Federal government estimates 1 in 88 children in the US has autism

One in 88 children in the United States has been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates in a new report released Thursday.

The report comes just as House Republicans prepare to approve a budget that would cut federal spending on Medicaid — the single largest funding source of funding for autism support — by more than $800 billion below current projections over the next 10 years.

The CDC warns that autism is an "important public health concern" in the United States, with rates increasing by 23 percent since the last report in 2009. Its conclusions are based on 2008 data gathered at 14 sites across the country, which found wide variations by state — 1 in 210 children was diagnosed in Alabama compared to 1 in 47 children in Utah — and a particularly large increase among Hispanic and black children.

"This information paints a picture of the magnitude of the condition across our country and helps us understand how communities identify children with autism," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "That is why HHS and our entire administration has been working hard to improve the lives of people living with autism spectrum disorders and their families by improving research, support, and services."

The Arc, an advocacy group for people with disabilities, warned against proposed cuts to federal healthcare spending.

"The data signal an impending crisis in America's safety net system for people with autism and related disorders," The Arc CEO Peter Berns said in a statement. "We may be facing a ‘perfect storm’ as the rapid rise in the prevalence of autism comes at the very same time Congress is proposing to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from the Medicaid program — the single largest funding source of services and support for autism — while slashing funding for public health programs."

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