title: The Transition to the Adult Health Care System Among Youths With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study examined how health care utilization patterns among youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) change as they transition into the adult health care system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from the Clinformatics Data Mart Database, a nationally diverse, clinically rich, private insurance claims database. The analytic sample consisted of youths ages 16 to 23 who were diagnosed as having ASD (N=16,338). Cross-sectional multivariate linear regressions determined whether service usage in home, office or outpatient, inpatient, and emergency department (ED) settings differed by age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of youths with ASD who received services declined with age in each setting except the ED. A similar reduction existed in number of visits to office or outpatient settings and inpatient settings, while home and ED visits remained stable. Service utilization declined faster among youths with co-occurring intellectual disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a notable decline in service utilization across multiple settings as youths with ASD transition from pediatric to adult health care.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Nathenson is with the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr. Zablotsky is with the Division of Health Interview Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, Maryland. Send correspondence to Dr. Zablotsky (e-mail: bzablotsky@cdc.gov ).
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nathenson
authors.affiliation: Dr. Nathenson is with the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr. Zablotsky is with the Division of Health Interview Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, Maryland. Send correspondence to Dr. Zablotsky (e-mail: bzablotsky@cdc.gov ).
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zablotsky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autism; Health Insurance; Intellectual Disability; Transition