Importance of comparable state and local health survey data in improving health policy

Federal surveys provide population health and health care data at the national and state levels. The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides national data on adults and children, as well as data for some large states. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collects data on adults in all states. Some states supplement these federally sponsored surveys or conduct their own state health surveys. These surveys are a key source of information for policy. They complement rapidly developing administrative and clinical data and offer powerful tool for evaluating the effects of health care reform. Population health surveys provide information on people who do not receive services as well as on health behaviors, chronic illness, and mental health that is not systematically collected at medical encounters. Population health surveys are thus a critical tool for tracking and analyzing racial and other social health disparities and the effects of health care reform on specific subgroups. HHS is working on a Community Health Data Initiative and Warehouse through which it will make all of the county- and community-level health indicators and data we have available on line to promote community-level involvement in data use to improve health and health care. An important consideration will be how to link state efforts to monitor health reform across the nation.