Confidentiality Flyer

Protecting the public’s privacy
NCHS and NHANES
Our promise
The National Center for Health Statistics
and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
in 1960. Today, more than 50 years later, the
promise to protect the privacy of everyone
remains our top priority. We believe this record
is an important reason why so many people
are willing to take part in the survey.

There’s safety in numbers,
especially our numbers!
The law...
We take your privacy very seriously. All
information that relates to or describes
identifiable characteristics of individuals, a
practice, or an establishment will be used only
for statistical purposes. NCHS staff,
contractors, and agents will not disclose or
release responses in identifiable form without
the consent of the individual or establishment
in accordance with section 308(d) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m)

and the Confidential Information Protection
and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018 (Title III
of the Foundations for Evidence-Based
Policymaking Act of 2018 (Pub. L. No.
115-435, 132 Stat. 5529 § 302)). In
accordance with CIPSEA, every NCHS
employee, contractor, and agent has taken
an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to
five years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both if
he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable
information about you.

The pledge…
Anyone working on the NHANES must
pledge, disclosing your private information is
punishable by law.

The penalties…
to $250,000, lose their job, or go to jail.

Other ways we protect your privacy
Those working for NCHS must also follow
special rules for handling private information.
These rules are meant to ensure that the
privacy of the people taking part in NHANES
is fully respected.
• Anything that could reveal who you are
is removed. This includes, but is not
limited to, your or your families’ names,
addresses, phone numbers, and places
of work.
• Data are not released if they are for a
geographical location so small that the
numbers might identify someone.
• All computers are password protected.
Data are encrypted for transmission
using secure data networks and housed
on secure servers with access restricted
to authorized users.

NCHS and NHANES
have a strong record
for maintaining privacy
during data collection
processing.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS

Our Promise to You
• Your health exam will be free. We will
share the results with you and give you a
token of appreciation for your time.
• Taking part in NHANES will not affect your
benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, Social
Security, food stamps, or disability.

Learn More Online or By Calling
For more information on NHANES visit:
www.cdc.gov/nhanes
You may also call toll-free
(English or Spanish) at: 1-800-452-6115

• We will provide free transportation to our
mobile health center or help cover the
cost of getting there.

Data from the National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS) are released in printed
reports and on the NCHS website at
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

• We will keep your information confidential.
We will never give any information to state
or federal agencies, including the police or
immigration services.

protects the information you provide, contact:

• We will remove all information that could
show your identity, like your name,
address, or phone numbers.

CS296919-A

Confidentiality Office, NCHS
Telephone:
1-888-642-4159
E-mail:

How the National
Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey
Keeps Your
Information

CONFIDENTIAL

2021 Confidentiality Brochure