[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR401.136]

[Page 17]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 401--GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart B--Confidentiality and Disclosure
 
Sec. 401.136  Requests for information or records.

    (a) A request should reasonably identify the requested record by 
brief description. Requesters who have detailed information which would 
assist in identifying the records requested are urged to provide such 
information in order to expedite the handling of the request. Envelopes 
in which written requests are submitted should be clearly identified as 
Freedom of Information requests. The request should include the fee or 
request determination of the fee. When necessary, a written request will 
be promptly forwarded to the proper office, and the requester will be 
advised of the date of the receipt and identification and address of the 
proper office.
    (b) Determinations of whether records will be released or withheld 
will be made within 10 working days from date of receipt of the request 
in the office listed in Sec. 401.128 except where CMS extends this time 
and sends notice of such extension to the requester. Such extension may 
not exceed 10 additional working days and shall apply only where the 
following unusual circumstances exist:
    (1) The need to search for and collect the requested records from 
field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the 
office processing the requests;
    (2) The need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a 
voluminous amount of separate and distinct records which are requested 
in a single request; or
    (3) The need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all 
practicable speed, with another agency having a substantial interest in 
the request or among two or more components of CMS having a substantial 
interest in the subject matter of the request.
    (c) If an extension is made, the requester will be notified in 
writing before the expiration of 10 working days from receipt of the 
request and will be given an explanation of why the extension was 
necessary and the date on which a determination will be made.
    (d) Authority to extend the time limit with respect to any request 
for information or records is granted to the Director, Office of Public 
Affairs, CMS and to the Director of Public Affairs in any HHS Regional 
Office. Those officers and employees of CMS who are listed in 
Sec. 401.144(a) as having authority to deny requests for information 
from records maintained on individuals are granted authority to extend 
the time limit for responding to requests for information from such 
records.