ACA Facts: Data Collection and Health Disparities

November 13, 2012

Data Collection and Health Disparities

The ACA invests in the improvement of health data collection and analysis strategy for underserved populations, including individuals with disabilities. In order to strengthen federal data collection efforts, the ACA will now require that collection efforts specifically involve gathering information on race, primary language, ethnicity, sex, and disability status. This provision aims to increase awareness and understanding of healthcare disparities by implementing consistent methods for collecting and reporting health data that will help individuals better characterize the nature of health problems in underserved populations. You can view the minimum standard template for collecting survey data on disability here.