The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced an opportunity for public comment on a critical data collection initiative for its National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). This notice, published in the Federal Register, seeks to reinstate a "generic clearance" that permits NCHS to conduct ongoing customer satisfaction surveys. The program is vital for ensuring the relevance and quality of the national health statistics that underpin policy decisions, research, and public health interventions across the United States. The public has until September 25, 2026, to provide feedback on this proposal.
Mandate for Federal Data Collection
Federal agencies, including the CDC, are required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) to obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for any collection of information they conduct or sponsor. A key component of the PRA is the requirement for agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register for proposed information collections. This includes new projects, extensions of existing collections, and reinstatements of previously approved information. This ensures public transparency and allows interested parties to comment on the necessity and utility of federal data gathering efforts. The NCHS's authority to collect data is specifically granted under Section 306 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242k).
The Role of the National Center for Health Statistics
As the Nation's principal health statistics agency, NCHS plays an indispensable role in compiling statistical information designed to improve the health of the U.S. population. Its activities range from collecting data from birth and death records and medical records to conducting extensive interview surveys, direct physical exams, and laboratory testing. The comprehensive data provided by NCHS allows for the documentation of population health status, identification of disparities in health outcomes and healthcare access across various demographic groups, and monitoring of trends in health status and healthcare delivery. This information is critical for identifying emerging health problems, supporting biomedical and health services research, and providing foundational data for public policy changes and program evaluations. The availability of high-quality, relevant information is at the core of the NCHS mission, emphasizing the importance of efficient access for customers through diverse channels.
Details of the Proposed Customer Surveys
NCHS is requesting a three-year approval from OMB for the reinstatement of the Generic Clearance package, identified by OMB Control No. 0920-0729. This clearance enables NCHS to continue surveying customer satisfaction with the quality and relevance of the information it produces. These voluntary customer surveys are designed to pinpoint strengths in agency products and services, with the results directly informing future planning initiatives and strategic improvements. NCHS aims to use a combination of methodologies for these surveys, including evaluation forms, traditional mail surveys, focus groups, and modern automated and electronic technologies such as email and web-based platforms, as well as telephone surveys. Each individual survey NCHS plans to conduct under this generic clearance will be submitted to OMB for review, with feedback typically provided within ten working days.
Surveys are anticipated to reach a broad array of stakeholders. These include federal clients and policymakers, state and local officials who rely on NCHS data, and the broader educational, research, and public health communities. Other potential respondents include self-selected data users who attend NCHS sponsored conferences or access the NCHS website. This wide reach is essential for gathering comprehensive feedback that reflects the diverse needs and perspectives of those who utilize NCHS's valuable health data.
Public Comment and Estimated Burden
The CDC explicitly invites public comments on several key aspects of this proposed information collection. OMB is particularly interested in whether the collection is necessary for the agency's functions and possesses practical utility, the accuracy of the agency's burden estimate and methodology, ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information collected, strategies to minimize respondent burden through technological advancements, and an assessment of information collection costs. Comments can be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at regulations.gov or through U.S. mail.
The CDC estimates an annual burden of 2,250 hours for respondents participating in these surveys. This burden is distributed across various survey types: 250 hours for conference registrants or attendees (1,000 respondents, 15 minutes each), 500 hours for focus groups (500 respondents, 1 hour each), 1,000 hours for web-based surveys (4,000 respondents, 15 minutes each), and 500 hours for other customer surveys (2,000 respondents, 15 minutes each). Crucially, there is no monetary cost to respondents beyond their time investment.
