Ten-Year Trend Shows Improved Care for Low-Income ADHD Patients

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RESEARCH UPDATE

With the increase in ADHD diagnoses and the corresponding rise in costs of care over the past 15 years, concerns have emerged about whether low-income children with ADHD receive quality evidence-based care. A recent report by a multidisciplinary, multicenter research team may help allay some of these concerns.¹

The report describes a 10-year analysis of Medicaid claims data related to ADHD. Conducted through Rutgers University, the information is part of a new, larger report of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine titled Mental Disorders and Disabilities Among Low-Income Children.²

The data source was the Medicaid Analytic Extract (MAX) database from which Medicaid service encounter and pharmacy claims data from a sample of 20 states for the years 2001 to 2010 were drawn. The MAX data include diagnoses, medication prescriptions, and claims for any type of psychotherapy for children age 3 to 17 years who have 11 months of Medicaid eligibility within the year.

Although previous studies of trends in ADHD care using Medicaid claims data have been conducted, this report is the first to look at both pharmacological and nonpharmacological care modalities. Use of both modalities is in keeping with clinical practice guidelines that recommend a combination of medication and behavioral counseling.

Before detailing their results, the study authors stressed that their findings reveal changing trends in medication, psychotherapy, and combined treatment services but not the quality of treatment services.

Although ADHD diagnoses nearly doubled in 10 years, the rate of psychotherapy alone increased twofold, and the rate of medication alone decreased from 65% to 53%.

They also noted, up front, that their study had several limitations. For one, because only children who were continuously enrolled in Medicaid were included, absolute rates of treatment might have been underestimated. Also, the requirement of 11 months’ Medicaid eligibility and at least 2 claims may have led to overestimation of treatment rates for ADHD.

The researchers reported that over the 10-year period the proportion of low-income children with an ADHD diagnosis increased from 3.0% to 5.5%, constituting a relative change of 83%. Rates of comorbidity in low-income children with an ADHD diagnosis also increased, with a relative change of 14%.

Of note, though, is an increasing upswing in receipt of treatment that conforms to clinical practice standards. Between 2001 and 2010, rates of combined treatment (pharmacotherapy plus behavioral counseling and other nonpharmacological interventions) increased from 19% to 32% (a relative change of 74%). The rate of psychotherapy alone more than doubled, and the rate of medication alone decreased from 65% to 53%.

In addition, treatment reimbursement is increasing. The study found that diagnoses without any reimbursed treatment decreased from 13% to 8%, for a relative change of 39%.

References:

1. Hoagwood KE, Kelleher K, Zima BT, et al. Ten-year trends in treatment services for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder enrolled in Medicaid. Health Aff(Millwood). 2016;35:1266-1270.

2. Boat TF, Wu JT, eds. Mental Disorders and Disabilities Among Low-Income Children. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2015.