Children with Down Syndrome
Families Are More Likely to Receive Resources at Time of Diagnosis Than in Early Childhood
Gao ID: GAO-11-57 October 8, 2010
On October 8, 2008, the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act was signed into law, requiring GAO to submit a report concerning the effectiveness of current health care and family support programs for the families of children with disabilities. In this report, GAO focused on Down syndrome because it is a medical condition that is associated with disabilities and occurs frequently enough to yield a sufficient population size for an analysis. GAO examined (1) what is known about the extent to which children with Down syndrome receive medical care during early childhood and (2) what resources families of children with Down syndrome receive through their health care providers and what barriers families face to using these resources. GAO analyzed fee-for-service claims data from a very large private health insurance company, for the claims representing its experience with one of the largest national employers, and Medicaid claims data from seven states with high Medicaid enrollment and low percentages of enrollees in Medicaid managed care. GAO also interviewed specialists at six prominent Down syndrome clinics and 12 advocacy groups to examine what resources families receive and to identify barriers they face. GAO also analyzed data from the Health Resources and Services Administration-sponsored 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs on barriers to accessing needed services.
GAO's analysis of data from a very large private health insurance company showed that from birth through early childhood, children with Down syndrome received medical care to address their special health care needs. Specifically, children with Down syndrome received, on average, five times more outpatient care (such as care in an urgent care facility) and over two times more office-based care (such as care in a physician's office) than children without Down syndrome. Overall, both groups received more office-based care than outpatient care. A key difference in the amount of care received by children with Down syndrome was the difference in the amount of therapy services, with a greater percentage of children with Down syndrome receiving physical, occupational, and speech therapy. In addition, children with Down syndrome have an increased risk of certain medical conditions and were hospitalized, on average, nearly twice as often and stayed twice as long as other children. Not surprisingly, differences were also found in medical care expenditures. The total average medical expenditures for children with Down syndrome were an average of five times higher than those for other children. However, both total expenditures and the difference in expenditures decreased substantially as the two groups of children reached 3 years of age. GAO's analysis of Medicaid claims data found similar differences between the two groups. Down syndrome advocacy groups in selected communities told GAO that families of children with Down syndrome in those communities were more likely to receive the resources recommended for the time of diagnosis than those recommended for early childhood and may face barriers to using available resources. Specifically, advocacy groups reported that families were likely to receive about two-thirds (20 of 32) of the resources that specialists at the six Down syndrome clinics recommended they receive through their health care providers at the time of diagnosis. However, families were likely to receive only about one-quarter (6 of 23) of the resources that specialists recommended they receive through their health care providers after diagnosis and throughout early childhood. In addition, advocacy groups and results from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs indicate that families may face barriers that can prevent them from using available resources. For example, barriers such as outdated or inaccurate information could lead parents to underestimate their child's potential. Some advocacy groups reported that they and their communities have made efforts to address some of these barriers. For example, to address issues of inaccurate information, one advocacy group initiated an educational outreach program to health care professionals at area hospitals. GAO provided a draft of this report to the Department of Health and Human Services for comment. It generally agreed with GAO's findings and noted that the report provides a thorough summary of the current practices and the successes and challenges faced by children with Down syndrome and their families.
GAO-11-57, Children with Down Syndrome: Families Are More Likely to Receive Resources at Time of Diagnosis Than in Early Childhood
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Report to Congressional Committees:
United States Government Accountability Office:
GAO:
October 2010:
Children With Down Syndrome:
Families Are More Likely to Receive Resources at Time of Diagnosis
Than in Early Childhood:
GAO-11-57:
GAO Highlights:
Highlights of GAO-11-57, a report to congressional committees.
Why GAO Did This Study:
On October 8, 2008, the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed
Conditions Awareness Act was signed into law, requiring GAO to submit
a report concerning the effectiveness of current health care and
family support programs for the families of children with
disabilities. In this report, GAO focused on Down syndrome because it
is a medical condition that is associated with disabilities and occurs
frequently enough to yield a sufficient population size for an
analysis.
GAO examined (1) what is known about the extent to which children with
Down syndrome receive medical care during early childhood and
(2) what resources families of children with Down syndrome receive
through their health care providers and what barriers families face to
using these resources.
GAO analyzed fee-for-service claims data from a very large private
health insurance company, for the claims representing its experience
with one of the largest national employers, and Medicaid claims data
from seven states with high Medicaid enrollment and low percentages of
enrollees in Medicaid managed care. GAO also interviewed specialists
at six prominent Down syndrome clinics and 12 advocacy groups to
examine what resources families receive and to identify barriers they
face. GAO also analyzed data from the Health Resources and Services
Administration–sponsored 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with
Special Health Care Needs on barriers to accessing needed services.
