Subcommittee Charge

The Subcommittee on Population Health makes recommendations to the full Committee, examining the far-ranging considerations raised in generating information about the health of the American people and ensuring that this information is accurate, timely, and relevant. Such information makes it possible to identify health problems and risks, discover specific vulnerable population groups with particular problems, design and target private and public sector interventions to address those problems, and evaluate and redesign those interventions.

The Subcommittee focuses on both (1) population-based data such as vital statistics and health surveys concerning the U.S. population generally and (2) data about specific vulnerable groups within the population which are disadvantaged by virtue of their special health needs, economic status, race and ethnicity, disability, age, or area of residence.

In its rich history, the Subcommittee has explored areas as diverse as health statistics for the 21st century, data issues across the continuum of care, health data systems and functional status. Recently, it has held hearings and produced reports and meeting summaries on such subjects as strengthening data on race, ethnicity, and primary language in the U.S.; surge capacity and hospital preparedness; and the data needs of the patient-centered medical home.

As near-term priorities, in addition to continuing to explore the areas noted above, the Committee will focus on the following topics:

  • Health insurance data needs;
  • Revisiting the vision for health data statistics for the 21st century; and
  • Person-centered health.

The Subcommittee will coordinate with the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Center for Health Statistics regarding health statistics issues.

The Subcommittee will be mindful of the work plans and activities of the other NCVHS Subcommittees and will explore joint and collaborative projects whenever possible.

December 2008