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Health Services Utilization Among Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

Using data from multiple health systems (2009–2010) and the largest sample to date, this study compares health services use among youth with and without an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—including preventive services not previously studied. To examine these differences, we estimated logistic and count data models, controlling for demographic characteristics, comorbid physical health, and mental health conditions. Results indicated that youth with an ASD had greater health care use in many categories, but were less likely to receive important preventive services including flu shots and other vaccinations. An improved understanding of the overall patterns of health care use among this population could enable health systems to facilitate the receipt of appropriate and effective health care.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the analytic support provided by Matthew Lakoma (HPHCI), Jialuo Liu (KPSC), and Heather Freiman (KPGA) and for the project management support provided by Donna Rusinak (HPHCI), Magdalena E. Pomichowski (KPSC), Marta Lutsky (KPNC), and Heather Freiman (KPGA). This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (Grants U19MH092201, K01MH095823). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Author Contributions

Janet R. Cummings led the conceptualization and design of the study, drafted the initial manuscript, revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. Frances L. Lynch and Lisa A. Croen contributed to the conceptualization and design of the study, supervised data management efforts at a participating site, reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. Kristal C. Rust and Phillip Crawford carried out the statistical analyses and assisted with interpretation of the results, reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. Yinge Qian contributed to the statistical analyses and assisted with interpretation of the results, critically reviewed the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. Karen J. Coleman, Jeanne Madden, Ashli A. Owen-Smith, Vincent M. Yau, Kathryn A. Pearson, Maria L. Massolo, and Virginia P. Quinn contributed to the conceptualization of the study design, coordinated and supervised data management efforts at a participating site, critically reviewed the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

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Author notes

  1. Ashli A. Owen-Smith

    Present address: Division of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

  2. Vincent M. Yau

    Present address: McKesson Corporation, San Francisco, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Suite 650, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Janet R. Cummings

  2. The Center for Health Research/Northwest, Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW), Portland, OR, USA

    Frances L. Lynch, Kristal C. Rust, Kathryn A. Pearson & Phillip M. Crawford

  3. Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), Pasadena, CA, USA

    Karen J. Coleman & Virginia P. Quinn

  4. School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

    Jeanne M. Madden

  5. Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute (HPHCI), Boston, MA, USA

    Jeanne M. Madden

  6. Center for Clinical and Outcomes Research, Kaiser Permanente Georgia (KPGA), Atlanta, GA, USA

    Ashli A. Owen-Smith

  7. Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Oakland, CA, USA

    Vincent M. Yau, Yinge Qian, Maria L. Massolo & Lisa A. Croen

Authors
  1. Janet R. Cummings
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  2. Frances L. Lynch
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  3. Kristal C. Rust
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  9. Kathryn A. Pearson
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  10. Phillip M. Crawford
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Janet R. Cummings.

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Cummings, J.R., Lynch, F.L., Rust, K.C. et al. Health Services Utilization Among Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 910–920 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2634-z

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