What GAO Found:
GAO‘s analysis of data from a very large private health insurance
company showed that from birth through early childhood, children with
Down syndrome received medical care to address their special health
care needs. Specifically, children with Down syndrome received, on
average, five times more outpatient care (such as care in an urgent
care facility) and over two times more office-based care (such as care
in a physician‘s office) than children without Down syndrome. Overall,
both groups received more office-based care than outpatient care. A
key difference in the amount of care received by children with Down
syndrome was the difference in the amount of therapy services, with a
greater percentage of children with Down syndrome receiving physical,
occupational, and speech therapy. In addition, children with Down
syndrome have an increased risk of certain medical conditions and were
hospitalized, on average, nearly twice as often and stayed twice as
long as other children. Not surprisingly, differences were also found
in medical care expenditures. The total average medical expenditures
for children with Down syndrome were an average of five times higher
than those for other children. However, both total expenditures and
the difference in expenditures decreased substantially as the two
groups of children reached 3 years of age. GAO‘s analysis of Medicaid
claims data found similar differences between the two groups.
Down syndrome advocacy groups in selected communities told GAO that
families of children with Down syndrome in those communities were more
likely to receive the resources recommended for the time of diagnosis
than those recommended for early childhood and may face barriers to
using available resources. Specifically, advocacy groups reported that
families were likely to receive about two-thirds (20 of 32) of the
resources that specialists at the six Down syndrome clinics
recommended they receive through their health care providers at the
time of diagnosis. However, families were likely to receive only about
one-quarter (6 of 23) of the resources that specialists recommended
they receive through their health care providers after diagnosis and
throughout early childhood. In addition, advocacy groups and results
from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs
indicate that families may face barriers that can prevent them from
using available resources. For example, barriers such as outdated or
inaccurate information could lead parents to underestimate their child‘
s potential. Some advocacy groups reported that they and their
communities have made efforts to address some of these barriers. For
example, to address issues of inaccurate information, one advocacy
group initiated an educational outreach program to health care
professionals at area hospitals.
GAO provided a draft of this report to the Department of Health and
Human Services for comment. It generally agreed with GAO‘s findings
and noted that the report provides a thorough summary of the current
practices and the successes and challenges faced by children with Down
syndrome and their families.
View [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-57] or key
components. For more information, contact Cynthia A. Bascetta at (202)
512-7114 or bascettac@gao.gov.
[End of section]
Contents:
Letter:
Background:
Children with Down Syndrome Received Medical Care to Address Special
Health Care Needs:
Families Were More Likely to Receive the Resources Recommended for
Time of Diagnosis Than Those Recommended for Early Childhood, and May
Face Barriers to Using Available Resources:
Agency Comments:
Appendix I: Medicaid Data:
Appendix II: Comments from the Department of Health and Human Services:
Appendix III: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments:
Tables:
Table 1: Occurrence of Other Medical Conditions among Children with
Down Syndrome:
Table 2: Resources That Specialists from Six Down Syndrome Clinics
Recommended Families Receive Immediately upon Diagnosis, Likelihood of
Receipt, and Consequences If Not Received:
Table 3: Resources Important to the Ongoing Health of the Child That
Specialists from Six Down Syndrome Clinics Recommended Families
Receive for Early Childhood, Likelihood of Receipt, and Consequences
If Not Received:
Table 4: Barriers Commonly Cited by Advocacy Groups in Selected
Communities:
Figures:
Figure 1: Average Number of Outpatient and Office-Based Services
Received by Children in Our Review, by Age:
Figure 2: Average Number of Outpatient and Office-Based Services
Received by Children in Our Review from Birth through Age 4, by
Service Type:
Figure 3: Percentage of Children in Our Review Using Therapy Services,
by Age and Therapy Type:
Figure 4: Average Number of Hospitalizations of Children in Our
Review, by Age:
Figure 5: Average Length of Hospital Stay of Children in Our Review,
by Age:
Figure 6: Average Expenditures for Outpatient, Office-Based, and
Inpatient Services for Children in Our Review, by Age:
Figure 7: Average Number of Medicaid Outpatient and Office-Based
Services for Children from Birth through Age 4, by State, 2007:
Figure 8: Average Number of Medicaid Hospitalizations for Children
from Birth through Age 4, by State, 2007:
Figure 9: Average Length of Medicaid Hospital Stay for Children from
Birth through Age 4, by State, 2007:
Figure 10: Average Medicaid Expenditures for Office-Based, Outpatient,
and Inpatient Services for Children from Birth through Age 4, by
State, 2007:
Abbreviations:
AAP: American Academy of Pediatrics:
ACMG: American College of Medical Genetics:
