Demographics, Birth Parameters, and Social Determinants of Health Among Opioid-Exposed Mother-Infant Dyads Affected by Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in Pennsylvania, 2018-2019.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize demographics, birth parameters, and social determinants of health among mother-infant dyads affected by neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in Pennsylvania. METHODS: We linked 2018-2019 NAS surveillance data to birth record data using probabilistic methods and then geospatially linked to local social determinants of health data based on residential address. We generated descriptive statistics and used multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression to model the association between maternal characteristics, birth parameters, social determinants of health, and NAS. RESULTS: In adjusted models maternal age > 24, non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, low educational attainment, Medicaid as payor at delivery, inadequate or no prenatal care, smoking during pregnancy, and low median household income were associated with NAS. We found no significant associations between NAS and county-level measures of clinician supply, number of substance use treatment facilities, or urban/rural designation. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study characterizes mother-infant dyads affected by NAS using linked non-administrative, population data for Pennsylvania. Results demonstrate a social gradient in NAS and inequity in prenatal care receipt among mothers of infants with NAS. Findings may inform implementation of state-based public health interventions.

Assessment of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Surveillance - Pennsylvania, 2019.

The incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a withdrawal syndrome associated with prenatal opioid or other substance exposure (1), has increased as part of the U.S. opioid crisis (2). No national NAS surveillance system exists (3), and data about the accuracy of state-based surveillance are limited (4,5). In February 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Health began surveillance for opioid-related NAS in birthing facilities and pediatric hospitals* (6). In March 2019, CDC helped the Pennsylvania Department of Health assess the accuracy of this reporting system at five Pennsylvania hospitals. Medical records of 445 infants who possibly had NAS were abstracted; these infants had either been reported by hospital providers as having NAS or assigned an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) hospital discharge code potentially related to NAS.† Among these 445 infants, 241 were confirmed as having NAS. Pennsylvania's NAS surveillance identified 191 (sensitivity = 79%) of the confirmed cases. The proportion of infants with confirmed NAS who were assigned the ICD-10-CM code for neonatal withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs of addiction (P96.1) was similar among infants reported to surveillance (71%) and those who were not (78%; p = 0.30). Infants with confirmed NAS who were not assigned code P96.1 typically had less severe signs and symptoms. Accurate NAS surveillance, which is necessary to monitor changes and regional differences in incidence and assist with planning for needed services, includes and is strengthened by a combination of diagnosis code assessment and focused medical record review.

Changes in Healthcare Expenditures After the Autism Insurance Mandate.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, most U.S. states have passed autism mandates requiring private insurers to cover autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Little is known about the post-mandate changes in healthcare expenditures. METHOD: This study utilized 2006-2012 de-identified insurance claims data from the largest insurer in Pennsylvania (PA), where the mandate went into effect in 2009. Healthcare expenditures were defined as the amount the insurer paid for healthcare services and were adjusted to 2012 price level. A mixed model approach was used to analyze the expenditures. RESULTS: A total of 9,471 children with ASD were included in the study. Although the pre-mandate total expenditures per child with ASD were similar, the post-mandate expenditures significantly increased for groups subject to the autism mandate (87% increase from $7,754 in 2008 to $14,486 in 2010) compared to the exempt groups (27% increase from $7,238 to $9,171). By insurance type, the change from 2008 to 2010 in ASD-related expenditures per child with ASD was $8,439 for fully insured large employer sponsored plans and $43 for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), both subject to the PA mandate; and $2,631 for the self-insured, $980 for small-employers, and $-92 for individual plans, all of which are exempt from the mandate. These increases were due to outpatient services but not inpatient or drug costs. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare expenditures increased significantly following the PA autism mandate. Nonexempt, large employer groups had the largest increase in spending. Some exempt, self-insured companies may have voluntarily covered ASD services, leading to a moderate increase.