Online Program

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Wednesday, January 8
Wed, Jan 8, 8:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Pacific C
Linked Data for Evidence-Based Policymaking

Leveraging Linked Data for Evidence Based Policymaking (306597)

*Lisa B. Mirel, CDC/NCHS/OAE/SPB 

Keywords: NCHS, Data Linkage Program

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has a Data Linkage Program that is designed to link NCHS national health survey data with vital and administrative program data. The resulting linked files create new and unique data resources that enable evidence-based policy evaluation and deeper understanding of the factors that influence disability, chronic disease, health care utilization, morbidity, and mortality. To date, NCHS survey data have been successfully linked to program data from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Social Security Administration as well as cause and date of death information collected from the National Death Index. In recent years, the program has worked to develop enhanced linkage algorithms to accommodate the collection of less personally identifiable information in surveys and handle new and emerging sources of input data (e.g., electronic health records). This talk will provide an overview of the NCHS Data Linkage Program, describe recent advances in improved linkage methodology and highlight analyses that align with the Foundations of Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018.