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US Health Survey Shrinks: Disability Data in Jeopardy
15 Oct
Summary
- Federal health survey may cut over half its questions.
- Researchers fear misclassification of disabled Americans.
- Survey changes aim to reduce costs and boost response rates.
The federal government is set to drastically reduce the number of questions in its primary health survey, the National Health Interview Survey. This decision, driven by efforts to cut costs and combat declining participation rates, has raised concerns among researchers.
Experts predict that the elimination of at least half the survey's questions could lead to a significant miscategorization of disabled individuals. This may result in the government failing to recognize the health needs of many Americans with disabilities.
The survey, a $40 million annual project conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the CDC, has historically informed public understanding of various health issues and measured national progress on health challenges.
To improve participation, the survey's length is expected to be reduced from over an hour to about 30 minutes. Future surveys will invite participants to respond online or via mail, with in-person visits reserved for a smaller follow-up round.
A public comment period for the proposed survey redesign is open until October 20, 2026.