ACOG: American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:
DRG: diagnosis-related group:
DSMIG: Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group:
HHS: Department of Health and Human Services:
HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration:
NDSC: National Down Syndrome Congress:
NDSS: National Down Syndrome Society:
NS-CSHCN: National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs:
NSGC: National Society of Genetic Counselors:
[End of section]
United States Government Accountability Office:
Washington, DC 20548:
October 8, 2010:
The Honorable Tom Harkin:
Chairman:
The Honorable Michael B. Enzi:
Ranking Member:
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:
United States Senate:
The Honorable Henry A. Waxman:
Chairman:
The Honorable Joe Barton:
Ranking Member:
Committee on Energy and Commerce:
House of Representatives:
Families of children who have disabilities, such as children with Down
syndrome, may not always receive the resources necessary to address
their children's special health care needs. Down syndrome is a
chromosomal condition that is associated with a set of cognitive and
physical symptoms, and each year an estimated 1 in 733 babies is born
with the condition in the United States.[Footnote 1] Because of an
increased risk of certain medical conditions, such as congenital heart
defects, gastrointestinal problems, and thyroid disease, children with
Down syndrome need timely medical care. According to advocates and
Down syndrome specialists, early identification and treatment of
health issues result in better health and increased capabilities for
these children. In addition, families of children who have
disabilities, such as children with Down syndrome, need certain
resources--including information, programs, and referrals for
specialty medical care--at the time of diagnosis and as their child
ages so they can effectively work with their child's health care
provider to identify and treat medical conditions early. However,
research indicates that not all families get the help they need. For
example, researchers have consistently found that families reported
both a lack of support and a lack of accurate information from their
physicians at the time of diagnosis and as the child ages.[Footnote 2]
On October 8, 2008, the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed
Conditions Awareness Act was signed into law to increase the provision
of scientifically sound information and support services to patients
receiving a positive test diagnosis for Down syndrome or other
prenatally and postnatally diagnosed conditions.[Footnote 3] This act
required GAO to submit a report concerning the effectiveness of
current health care and family support programs for the families of
children with disabilities. In this report, we focused on Down
syndrome because it is the most commonly occurring chromosomal
condition at birth and, therefore, occurs frequently enough to yield a
sufficient population size for an analysis. Moreover, physicians with
experience treating children with Down syndrome and children who have
other disabilities reported that many of the health care issues and
experiences faced by families of children with Down syndrome are
similar to those faced by families of children who have other
disabilities. In this report, we examined (1) what is known about the
extent to which children diagnosed with Down syndrome receive medical
care during early childhood and (2) what resources families of
children with Down syndrome receive through their health care
providers and what barriers families face to using these resources.
To determine what is known about the extent to which children
diagnosed with Down syndrome receive medical care during early
childhood,[Footnote 4] we analyzed fee-for-service claims data from a
very large private health insurance company for the claims
representing its experience with one of the largest national
employers. We also analyzed Medicaid fee-for-service claims data from
seven states.[Footnote 5] We obtained the most recent full years of
claims data available from each source. From the private health
insurance company, we received nationwide claims data from 2001
through 2008, and from Medicaid, we received claims data from seven
states for 2007.[Footnote 6] To select the seven states, we chose
states with high Medicaid enrollment and low percentages of enrollees
in Medicaid managed care; in 2006, the seven states accounted for over
40 percent of all Medicaid enrollees nationwide. For each 1-year
period from birth through age 4, we analyzed claims data for children
with Down syndrome[Footnote 7] who were enrolled in the private health
insurance company or Medicaid for at least 11 months of that period.
[Footnote 8] Specifically, we analyzed data on claims for outpatient,
inpatient, and office-based care[Footnote 9] to describe the medical
care received by children with Down syndrome during early childhood
and corresponding health care expenditures. To provide a point of
reference, we analyzed similar data for children without Down
syndrome.[Footnote 10] The results of these analyses are not
generalizable to all children with or without Down syndrome. We
discussed the reliability of these data sources with knowledgeable
officials and performed data reliability checks, such as examining the
data for missing values and obvious errors, to test the internal
consistency and reliability of the data. After taking these steps, we
determined that the data were sufficiently reliable for our purposes.
