The CDC is planning a major redesign of its National Health Interview Survey, one of the federal government’s primary ways of measuring population health, to take effect in 2028.
The survey would shift from in-person interviews to a “sequential mixed-mode” approach, according to an Aug. 20 proposal from the CDC. The new questionnaires would be “shorter and less complicated” and “many detailed topics previously fielded annually will not be included.”
Disabilities are among the topics affected. The notice said the survey would keep only “foundational measures of disability and functional status based on the Washington Group Short Set.” The draft adult questionnaire asks only about functional difficulties, such as seeing, hearing, walking, remembering or concentrating, self-care and communications.
It nixes a question asking whether a physician told the respondent they have an intellectual or developmental disability, or autism. This exclusion could cause long-term issues in longitudinal analysis that tracks disability prevalence or health outcomes and funding decisions, Hypnosis Wire reported.
Advocates say the survey already “historically undercounted” people with disabilities.
Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc, an advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, called the redesign a “head-scratcher.”
“If we don’t have the government as a trusted source of data, asking questions about real people and what their real experiences are, we’re never going to get better [health outcomes],” Ms. Neas told the Wire.
The proposal is open for comment until Oct. 19.
