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Improving Lives. Improving Outcomes.

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is rising dramatically. According to the Centers for Disease Control's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, approximately 1 out of every 150 children who are eight-years-old and born in the United States have an ASD diagnosis.¹

This growing prevalence has drawn extensive media coverage, and the majority of states in the country have passed or proposed legislation. The legislation mandates coverage thresholds for treatments, which may include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), from about $6,000 to $50,000 per child per year. Some states are also calling for coverage at parity with medical benefits which equates to no dollar limit on medically necessary services. However, without some management of the benefit, quality of care and cost escalation is a significant concern.

Magellan Responds

Magellan Autism Connections offers a comprehensive ASD solution to address this growing need with services designed to:

• ensure members receive quality care across the full spectrum of autism disorders and service continuum;
• help customers maximize member health outcomes in a cost effective manner;
• enhance coordination of care across the multidisciplinary team;
• improve the quality of life and productivity for our customers' members and families who have children with autism.

We bring value by improving:

• member health and functional outcomes through:
  • support for parents and families,
  • care coordination,
  • community resources and
  • award-winning Web sites
• quality of care through our Autism Specialty Provider Network including experts in treating autism spectrum disorders;
• the use of services based on medical necessity resulting in cost effective use of ASD services and preventing avoidable and costly medical services;
• workplace productivity for caretakers and other family members.

 For more information, download ASD Services overview.

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fact Sheet, CDC Autism Activities