To determine what resources families of children with Down syndrome
receive through their health care providers and what barriers families
face to using these resources, we conducted a series of interviews
with national Down syndrome organizations and national disability
organizations, specialists at Down syndrome clinics,[Footnote 11] and
Down syndrome advocacy groups.[Footnote 12] Specifically, we
interviewed 10 national Down syndrome organizations and national
disability organizations and asked them to identify prominent Down
syndrome clinics known for their expertise in treating children with
Down syndrome. From these 10 interviews, we selected the six most
commonly cited Down syndrome clinics[Footnote 13] and asked
specialists at each of these clinics to recommend the resources
families should receive through their health care providers both at
diagnosis and through early childhood.[Footnote 14] We then selected
12 Down syndrome advocacy groups, representing six communities across
the country, each of which was located in the same state as one of the
six Down syndrome clinics. We asked the Down syndrome advocacy groups
to review the list of resources that the specialists recommended and
comment on whether families in their communities were likely to have
received those resources through their health care providers. We also
asked the Down syndrome advocacy groups to identify barriers families
face to using the resources in their communities. The results of these
interviews cannot be generalized to all Down syndrome clinics, all
Down syndrome advocacy groups, or all families of children with Down
syndrome.
To supplement our work, we obtained information from the National
Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN), 2005-
2006, which is sponsored by the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA).[Footnote 15] Specifically, we obtained the most
recent data available on issues such as access to health care, impact
of special health care needs on the family, and barriers to accessing
needed services. We analyzed survey data for families of children with
Down syndrome from birth through age 17.[Footnote 16] The survey was
designed to be representative of the entire U.S. population.[Footnote
17] We reviewed relevant data reliability materials and performed data
reliability checks, such as examining the data for missing values and
obvious errors, to test the internal consistency and reliability of
the data. After taking these steps, we determined that the data were
sufficiently reliable for our purposes.
We conducted this performance audit from November 2009 to October 2010
in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our
findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe
that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our
findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives.
Background:
Overview of Down Syndrome:
Down syndrome is most frequently caused by a chromosomal error that
produces an extra copy of chromosome 21.[Footnote 18] The extra
chromosomal material causes children with Down syndrome to have mental
[Footnote 19] and physical differences and a greater risk of
developing certain medical problems, such as hearing loss, eye
disease, and congenital heart defects. (See table 1.) Because of this
heightened risk, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that
children with Down syndrome be closely screened throughout childhood
for certain medical conditions.
Table 1: Occurrence of Other Medical Conditions among Children with
Down Syndrome:
Medical condition: Hearing loss;
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: 75%.
Medical condition: Eye disease;
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: 60%.
Medical condition: Congenital heart defects;
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: 50%.
Medical condition: Otitis media[A];
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: 50-70%.
Medical condition: Obstructive sleep apnea;
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: 50-75%.
Medical condition: Thyroid disease;
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: 15%.
Medical condition: Gastrointestinal atresias[B];
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: 12%.
Medical condition: Acquired hip dislocation;
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: 6%.
Medical condition: Leukemia;
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: less
than 1%.
Medical condition: Hirschsprung disease[C];
Percentage of children with Down syndrome who have condition: less
than 1%.
Source: GAO analysis of American Academy of Pediatrics data in Health
Supervision for Children with Down Syndrome (February 2001).
Note: Children with Down syndrome have a higher risk for developing
these medical conditions than children without Down syndrome.
[A] Otitis media is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear.
[B] A gastrointestinal atresia is a complete blockage or obstruction
in the gastrointestinal tract.
[C] Hirschsprung disease is a blockage of the large intestine caused
by improper muscle movement in the bowel.
[End of table]
Families of Children with Down Syndrome:
The overall well-being of some families of children with Down syndrome
can be affected by the special needs that their children may have.
Research shows that these families experience more stress than
families of typically developing children.[Footnote 20] In addition,
according to the NS-CSHCN, 21 percent of families of children from
birth through age 17 with Down syndrome in the United States needed
mental health care or family counseling in the previous year, and 26
percent experienced financial problems as a result of their child's
health care issues.[Footnote 21] Research shows that families can
benefit from family support resources, such as parent support groups
where information and stories can be informally exchanged. In fact,
connecting a new parent to other parents, such as through a parent
support group, has been shown to be among the most helpful resources a
physician can provide during the first conversation.[Footnote 22]
Research has shown that families of children with Down syndrome do not
receive enough accurate information and emotional support at the time
of diagnosis and as the child ages.[Footnote 23] A 2005 study that
surveyed 985 mothers who received a postnatal diagnosis of Down
syndrome for their children indicated that when they learned of their
child's diagnosis their physicians had not provided them with a
satisfactory amount of up-to-date printed materials or telephone
numbers of parents who already had a child with Down
syndrome.[Footnote 24] Another study found that families received some
information from health care providers that they perceived as vague,
inaccurate, or outdated.[Footnote 25] Although there are studies such
as these and other initiatives[Footnote 26] that focus on the first
conversation between the health care provider and the family, there is
very little research addressing subsequent conversations between the
health care provider and the family as the child ages.
