NIH, CMS partner on autism research

(The Center Square) – Officials at the the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a partnership Wednesday to research "root causes of autism spectrum disorder."

As part of the project, NIH will build a real-world data platform enabling advanced research across claims data, electronic medical records and consumer wearables, according to the agencies. 

"We’re using this partnership to uncover the root causes of autism and other chronic diseases," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "We’re pulling back the curtain – with full transparency and accountability – to deliver the honest answers families have waited far too long to hear."

CMS and NIH will start this partnership by establishing a data use agreement under CMS’ Research Data Disclosure Program focused on Medicare and Medicaid enrollees with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or ASD.

"This partnership is an important step in our commitment to unlocking the power of real-world data to inform public health decisions and improve lives," NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said. "Linking CMS claims data with a secure real-world NIH data platform, fully compliant with privacy and security laws, will unlock landmark research into the complex factors that drive autism and chronic disease – ultimately delivering superior health outcomes to the Americans we serve."

Researchers will focus on autism diagnosis trends over time, health outcomes from specific medical and behavioral interventions, access to care and disparities by demographics and geography and the economic burden on families and healthcare systems, according to a news release.