A program of the National Center for Health Statistics in which Federal, State, and local governments cooperate in collecting health statistics, so that any particular item of data is collected by that level which is best equipped to collect and distribute it to all levels. When in full operation, CHSS will collect data in the following seven subject areas: health manpower (inventories and surveys), health facilities (inventories and surveys), hospital care, household interviews, ambulatory care, long-term care, and vital statistics. Legislative authority for the CHSS is found in section 306(e) of the FHS Act.