Down Syndrome Clinics, Programs, and Advocacy Groups:
Down syndrome clinics, which are usually located in larger cities
across the United States, are a source of specialty medical care for
children with Down syndrome.[Footnote 27] Pediatricians and family
physicians vary widely in terms of their experience treating children
with Down syndrome and refer patients to Down syndrome clinics as
needed. The Down syndrome clinics are typically associated with
medical schools or large hospitals and may include geneticists,
developmental pediatricians, therapists, nutritionists, nurse
practitioners, and genetic counselors. Families may visit these
clinics on an annual basis to assess their child's development and to
ensure that any health conditions have been properly diagnosed.
[Footnote 28] Families of children with multiple medical problems may
visit these clinics more frequently to ensure that their child is
receiving appropriate specialty care. In addition to caring for
children, these clinics also support families by, for example,
providing information about Down syndrome and referring families to
community resources.
Pediatricians may also recommend that children with Down syndrome be
referred to early intervention programs in their area. Children with
Down syndrome qualify for early intervention services--which are
generally administered by state-level agencies--beginning at birth and
continuing until the age of 3.[Footnote 29] The Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act Part C program was created to provide
infants and toddlers who have disabilities (or are at risk of
developing a disability) and their families with early intervention
services, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and family
counseling.[Footnote 30] We previously reported on research that found
that the earlier a child with disabilities receives early intervention
services, the more effective these services may be in enhancing the
child's development.[Footnote 31] Parents may be referred to early
intervention programs by their child's doctor, or they may seek out
these services themselves.
There is also a widespread network of advocacy groups to support
children with Down syndrome and their families. In addition to
numerous national disability organizations, there are two national
Down syndrome-specific organizations with over 300 local advocacy
groups located across the country. They range in size from small
parent support groups to larger organizations that provide services to
families and their children. Advocacy groups support children with
Down syndrome and their families by, for example, organizing
activities for children, serving as information resources, and
offering parent support groups.
Children with Down Syndrome Received Medical Care to Address Special
Health Care Needs:
Children with Down Syndrome Received More Outpatient and Office-Based
Care Than Other Children, with Number of Therapy Services a Key
Difference:
From birth through early childhood, children with Down syndrome
received, on average, five times more outpatient care and over two
times more office-based care than children without Down syndrome,
[Footnote 32] according to our analysis of data from a private health
insurance company.[Footnote 33] For children under 1 year of age,
[Footnote 34] the average number of outpatient services was 10.4 for
children with Down syndrome and 1.9 for children without. Similarly,
the average number of office-based services for children under 1 year
of age was 20.0 for children with Down syndrome and 10.7 for children
without. As children with and without Down syndrome moved through
early childhood, both groups received more office-based services than
outpatient services.[Footnote 35] However, while the amounts of
outpatient and office-based services decreased over time, the
differences in the amounts of outpatient and office-based services
between the two groups remained. (See figure 1.)
Figure 1: Average Number of Outpatient and Office-Based Services
Received by Children in Our Review, by Age:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Average number of services:
Age: Under 1 year: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 10.4;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.9.
Age: Under 1 year: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 20;
Children without Down syndrome: 10.7.
Age: 1 year: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 8.9;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.8.
Age: 1 year: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 18.7;
Children without Down syndrome: 8.2.
Age: 2 years: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 7.8;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.5.
Age: 2 years: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 16.3;
Children without Down syndrome: 5.6.
Age: 3 years: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 6.2;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.3.
Age: 3 years: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 14.6;
Children without Down syndrome: 5.3.
Age: 4 years: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 5.8;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.2.
Age: 4 years: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 14.3;
Children without Down syndrome: 5.6.
Source: GAO analysis of 2001 through 2008 data from a private health
insurance company for the claims representing its experience with one
of the largest national employers.
