title: Health care utilization and expenditures for children with autism: data from U.S. national samples.
abstract: Little is known about the use of medical services by children who have autism (ASD). Provide nationally representative data for health service utilization and expenditures of children with ASD. Cross-sectional survey using the Medical Expenditure Panel (MEPS), and National (Hospital) Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys (N(H)AMCS). A total of 80 children with ASD were identified from N(H)AMCS (weighted sample size (wss) 186,281), and 31 (wss 340,158) from MEPS. They had more outpatient visits, physician visits, and medications prescribed than children in general. They spent more time during physician visits than other children. Annual expenses for children with autism spectrum disorder (6,132 dollars) were more than for other children (860 dollars). Children with ASD have a substantial burden of medical illness.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, PO Box 671, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Gregory_Liptak@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Liptak
authors.forename: Tami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003710:Demography; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States