The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) is the statutory public advisory body to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on health information policy. Established in 1949, NCVHS provides advice and assistance on key health data issues related to community and population health, standards, privacy and confidentiality, quality, and data access and use. It reports regularly to Congress on HIPAA implementation, and serves as a forum for interaction between HHS and interested private sector groups. Members have distinction in such fields as public health, education, informatics, law, economics, and medicine.