average Number of Days

Number Pending

Median Number of Days

Average Number of Days

OS

33

12

13

233

252

273

4

158.5

138

ACF

228

170

230

276

321

344

18

294

276

ACL

0

N/A

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

CDC

41

118

369

669

265

330

36

244

264

CMS

2826

39

144

304

174

217

0

N/A

N/A

FDA

693

5

18

1986

72

187

2

232

232

HRSA

0

N/A

N/A

52

58

131

0

N/A

N/A

IHS

0

N/A

N/A

39

100

266

0

N/A

N/A

NIH

61

8

10

27

63

104

1

237

237

OIG

0

N/A

N/A

7

21

12

0

N/A

N/A

OASH

1

100

100

51

38

56

0

N/A

N/A

SAMHSA

5

90

125

24

42

100

0

N/A

N/A

AGENCY OVERALL

3888

41

121.82

3668

145

229.55

61

253

257.79


VII. E. Pending Requests -- Ten Oldest Pending Perfected Requests

Agency / Component

 

10th Oldest Request

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

Oldest Request

OS

Date of Receipt

2013-
03-25

2013-
03-05

2013-
03-04

2013-
02-21

2013-
02-14

2013-
02-05

2012-
10-01

2012-
08-09

2011-
09-27

2011-
05-19

Number of Days Pending

634

648

649

656

660

667

752

788

1006

1096

ACF

Date of Receipt

2012-
10-26

2012-
10-23

2012-
10-17

2012-
10-10

2012-
09-13

2012-
08-17

2012-
08-13

2012-
08-09

2012-
07-23

2012-
06-26

Number of Days Pending

763

766

770

775

794

813

817

819

832

851

ACL

Date of Receipt

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days Pending

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CDC

Date of Receipt

2010-
12-17

2010-
11-29

2010-
10-15

2010-
10-08

2010-
07-09

2010-
04-16

2010-
04-15

2010-
03-16

2010-
03-15

2010-
03-15

Number of Days Pending

1190

1204

1233

1237

1301

1359

1360

1382

1383

1383

CMS

Date of Receipt

2012-
02-23

2012-
01-25

2012-
01-20

2012-
01-13

2012-
01-06

2012-
01-04

2011-
11-10

2011-
10-25

2011-
06-27

2011-
05-10

Number of Days Pending

881

903

916

920

925

927

962

974

1057

1090

FDA

Date of Receipt

2011-
02-26

2011-
01-13

2010-
11-18

2010-
10-07

2010-
10-07

2010-
10-01

2010-
09-30

2010-
07-30

2010-
07-30

2010-
06-15

Number of Days Pending

1165

1173

1210

1238

1238

1242

1243

1286

1286

1318

HRSA

Date of Receipt

2014-
11-26

2014-
11-06

2014-
10-28

2014-
08-12

2014-
02-28

2014-
01-17

2013-
12-04

2013-
09-17

2013-
03-05

2013-
02-21

Number of Days Pending

212

225

232

285

399

427

456

498

635

643

IHS

Date of Receipt

2015-
06-08

2015-
06-02

2015-
05-20

2015-
05-05

2015-
04-06

2015-
02-06

2014-
02-06

2014-
10-15

2043-
09-29

2014-
09-29

Number of Days Pending

81

85

93

104

125

164

164

253

266

266

NIH

Date of Receipt

2015-
01-28

2015-
01-06

2014-
12-15

2014-
11-05

2014-
10-27

2014-
10-23

2014-
10-20

2014-
10-15

2014-
10-10

2014-
10-03

Number of Days Pending

171

185

199

216

232

234

237

240

242

247

OIG

Date of Receipt

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2015-
09-14

2015-
09-14

2015-
08-19

2015-
07-31

2015-
07-30

2015-
06-05

Number of Days Pending

0

0

0

0

7

12

30

30

33

82

OASH

Date of Receipt

2015-
05-18

2015-
05-15

2015-
05-08

2015-
05-06

2015-
04-28

2015-
04-09

2015-
04-03

2014-
03-25

2014-
04-01

2014-
03-28

Number of Days Pending

94

95

100

102

108

121

125

132

378

380

SAMHSA

Date of Receipt

2015-
01-28

2015-
01-08

2014-
11-12

2014-
09-29

2014-
09-29

2014-
09-03

2014-
07-07

2014-
01-20

2014-
01-03

2013-
10-17

Number of Days Pending

175

189

230

262

262

280

322

442

453

509

AGENCY OVERALL

Date of Receipt

2010-
09-30

2010-
07-30

2010-
07-30

2010-
07-09

2010-
06-15

2010-
04-16

2010-
04-01

2010-
03-16

2010-
03-15

2010-
03-15

Number of Days Pending

1243

1286

1286

1301

1318

1359

1360

1382

1383

1383


VIII. A. Requests for Expedited Processing

Agency / Component

Number Granted

Number Denied

Median Number of Days to Adjudicate

Average Number of Days to Adjudicate

Number Adjudicated Within Ten Calendar Days

OS

7

10

4

9.53

13

ACF

2

8

10

45

8

ACL

0

0

N/A

N/A

0

CDC

36

65

8

12.25

77

CMS

44

79

10

21

66

FDA

1

441

5

5.9

442

HRSA

1

1

1

1

2

IHS

0

0

N/A

N/A

0

NIH

3

15

5

5

18

OIG

0

8

2

2

8

OASH

0

1

1

1

1

SAMHSA

0

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

AGENCY OVERALL

94

628

6

9.9

635


VIII. B. Requests for Fee Waiver

Agency / Component

Number Granted

Number Denied

Median Number of Days to Adjudicate

Average Number of Days to Adjudicate

OS

4

2

1

1

ACF

0

0

N/A

N/A

ACL

0

0

N/A

N/A

CDC

4

1

63

222.2

CMS

37

97

7

17

FDA

36

21

14

41

HRSA

0

0

N/A

N/A

IHS

0

0

N/A

N/A

NIH

0

5

3

5

OIG

0

6

2

2

OASH

0

0

N/A

N/A

SAMHSA

0

0

N/A

N/A

AGENCY OVERALL

81

132

10

27.11


IX. FOIA Personnel and Costs

Agency / Component

PERSONNEL

COSTS

Number of "Full-Time FOIA Employees"

