Advocacy - Lab Advocate
On March 27, 2026, ADLM joined a broad coalition of public health, medical, research, and patient advocacy organizations in urging congressional appropriators to provide $220 million for the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in fiscal year 2027. In the letter, the coalition emphasized that NCHS is the nation’s principal health statistical agency and a critical source of timely, reliable health and vital records data used by researchers, policymakers, public health officials, providers, and patients. Stakeholders have noted that, despite growing demand for high-quality health data, NCHS has lost 24% of its purchasing power since FY2010, limiting its ability to modernize survey content, update methodology and technology, and maintain the skilled workforce needed to sustain core data systems and respond to emerging public health needs. ADLM supported this request because strong federal health data infrastructure is essential to informed decision-making across the healthcare system, including efforts to improve public health, strengthen laboratory medicine, and ensure policymakers have access to accurate and actionable data. ADLM is committed to supporting sustained federal investment in the data systems and public health infrastructure that underpin better health outcomes nationwide.