Freedom of Information Act Contacts

Refer to the links section below for information on the Freedom of Information Group’s (FIG) contacts including:

1. Freedom of Information Group, Baltimore, MD

2. CMS Regional Office Coordinators

3. Intermediary and Carrier Directory
The Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), found in Title 5 of the United States Code, section 552, was enacted in 1966 and provides that, upon request from any person, a Federal agency must release any agency record unless that record falls within one of the nine statutory exemptions and three exclusions. The FOIA binds only Federal agencies, and covers only records in the possession and control of Federal agencies. For additional information on FOIA, refer to the section in the Related Links Outside CMS.

The Freedom Of Information Act As Amended By Public Law 104-231

The FOIA was amended recently by PL 104-231. Click on the link below to view the statute.

A Citizen’s Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records

This report explains how to use the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974. It reflects all changes to the laws made since 1996. This Guide is intended to serve as general introduction to the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act. It offers neither a comprehensive explanation of the details of these acts, nor an analysis of case law. The Guide will, however, enable those who are unfamiliar with the laws to understand the process and to make a request. In addition, the complete text of each law is included in an appendix. To view the Guide, select the link in the section, Related Links Outside CMS.

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