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Health

Federal plan to shorten national health survey raises disability concerns

Associated Press reports the federal government could cut at least half the questions from a long-running national health survey, and advocates warn some disabled Americans could be undercounted.

Updated Oct 14, 2026 · 20:24 UTC3 reports

The short version

  • The federal government plans to shrink the 69-year-old National Health Interview Survey, possibly cutting at least half its questions.[Associated Press]
  • U.S. officials expect the 2028 questionnaire to have about 200 to 225 questions, down from 490 for adults.[Associated Press]
  • Some advocates and researchers say up to a quarter of wheelchair users could be miscategorized as not disabled.[Associated Press]

Key facts

  • The National Health Interview Survey is 69 years old and has been suffering from declining response rates.[Associated Press]
  • The survey currently has 490 health questions for adults.[Associated Press]
  • U.S. officials expect the 2028 questionnaire to have about 200 to 225 questions, according to the CDC's Stephen Blumberg.[Associated Press]
  • The federal government is planning to shrink the survey, and at least half of its questions could be cut.[Associated Press]
  • Some advocates and researchers say up to a quarter of wheelchair users and more than a third of people who are blind or deaf could be miscategorized as not disabled.[Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • Estimates that people with disabilities could be miscategorized come from some advocates and researchers and remain unverified in this reporting.[Associated Press]
  • The redesign is described as planned rather than final, so the questionnaire could still change before 2028.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.