WELCOME!

Welcome to the Indian Health Service Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Home Page. This page will provide you with the basic information you need to submit a request under the FOIA for records held by the Indian Health Service (IHS). IHS has Headquarters East (HQE) located in Rockville, Maryland and Headquarters West (HQW) located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and twelve Area Offices. In general, HQE maintains IHS-wide, policy level correspondence, and the Area and Agency Offices maintain records specific to their Area.

FOIA is a federal access law that allows individuals to inspect public records held by government agencies. Originally passed by Congress in 1966, and later amended, the FOIA is a dynamic and evolving law and regulation. The FOIA is a successful method that increases the understanding of the operations of the federal government by its citizens. The administration of the FOIA by government agencies can be complex and few 'across the board' guidelines apply. The Indian Health Service (IHS) provides responses to requests through the Division of Regulatory and Legal Affairs (DRLA). The Director of DRLA is the FOIA Officer and has the sole responsibility and authority to make release determinations related to records of the agency requested under the FOIA.

Like all federal agencies, the IHS is required under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to disclose records requested in writing by any person. However, the IHS is precluded from releasing information that falls within the nine exemptions and three exclusions contained in the statute and regulations. The FOIA applies only to federal agencies and does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, or by state or local government agencies. Each state has its own public access laws that should be consulted for access to state and local records.

If you are unsure where to send your request, please call or email Leslie Morris, FOIA Officer, or Janet Ingersoll, FOIA Coordinator, at Headquarters East. The IHS/FOIA contact information is listed in our Area FOIA Coordinators page.