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Barriers to treatment in autism spectrum disorders
Method: A retrospective data analysis was conducted in SAS 9.3 utilizing data from the National Survey of Children with Special Healthcare Needs 2009-2010. The data was collected by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Results: MCHB outcomes were found to be different among children based on the severity of ASD. As compared to children with mild autism, children with severe autism were 33% less likely to receive necessary services to help transition into adulthood, 47% less likely to have a medical home, and 70% less likely to meet all six core outcomes of MCHB. The outcomes did not differ by the status of the autism mandate in the state.
Conclusion: Despite several federal and state initiatives to provide adequate coverage for services necessary to treat ASD, a large percentage of children with ASD do not have adequate insurance. Future policies with a more patient centered approach may help alleviate this issue.
Learning Areas:
EpidemiologyProvision of health care to the public
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Compare outcomes defined by maternal and child health bureau across different levels of severity in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Identify predictors of barriers to treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Keyword(s): Access to Health Care, Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a graduate student and I have conducted this research under the guidance of my advisor. My advisor Dr. Andrea Pfalzgraf has a strong interest and wide knowledge of the area of Mental health in children. Her PhD thesis dissertation was on depression in children.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.