Notes: Outpatient care includes services received in facilities such
as urgent care facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, and hospital
emergency rooms. Office-based care includes services received in
facilities such as physician offices, community health clinics, and
school-based health clinics. Some services, such as therapy, can be
provided in different types of facilities. For this analysis, we
classified each service as outpatient care or office-based care based
on the type of facility in which it was provided. The age ranges in
our analysis are constructed so that, for example, "under 1 year"
includes all children from birth up to but not including their first
birthday, and so on, with each range consisting of 1 full year.
[End of figure]
Across all types of services, children with Down syndrome from birth
through age 4 received more outpatient and office-based services than
children without. (See figure 2.) For example, for both outpatient and
office-based services, children with Down syndrome had more evaluation
and management services,[Footnote 36] more medical procedure services,
and more therapy services. Specifically, for outpatient services,
children with Down syndrome had 3 times more evaluation and management
services, 10 times more medical procedure services, and 22 times more
therapy services than children without. For office-based services,
children with Down syndrome had 2 times more evaluation and management
services, 2 times more medical procedure services, and 25 times more
office-based therapy services than children without. In addition,
children with Down syndrome had 6 times more outpatient anesthesiology
and surgery services than children without.[Footnote 37]
Figure 2: Average Number of Outpatient and Office-Based Services
Received by Children in Our Review from Birth through Age 4, by
Service Type:
[Refer to PDF for image: stacked vertical bar graph]
Average services per year:
Average office-based: Down syndrome;
Anesthesiology and Surgery[A]; 2.8;
Evaluation and Management[B]; 51.4;
Medical procedures[C]; 48.2;
Radiology, pathology, and laboratory[D]; 10.7;
Therapy[E]; 45.2;
Other[F]: 7.6.
Average office-based: No Down syndrome;
Anesthesiology and Surgery[A]; 1.3;
Evaluation and Management[B]; 29.2;
Medical procedures[C]; 29.9;
Radiology, pathology, and laboratory[D]; 6.1;
Therapy[E]; 1.8;
Other[F]: 5.2.
Average outpatient: Down syndrome;
Anesthesiology and Surgery[A]; 21.7;
Evaluation and Management[B]; 9.8;
Medical procedures[C]; 17;
Radiology, pathology, and laboratory[D]; 27.1;
Therapy[E]; 18.2;
Other[F]: 4.
Average outpatient: No Down syndrome;
Anesthesiology and Surgery[A]; 3.8;
Evaluation and Management[B]; 3.5;
Medical procedures[C]; 1.6;
Radiology, pathology, and laboratory[D]; 6;
Therapy[E]; 0.8;
Other[F]: 0.7.
Source: GAO analysis of 2001 through 2008 data from a private health
insurance company for the claims representing its experience with one
of the largest national employers.
Notes: Outpatient care includes services received in facilities such
as urgent care facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, and hospital
emergency rooms. Office-based care includes services received in
facilities such as physician offices, community health clinics, and
school-based health clinics. Some services, such as therapy, can be
provided in different types of facilities. For this analysis, we
classified each service as outpatient care or office-based care based
on the type of facility in which it was provided.
[A] Anesthesiology and surgery includes services such as ear drum
openings and wound repairs.
[B] Evaluation and management includes services such as office,
outpatient, and emergency department visits.
[C] Medical procedures includes services such as vaccinations, hearing
tests, and cardiac tests.
[D] Radiology, pathology, and laboratory includes services such as
thyroid tests and chest X-rays.
[E] Therapy includes services such as physical, occupational, and
speech therapy.
[F] Other includes services such as dental services that are not
captured in the other categories.
[End of figure]
We found other differences within the types of services received, such
as greater percentages of children with Down syndrome receiving
services such as thyroid, cardiac, and hearing tests than other
children. For example, our review of the outpatient services found
that 21 percent of children with Down syndrome under 1 year of age had
a specific thyroid function test, compared to 1 percent of other
children of the same age.[Footnote 38] In addition, children with Down
syndrome were more likely than other children to receive an influenza
vaccination; for example, 30 percent of 4-year-olds with Down syndrome
received the influenza vaccine, compared to 15 percent of other
children of the same age.
A key difference in the amount of outpatient and office-based care
received by children with Down syndrome and other children was the
difference in the amount of therapy services received. Our analysis of
therapy usage showed that the percentage of children with Down
syndrome who received physical, occupational, and speech therapy-
-therapies that Down syndrome specialists say are important for
children with Down syndrome to receive to maximize their development--
was much higher than it was for other children.[Footnote 39] For
example, 50 percent of children with Down syndrome, birth through age
4, received physical therapy services, compared to 3 percent of other
children. This represented an average of 30 physical therapy claims
per child with Down syndrome, compared to an average of less than 1
physical therapy claim per child without. This difference in the
amount of children who received therapy services was evident in each
age group and for each therapy type. (See figure 3.)
