Advocates Warn Proposed Survey Cuts Could Undercount Disabled Americans
Disability advocates and researchers are concerned about proposed significant cuts to the National Health Interview Survey, fearing the reduction in questions could lead to undercounting disabled Americans and overlooking their health needs.
Las Vegas, NV, October 16, 2026 —
Disability advocates and researchers are raising concerns that proposed significant cuts to the National Health Interview Survey could make it harder to count disabled Americans and identify their health needs. They fear that reducing the survey’s questions could leave some people unrepresented in its results.
The concern centers on two possible consequences: an undercount of disabled Americans and less visibility into their health needs. The available information does not specify which questions might be removed, how many questions are under consideration for reduction, or how the proposed cuts would be implemented.
The details of the proposal, including its timing and the parties responsible for it, were not provided. No estimate was given for how many people could be affected, and no findings were cited to quantify the potential impact. The concerns described are about what the cuts could lead to, rather than reported outcomes from changes already made.
For now, the central issue raised by advocates and researchers is whether a survey with fewer questions would adequately capture disabled Americans and their health needs. Further information about the proposed changes and the questions involved was not available.
Story summarized from the original created by Mike Stobbe The Associated Press on www.reviewjournal.com, see more information here.
