How To Make A FOIA Request
Please read before you submit a FOIA request
Please Note: Agencies are not required to answer questions posed as FOIA requests, nor are we required to respond to requests by creating records.
It is the policy of the Indian Health Service (IHS) FOIA Office to respond to all written or electronically submitted requests for records that exist at the time that the request is made. See 45 CFR Part 5 .
You have the option to submit a FOIA Request by mail, email or online. For all submissions, please be sure to include all required information.
Important Notice:
If you request records from your medical file, that is not a FOIA request. A request for records from your medical file is a Privacy Act request. You are entitled to a copy of your own medical records. You can request your medical record by visiting the hospital or service unit where you were seen and fill out Form IHS-810, Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Protected Health Information.
If you cannot print the form, the medical records offices in our facilities will have this form for you to complete. Requests for decedents records are not processed by the IHS FOIA office. These are privacy requests and should be submitted directly to the facility where the decedent sought health care services. To submit your request to the facility, you will need:
- a completed IHS-810 form, Authorization For Use or Disclosure of Protected Health Information, and
- a copy of your authority to request records of the decedent (executor, personal representative or the person under applicable law with authority to act on behalf of the decedent or the decedent's estate as assigned by a court of law).
For your convenience, here is a list of Indian Health Service locations, by Area.
Mail or Email Requests
For submitting a FOIA Request by mail or email, please review the Sample FOIA Request guidance prior to submitting a request.
Mail your request to the Indian Health Service FOIA Office
Division of Regulatory and Policy Coordination/FOIA
5600 Fishers Lane, Mailstop 09E70
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Email your status inquiry to: IHSFOIAMailbox@ihs.gov.
Online FOIA Request
You may also submit a FOIA Request using our online form. Please visit the FOIA Request Form page and fill in all required information.
You may also submit your FOIA requests at https://www.foia.gov/If you have questions regarding the submission of or how to fill out the form you may contact the Indian Health Service FOIA Office at:
