Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
Med Care Res Rev. 2022 Aug;79(4):525-534. doi: 10.1177/10775587211051185. Epub 2021 Oct 11.
Enrollment in Medicaid facilitates access to needed services among transition-age youth on the autism spectrum and youth with intellectual disability (ID). There are long-standing programs to ensure that individuals with ID remain enrolled as they age; similar programs for autistic youth are newer, not as widespread, and may not be as effective. We compared Medicaid disenrollment and re-enrollment between transition-age youth on the autism spectrum, youth with ID, and youth with both diagnoses using a national claims-based prospective cohort study from 2008 through 2012. Autistic youth were most likely to disenroll and least likely to re-enroll. Disenrollment peaked for all three groups at ages 19 and 21. Transition-age youth on the autism spectrum experience more disruptions in access to Medicaid-reimbursed services than youth with ID. More equitable Medicaid enrollment options for autistic individuals are needed to ensure their access to critical health care as they age.
参加医疗补助计划(Medicaid)有助于自闭症谱系和智力障碍(ID)的青少年在过渡时期获得所需的服务。长期以来,一直有各种计划确保 ID 患者随着年龄的增长而继续参保;而针对自闭症青少年的类似计划则较新,覆盖范围不广,效果也可能不如前者。我们使用了一项基于全国索赔的前瞻性队列研究(2008 年至 2012 年),比较了自闭症谱系、ID 和同时患有这两种疾病的青少年在过渡时期退出和重新参加医疗补助计划的情况。自闭症青少年最有可能退出,重新参保的可能性最小。所有三组人群的退出率在 19 岁和 21 岁时达到峰值。与 ID 患者相比,自闭症谱系的青少年在获得医疗补助计划报销服务方面面临更多的中断。需要为自闭症患者提供更加公平的医疗补助计划参保选择,以确保他们在成年后能够获得关键的医疗保健服务。