ICD Coding To Curb Autism Diagnoses

The author argues rising autism prevalence is mostly a diagnostic/reporting artifact, not a real surge in incidence. He says HHS can order CDC/CMS to tighten ICD‑10 autism coding and documentation (using required specifiers) to reduce overdiagnosis and downstream spending. Examples include a 400% one‑year spike from a Massachusetts reporting change and ~25% jumps when states reward districts for diagnoses. — If diagnostic coding policy can swing national prevalence and costs, disease 'epidemics' become governance choices, reshaping debates about disability services, school incentives, and federal health spending.