Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a new initiative on Wednesday to analyze autism using medical data from individuals covered by Medicaid and Medicare. Despite the partnership between the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, experts doubt that this approach will uncover the underlying causes of autism. The program aims to investigate autism diagnosis trends, health outcomes, access to care, and the economic impact on families and healthcare systems. However, critics argue that the data being collected may not be suitable for researching the genetic and prenatal factors crucial to understanding the condition.
Kennedy has instructed the health department to conduct comprehensive research to pinpoint the causes of autism, which he believes can be determined by September. Contrary to prevailing views among scientists, Kennedy has controversially characterized autism as a “preventable disease” caused by environmental factors rather than genetic predispositions. His stance has stirred concern within the autism research community, as they fear he may use the study to support discredited theories linking vaccines to autism. Numerous studies have debunked this connection, including research spanning several decades.
The forthcoming initiative by the Department of Health and Human Services will serve as a pilot program focusing on chronic conditions and treatments.
The agency stated this, as reported by Associated Press writer Lauran Neergaard.
