Overview

The 2022 HHS Report to Congress on Supportive Services for Individuals with Autism, requested by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations in House Report 117-96, describes supportive services that, in addition to healthcare, may be beneficial for improving outcomes for autistic individuals and their families. This report provides an overview of existing coverage policies for supportive services under federal programs. The report also describes activities and programs related to supportive services conducted by multiple federal departments and agencies, including agencies and offices within the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Departments of Defense, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, and the Social Security Administration.

The report highlights needs and opportunities for strengthening supportive services for individuals with autism. There are several critical areas of need, including long waitlists for services; the "services cliff" experienced after high school; workforce shortages; service delivery; services for older adults; as well as racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in access to quality autism services and care. Additionally, the report discusses how systems navigation tools and services can assist with the complexity of obtaining services and coverage. Also discussed is the need to establish and strengthen the evidence base demonstrating efficacy for some of the services that autistic individuals currently use and find helpful for addressing co-occurring physical and mental health conditions.

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