| **National Center    for     Health Statistics            Division of Data     Services            6525 Belcrest Road     Hyattsville, MD     20782-2003     (301)458-4636      **

 
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******How NCHS ProtectsYour Privacy**

**Confidentiality      and Security of Information Collected by The National Center for Health      Statistics**

Federal      law, good statistical practice, and our ethical obligations to the      American people all require that any personal information collected by      NCHS be treated with the utmost concern for the privacy of those who      provide it.

NCHS      collects detailed and often highly personal information from its      respondents. Since this information is used for a variety of important      purposes, it is critical that it be accurate. Respondents must be able to      trust that information they provide to NCHS will be treated with respect,      and that the answers they provide will not put them at risk. For that      reason, NCHS takes all steps possible to protect the confidentiality of      individually identifiable information.

Legally*,      NCHS is not permitted to release personal information to anyone -- except      for those persons or organizations we have clearly mentioned to the      respondent before we ask them any questions. All of our respondents have      the chance to make up their minds -- without any pressure from us -- as to      (1) whether they want to participate in our surveys and (2) whether they      agree with how we would use their information and who we would share it      with. When they choose to provide us information, we rigorously observe      the restrictions imposed by what we have promised them.

Federal      law prohibits NCHS from releasing personal information to anyone without      consent -- no matter who they are and no matter how carefully they say      they will take care of the information.

The      prohibition on who gets to see personal information extends from the      highest levels of our government (we can deny the President and any member      of Congress access to confidential information as well as Immigration,      Justice, and IRS officials) to the kinds of inquiries we are all      increasingly worried about (market research firms, insurance companies,      employers).

These are      not just promises. NCHS has been collecting health statistics since 1957      and in all that time we have not released any confidential information to      anyone not entitled to have it. That�s not because there have been no      requests for personal information or because no special precautions are      needed to prevent a disclosure. It�s because we take the law and our      ethical obligations seriously enough to be constantly concerned. Among the      things we do to make sure your personal information is not disclosed to      unauthorized persons are:Special      security measures that block outside contact with any confidential      information stored in NCHS computers.Requiring      that all who could possibly come into contact with confidential      information sign a nondisclosure affidavit making them subject to several      laws that provide stiff penalties. All staff re-sign it each year.No      names, addresses, or any other item that could directly identify a person      or firm are left on internal files unless absolutely needed. In addition,      before information is made public any details on jobs, family, births, or      residence that, if pieced together with other information, could lead to      identification are removed. No electronic data are released without making      sure that this information has been removed.Even      when personal information is released with respondent�s consent, the      release must be approved by the Center Director and covered by a binding      legal agreement. Moreover, we keep close tabs on this information and      parties are required to destroy or return it within a specified time or      before that if they have finished with it.Confidentiality      training for new staff (who are also fingerprinted) and refresher training      for staff already working at the Center.Random      inspections by the NCHS Confidentiality Officer to ensure that staff      observe all established security and confidentiality requirements.

Questions?       Send us an **e-mail**.

*Several      legal provisions provide protection to NCHS respondents. In addition to      being subject to Federal regulations concerning the "**Protection      of Human Research Subjects**", NCHS is subject to the      provisions of the **Privacy      Act**, and the **Statistical Confidentiality      Executive Order**. Most importantly, the legislation that created      the Center, the **Public      Health Service Act** of 1974, contains a provision (42 U.S.C.      242m(d)) that prohibits NCHS from using any personal information for any      purpose other than what was described to survey participants and from      sharing that information with anyone not clearly mentioned to them. This      provision enables the Center to assure respondents strict confidentiality.

Statistical      Confidentiality Executive Order**View/download** PDF 40KB

 
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This page last reviewed July 26, 2000

**U.S.    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES****Centers    for Disease Control and Prevention**    National Center for Health Statistics    Division of Data Services     Hyattsville, MD    20782-2003    (301) 458-4636
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