title: Age-related variation in health service use and associated expenditures among children with autism.
abstract: This study examined differences by age in service use and associated expenditures during 2005 for Medicaid-enrolled children with autism spectrum disorders. Aging was associated with significantly higher use and costs for restrictive, institution-based care and lower use and costs for community-based therapeutic services. Total expenditures increased by 5 % with each year of age; by 23 % between 3-5 and 6-11 year olds, 23 % between 6-11 and 12-16, and 14 % between 12-16 and 17-20 year olds. Use of and expenditures for long-term care, psychiatric medications, case management, medication management, day treatment/partial hospitalization, and respite services increased with age; use of and expenditures for occupational/physical therapy, speech therapy, mental health services, diagnostic/assessment services, and family therapy declined.
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Health Policy & Services Research, Center for Autism Research, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA. zcidav@upenn.edu
authors.forename: Zuleyha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cidav
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lawer
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mandell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000191:economics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008484:Medicaid / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult