Kennedy Unveils Autism Research Platform Using Medicare, Medicaid Data

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have announced a joint effort to study the causes of autism spectrum disorder, beginning with the creation of a national database of Medicare and Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with autism.

The initiative aims to build a real-world data platform that integrates claims data, electronic health records, and information from wearable health-monitoring devices. According to both agencies, the project will initially focus on autism but will expand to support research into other chronic conditions. All data use will comply with existing privacy laws, they said.

“This is about transparency and accountability,” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a statement. “Families deserve honest answers they’ve waited far too long to receive.”

Researchers will analyze autism diagnoses over time, treatment outcomes, disparities in care based on demographics and geography, access to services, and the financial impact on families and the healthcare system, according to the department.

Autism rates in U.S. children hit a record high in 2022, continuing a steady upward trend and Kennedy has supported the link between vaccines and autism. Recently, he also said environmental factors are behind the condition’s rising prevalence, citing potential contributors ranging from mold to pharmaceuticals. The department will likely study these too.