Figure 3: Percentage of Children in Our Review Using Therapy Services,
by Age and Therapy Type:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Percentage of children using therapy services:
Age: Under 1 year: Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 45.3%;
Occupational therapy: 28%;
Speech therapy: 23%.
Age: Under 1 year: No Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 2.1%;
Occupational therapy: 0.9%;
Speech therapy: 0.6%.
Age: 1 year: Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 48.3%;
Occupational therapy: 31.3%;
Speech therapy: 39.4%.
Age: 1 year: No Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 1.7%;
Occupational therapy: 0.9%;
Speech therapy: 1.4%.
Age: 2 year: Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 45.2%;
Occupational therapy: 31.3%;
Speech therapy: 49.5%.
Age: 2 year: No Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 1.3%;
Occupational therapy: 1%;
Speech therapy: 2.7%.
Age: 3 year: Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 31.1%;
Occupational therapy: 20.5%;
Speech therapy: 37.4%.
Age: 3 year: No Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 1.2%;
Occupational therapy: 1%;
Speech therapy: 2.7%.
Age: 4 year: Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 18.7%;
Occupational therapy: 14.9%;
Speech therapy: 31.4%.
Age: 4 year: No Down syndrome;
Physical therapy: 1.2%;
Occupational therapy: 1.1%;
Speech therapy: 2.4%.
Source: GAO analysis of 2001 through 2008 data from a private health
insurance company for the claims representing its experience with one
of the largest national employers.
Note: The age ranges in our analysis are constructed so that, for
example, "under 1 year" includes all children from birth up to but not
including their first birthday, and so on, with each range consisting
of 1 full year.
[End of figure]
The Medicaid data that we reviewed from seven states also show that
children from birth through age 4 with Down syndrome who were enrolled
in Medicaid in 2007 received more outpatient and office-based care to
address their special health care needs than other children of the
same age.[Footnote 40] For example, among the seven states, children
with Down syndrome received 2.7 to 5.3 times more outpatient services
and 1.6 to 4.5 times more office-based services than children without
Down syndrome. (See appendix I for more Medicaid data.)
Children with Down Syndrome Were Hospitalized More Frequently and Had
Longer Hospital Stays Than Other Children:
According to our analysis of inpatient care[Footnote 41] data from a
large private health insurance company, from birth through early
childhood, children with Down syndrome were hospitalized, on average,
nearly twice as often and stayed twice as long as children without
Down syndrome.[Footnote 42] The differences in the average number of
hospitalizations and the average length of stay were most pronounced
in the first years of life and diminished by age 4. (See figs. 4 and
5.) For example, for children with Down syndrome under 1 year of age,
the average number of hospitalizations was 2.2, and the average length
of stay was 7.6 days. In contrast, for children of the same age
without Down syndrome, the average number of hospitalizations was 1.1,
and the average length of stay was 2.1 days.[Footnote 43] In an older
group--children 4 years of age--children with and without Down
syndrome were hospitalized about the same number of times, an average
of 1.3 times for children with Down syndrome and an average of 1.2
times for children without, and for about the same length of time, an
average of 2.0 days for children with Down syndrome and 1.7 days for
children without.
[Refer to PDF for image]
[End of figure]
Figure 4: Average Number of Hospitalizations of Children in Our
Review, by Age:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Average number of hospitalizations:
Age: Under 1 year;
Children with Down syndrome: 2.2;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.1.
Age: 1 year;
Children with Down syndrome: 1.9;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.2.
Age: 2 years;
Children with Down syndrome: 8.9;
Children without Down syndrome: 3.5.
Age: 3 years;
Children with Down syndrome: 4.8;
Children without Down syndrome: 3.5.
Age: 4 years;
Children with Down syndrome: 1.3;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.2.
Source: GAO analysis of 2001 through 2008 data from a private health
insurance company for the claims representing its experience with one
of the largest national employers.
Notes: The increase in hospitalizations for children 2 years of age
with Down syndrome may be a result of physicians waiting to address
certain health issues--such as some ear, nose, and throat issues--
until children are older. The age ranges in our analysis are
constructed so that, for example, "under 1 year" includes all children
from birth up to but not including their first birthday, and so on,
with each range consisting of 1 full year.
