CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has begun fielding the seventh wave of the biennial National Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Study (NPALS), formerly known as the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers (NSLTCP).
NCHS is asking directors who receive the 2024 NPALS packet to complete and submit the questionnaire online over a safe and secure network as soon as possible or to complete the hardcopy version included in the questionnaire packet.
NCHS has contracted with RTI International, an independent nonprofit research organization, to collect the NPALS data. A dedicated survey team is available to answer questions about the survey at their toll-free phone number (855-500-1435). To download samples of the 2024 questionnaire and learn more about the study, visit NCHS’s NPALS page: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/npals/index.html. To be informed of key milestones regarding the release of NPALS publications and data, join the Long-Term Care Listserv at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/nchs_listservs.htm.
NCHS uses this information to produce publicly available reports on the major long-term care services sectors, including assisted living and other residential care communities, adult day services centers, home health agencies, nursing homes, hospices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term care hospitals. Findings from previous survey waves can be accessed and downloaded at no cost here: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/npals/study-cycles/index.html.
NCHS thanks everyone who submitted their questionnaires in previous survey waves. Your participation made it possible to provide accurate and relevant findings to providers, policymakers, advocates, and researchers. The 2024 data collected will be kept confidential; NCHS has a long history of conducting surveys and is required by federal law to protect the privacy of the information it collects in its surveys.
2024 NPALS Data Collection Activities and Schedule
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Mail Advance Notification Letter | | |
First Questionnaire Mailing | | |
Thank you/Reminder Letter Mailing | | |
Second Questionnaire Mailing | | |
Conduct Data Retrieval Calls | January 9, 2025 – July 9, 2025 | |
Conduct Multiple RCCs/ADSCs Reported on One Questionnaire Calls | January 9, 2025 – July 9, 2025 | |
Third Questionnaire Mailing | | |
Conduct CATI prompting calls | April 17, 2025 – July 9, 2025 | |
Fourth Questionnaire Mailing | | |
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