Number of "Equivalent Full-Time FOIA Employees"

Total Number of "Full-Time FOIA Staff"

Processing Costs

Litigation-Related Costs

Total Costs

OS

9

0

9

$1,533,429.92

$419,551.77

$1,952,981.69

ACF

1

1.25

2.25

$27,053.00

$0.00

$27,053.00

ACL

0

0.1

0.1

$10,150.00

$0.00

$10,150.00

CDC

13

4

17

$2,955,636.00

$144,195.00

$3,099,831.00

CMS

29

62

91

$3,974,758.15

$69,707.00

$4,044,465.15

FDA

93

45

138

$33,911,100.00

$1,704,096.00

$35,615,196.00

HRSA

5

0

5

$510,808.00

$0.00

$510,808.00

IHS

0

2

2

$248,000.00

$0.00

$248,000.00

NIH

19

12

31

$3,616,813.27

$4,704.88

$3,621,518.15

OIG

3

2

5

$291,340.00

$0.00

$291,340.00

OASH

5

0.5

5.5

$1,405,499.03

$16,856.00

$1,422,355.03

SAMHSA

1

0

1

$91,329.00

$0.00

$91,329.00

AGENCY OVERALL

178

128.85

306.85

$48,575,916.37

$2,359,110.65

$50,935,027.02


X. Fees Collected for Processing Requests

Agency / Component

Total Amount of Fees Collected

Percentage of Total Costs

OS

$0.00

0.00%

ACF

$0.00

0.00%

ACL

$0.00

0.00%

CDC

$7,101.18

0.24%

CMS

$338,489.14

8.52%

FDA

$388,743.65

1.15%

HRSA

$46.00

0.01%

IHS

$0.00

0.00%

NIH

$33,385.05

0.92%

OIG

$4,145.00

1.42%

OASH

$0.00

0.00%

SAMHSA

$0.00

0.00%

AGENCY OVERALL

$771,910.02

1.59%


XII. A. Backlogs of FOIA Requests and Administrative Appeals

Agency / Component

Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of Fiscal Year

Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of Fiscal Year

OS

245

173

ACF

514

0

ACL

0

0

CDC

673

0

CMS

1,801

264

FDA

2,337

0

HRSA

36

0

IHS

36

0

NIH

24

0

OIG

3

0

OASH

35

0

SAMHSA

41

0

AGENCY OVERALL

5,745

437


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

Agency / Component

Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Pending at Your 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 Your Agency During the Fiscal Year

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

OS

0

19

17

2

ACF

0

1

1

0

ACL

0

0

0

0

CDC

0

8

6

2

CMS

0

0

0

0

FDA

0

15

15

0

HRSA

0

0

0

0

IHS

0

0

0

0

NIH

0

14

14

0

OIG

0

12

12

0

OASH

0

0

0

0

SAMHSA

0

0

0

0

AGENCY OVERALL

0

69

65

4


XII. C. Consultations on FOIA Requests -- Ten Oldest Consultations Received from Other Agencies and Pending at the Agency

Agency / Component

 

10th Oldest Consultation

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

Oldest Consultation

OS

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2015-
08-04

2015-
03-17

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

40

138

ACF

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ACL

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CDC

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2015-
09-28

2015-
06-17

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

73

CMS

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

FDA

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

HRSA

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

IHS

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

NIH

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OIG

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OASH

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SAMHSA

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

AGENCY OVERALL

Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2015-
09-28

2015-
08-04

2015-
06-17

2015-
03-17

Number of Days

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

40

73

138


XII. D. 1. Comparison of Numbers of Requests from Previous and Current Annual Report

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

OS

1,531

1,071

1,605

1,113

ACF

1,864

850

1,255

1,100

ACL

13

11

11

11

CDC

1,141

1,020

1,028

943

CMS

23,361

26,566

25,027

28,153

FDA

10,224

9,958

10,191

10,145

HRSA

355

379

352

419

IHS

152

149

160

130

NIH

1,169

1,273

1,156

1,268

OIG

843

1,276

815

1,304

OASH

437

357

455

423

SAMHSA

193

175

238

177

AGENCY OVERALL

44,283

43,085

42,293

45,186


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

OS

281

245

ACF

721

514

ACL

2

0

CDC

598

673

CMS

2,714

1,801

FDA

2,617

2,337

HRSA

64

36

IHS

17

36

NIH

28

24

OIG

16

3

OASH

92

35

SAMHSA

45

41

AGENCY OVERALL

7,195

5,745


XII. E. 1. Comparison of Numbers of Administrative Appeals from Previous and Current Annual Report -- Appeals Received and Processed

Agency / Component

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

OS

204

196

218

190

CMS

122

116

28

92

AGENCY OVERALL

326

312

246

282


XII. E. 2. Comparison of Backlogged Administrative Appeals from Previous and Current Annual Report

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

OS

169

173

CMS

239

264

AGENCY OVERALL

408

437

 

Content created by Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Division
Content last reviewed