Rapid rise in Medicaid expenditures for autism spectrum disorder treatment

Autism was described as early as 1940, but a marked increase in the prevalence for the broader class of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) during the past decade highlights the demand for treatment of affected individuals. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the prevalence of ASD was one in 110 children in 2006 and increased at an average annual rate of 57% between 2002 and 2006. The escalating health care expenditures associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in state Medicaid programs is the subject of a new study.

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