Open Records - Medical Device Manufacturers and Distributors

Certain information may be confidential under the Texas Public Information Act, Tex. Government Code Ann. Chapter 552. For instance, any complaints and investigative information involving hospitals on or after Aug. 30, 1999, may be confidential and not releasable under the Public Information Act and the Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. Section 241.051(d). 

If you request information that is not releasable or non-existent, you will be informed. 

Requests must be in writing. 
State if you want copies or to review the items. 

Identify the records you are requesting: 

• Name of the facility or name of person. 

• Address of facility (to include: physical address, suite number, city and ZIP code). 

• Specify what you want, for example, application, license, license number/identifying numbers, procedures, inspection. 

• A time frame for the requested information (for example, 2002-2003 or inspection report dated Oct. 7, 2003). 

Providing this information will make it easier for us to quickly respond to your request. Be as specific as possible about the information you are seeking. Mail your request to: 

Drugs and Medical Devices Unit MC 1987 
Texas Department of State Health Services 
P. O. Box 149347 
Austin, TX 78714-9347 
 
Phone: 512-834-6755 
Fax: 512-206-2777 
Email: DMD Open Records 

Your request should include your name, address, e-mail address (if you have one), daytime phone number and your fax number (if requesting a few pages, we may be able to fax the information to you). 

Please be advised that there may be a charge for the information you are requesting. 

You have the right to: 

• Prompt access to information that is not confidential or otherwise protected.  

• Receive treatment equal to all other requestors, including accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.  

• Receive certain kinds of information without exceptions, like the voting record of public officials, and other information.  

• Receive a written statement of estimated charges, when charges will exceed $40, in advance of work being started and opportunity to change the request in response to the itemized statement.  

• Choose whether to inspect the requested information (most often at no charge), receive copies of the information or both.  

• A waiver or reduction of charges if the governmental body determines that access to the information benefits the public.  

• Receive a copy of the communication from the governmental body asking the Office of Attorney General for a ruling on whether the information can be withheld under one of the accepted exceptions, or if the communication discloses the requested information, a redacted copy.  

• Lodge a written complaint about overcharges for public information with the Texas Building and Procurement Commission. Complaints of other possible violations may be filed with the county or district attorney of the county where the governmental body, other than a state agency is located. If the complaint is against the county or district attorney, the complaint must be filed with the Office of Attorney General. 

All governmental bodies responding to information requests have the responsibility to: 

• Establish reasonable procedures for inspecting or copying public information and inform requestors of these procedures.  

• Treat all requestors uniformly and must give to the requestor all reasonable comfort and facility, including accommodation under ADA requirements.  

• Be informed about open records laws and educate employees on the requirements of those laws.  

• Inform requestors of the estimated charges greater than $40 and any changes in the estimates above 20 percent of the original estimate, and confirm that the requestor accepts the charges, or has amended the request, in writing before finalizing the request.  

• Inform the requestor if the information cannot be provided promptly and set a date and time to provide it within a reasonable time.  

• Request a ruling for the Office of Attorney General about any information the governmental body wishes to withhold, and send a copy of the request for ruling, or a redacted copy, to the requestor.  

• Segregate public information from information that may be withheld and provide that public information promptly.  

• Make a good faith attempt to inform third parties when their proprietary information is being requested from the governmental body.  

• Respond in writing to all written communications from the Texas Building and Procurement Commission about charges for the information. Respond to the Office of Attorney General regarding complaints about violations of the Act.