The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of insurance and Medicaid services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, Division of Quality and Health Outcomes. 2024 Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries at a Glance: Autism. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Baltimore, MD. Released July 2024.
Approximately 5 percent of children ages 3 to 17 with public insurance have
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as reported by parents. The Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides states with several options under
the federal Medicaid program for providing services to eligible individuals with
Autism or ASD, including access to therapy services, preventive services and other
licensed practitioner services. The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and
Treatment (EPSDT) benefit requires that all children enrolled in Medicaid, and at
state option children enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP),
receive screenings designed to identify health and developmental issues, including
ASD, as early as possible. EPSDT also requires that Medicaid programs provide
medically necessary diagnostic and treatment services to covered children.
Key
Findings
• Children with public coverage were reported to have significantly higher
rates of Autism or ASD than children with private or no current coverage. • Half of children with public coverage who were reported to have Autism or ASD were diagnosed by age 4.
