The partnership will focus first on "enabling research around the root causes" of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), HHS said. Researchers can use the platform to identify autism diagnosis trends, health outcomes from interventions, access to care by demographics and geography, and economic burdens.

WASHINGTON >> Federal health agencies will create a database of autism patients enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid that researchers will use to study the causes of autism spectrum disorder, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.