VI. Agency Administrative Complaint Procedures

A. Responsibility of the Complainant

To seek a correction of information disseminated by the agency, individuals should follow the procedures described below:

  1. A complaint or request for review and correction of information shall be submitted in written hard copy or by email.
  2. It shall be sent to the agency by mail or email.
  3. It shall state that the submission is an information quality request for correction.

The complaint shall contain the following:

  1. A detailed description of the specific material that needs to be corrected including where the material is located (i.e., the publication title, date, and publication number, if any, or the website and web page address (URL), or the speech title, presenter, date and place of delivery).
  2. The specific reason(s) for believing the information does not comply with OMB, HHS, or HRSA guidelines and is in error, with supporting documentation, if any.
  3. The specific recommendations for correcting the information.
  4. A description of how the person submitting the complaint is affected by the information error.
  5. The name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and organizational affiliation, if any, of the individual making the complaint.

Complainants should be aware that they bear the ‘burden of proof’ with respect to the necessity for correction as well as with respect to the type of correction they seek.

Complaints by mail should be directed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
HRSA Chief Data Officer
Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation (OPAE)
5600 Fishers Lane, 14N-120
Rockville, MD 20857
Email: infoquality@hrsa.gov

B. Responsibility of the Agency

Based on a review of the information provided, the agency will determine whether a correction is warranted and, if so, what action to take. The agency will respond to the requestor by letter or email. The agency's response will explain the findings of the review and the actions that the agency will take, if any. The response will consider the nature and timeliness of the information involved and such factors as the significance of the correction on the use of the information and the magnitude of the correction. The response will describe how the complainant may request reconsideration. The agency will respond to all requests for correction within 60 calendar days of receipt. If the request requires more than 60 calendar days to resolve, the agency will inform the complainant that more time is required and indicate the reason why and an estimated decision date.

C. Appeals

If the individual submitting the complaint does not agree with the agency's decision (including the corrective action, if any), the complainant may send a written hard copy or electronic request for reconsideration within 30 days of receipt of the agency's decision. The appeal shall state the reasons why the agency response is insufficient or inadequate. Complainants shall attach a copy of their original request and the agency response to it, clearly mark the appeal with the words, Information Quality Appeal, and send the appeal to the specific agency appeals address:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
HRSA Chief Data Officer
Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation (OPAE)
5600 Fishers Lane, 14N-120
Rockville, MD. 20857
Email: infoquality@HRSA.gov

The HRSA Chief Data Officer, who resolved the original complaint, will not have responsibility for handling the appeal, but is responsible for ensuring that the appeal is assigned to and handled by another qualified member of the HRSA staff. The agency will respond to all requests for appeals within 60 calendar days of receipt. If the request requires more than 60 calendar days to resolve, the agency will inform the complainant that more time is required and indicate the reason why and an estimated decision date.

D. Comments and Requests for Information

Email contacts are provided throughout the HRSA website allowing users to send questions or comments regarding specific programs. Program staff manage these email accounts and respond to public inquiries as appropriate.

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