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Autism Prevalence in the Medicaid Program and Healthcare Utilization and Costs Among Adult Enrollees Diagnosed with Autism

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Abstract

As the number of individuals diagnosed with autism increases, there is an increase in demand to provide support throughout their lifespan. This study aimed to: (1) estimate trends in the prevalence of autism diagnoses and medical services use in adults with autism diagnoses; (2) assess predictors of healthcare utilization and costs among adults with autism diagnoses enrolled in Medicaid. A retrospective analysis of 2006–2008 Medicaid claims for 39 states was conducted. There was a 38% increase in the prevalence of autism diagnoses from 2006 to 2008. Total expenditures and outpatient and ER visits varied significantly by demographic variables.

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Funding

This study was part of a larger project funded by the Organization for Autism Research and a University of Mississippi Graduate School Council Research Grant. The study was presented as a poster at the 2014 Annual Research Meeting (ARM), AcademyHealth, June 8–10, San Diego, CA.

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Author notes

  1. Krutika Jariwala-Parikh

    Present address: Life Sciences, IBM Watson Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, USA

  2. Rahul Khanna

    Present address: Real World Data Analytics and Research, Epidemiology, Medical Devices, Johnson & Johnson Co., New Brunswick, NJ, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy Administration, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA

    Krutika Jariwala-Parikh, Marie Barnard, Erin R. Holmes, Donna West-Strum, John P. Bentley & Rahul Khanna

  2. Department of Pharmacy Administration and Center for Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA

    Benjamin Banahan

Authors
  1. Krutika Jariwala-Parikh
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  2. Marie Barnard
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  3. Erin R. Holmes
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  4. Donna West-Strum
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  5. John P. Bentley
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  6. Benjamin Banahan
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  7. Rahul Khanna
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Krutika Jariwala-Parikh.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study formal consent is not required.

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Jariwala-Parikh, K., Barnard, M., Holmes, E.R. et al. Autism Prevalence in the Medicaid Program and Healthcare Utilization and Costs Among Adult Enrollees Diagnosed with Autism. Adm Policy Ment Health 46, 768–776 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-019-00960-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-019-00960-z

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