[End of figure]
Figure 5: Average Length of Hospital Stay of Children in Our Review,
by Age:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Average length of stay (days):
Age: Under 1 year;
Children with Down syndrome: 7.6;
Children without Down syndrome: 2.1.
Age: 1 year;
Children with Down syndrome: 4.5;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.9.
Age: 2 years;
Children with Down syndrome: 0.8;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.6.
Age: 3 years;
Children with Down syndrome: 0.9;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.6.
Age: 4 years;
Children with Down syndrome: 2;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.7.
Source: GAO analysis of 2001 through 2008 data from a private health
insurance company for the claims representing its experience with one
of the largest national employers.
Note: The age ranges in our analysis are constructed so that, for
example, "under 1 year" includes all children from birth up to but not
including their first birthday, and so on, with each range consisting
of 1 full year.
[End of figure]
Our review of inpatient claims data showed some differences in the
types of hospitalizations for children with Down syndrome compared to
other children.[Footnote 44] For example, the most common type of
hospitalization for children with Down syndrome under 1 year of age
was cardiothoracic-related surgery; 6 percent of children under 1 year
of age with Down syndrome had this hospitalization type, compared to
0.03 percent of other children.[Footnote 45] Furthermore, while other
hospitalization types--such as bronchitis and asthma, pneumonia, and
ear issues--appeared as common types of hospitalizations in both
groups, the percentage of children with Down syndrome hospitalized for
these reasons was higher.
The Medicaid data that we reviewed from seven states also show that
children from birth through age 4 with Down syndrome who were enrolled
in Medicaid in 2007 generally had more inpatient care. Children with
Down syndrome had more hospitalizations (in six of the seven states)
and longer hospital stays to address their special health care needs
than other children of the same age.[Footnote 46] For example, among
the seven states, children with Down syndrome had 1.0 to 7.4 times
more hospitalizations and 1.5 to 10.2 times longer stays than children
without Down syndrome. (See appendix I for more Medicaid data.)
Children with Down Syndrome Had Higher Average Medical Care
Expenditures Than Other Children, with Differences Decreasing as
Children Aged:
In our review, the total average medical expenditures[Footnote 47] for
children with Down syndrome, from birth through early childhood, were
an average of five times higher than the expenditures for children
without Down syndrome;[Footnote 48] however, both total expenditures
and the difference in expenditures decreased substantially by the time
children with Down syndrome were 3 years of age. (See figure 6.) The
expenditures were also higher for children with Down syndrome for each
type of medical care--outpatient, office-based, and inpatient care.
Inpatient care for children under 1 year of age had the greatest
difference, with average expenditures of almost $43,000 for children
with Down syndrome and $2,000 for children without. The difference in
expenditures reflects the fact that children with Down syndrome had a
higher utilization of medical care or more expensive medical services
than children without Down syndrome.
Figure 6: Average Expenditures for Outpatient, Office-Based, and
Inpatient Services for Children in Our Review, by Age:
[Refer to PDF for image: stacked vertical bar graph]
Average expenditures:
Age: Under 1 year: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $42,700;
Outpatient: $3,600;
Office-based: $2,600;
Total: $48,900.
Age: Under 1 year: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $2,100;
Outpatient: $800;
Office-based: $1,000;
Total: $4,000.
Age: 1 year: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $24,000;
Outpatient: $3,600;
Office-based: $2,200;
Total: $29,800.
Age: 1 year: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $5,700;
Outpatient: $1,000;
Office-based: $700.
Total: $7,400.
Age: 2 year: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $20,100;
Outpatient: $3,000;
Office-based: $1,700;
Total: $24,900.
Age: 2 year: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $6,300;
Outpatient: $1,000;
Office-based: $400;
Total: $7,700.
Age: 3 year: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $9,100;
Outpatient: $2,800;
Office-based: $1,500;
Total: $13,400.
Age: 3 year: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $6,900;
Outpatient: $1,000;
Office-based: $400;
Total: $8,300.
Age: 4 year: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $10,300;
Outpatient: $3,000;
Office-based: $1,500;
Total: $14,700.
Age: 4 year: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $7,400;
Outpatient: $1,000;
Office-based: $400;
Total: $8,900.
Source: GAO analysis of 2001 through 2008 data from a private health
insurance company for the claims representing its experience with one
of the largest national employers.
Notes: Office-based care includes services received in facilities such
as physician offices, community health clinics, and school-based
health clinics. Outpatient care includes services received in
facilities such as urgent care facilities, ambulatory surgical
centers, and hospital emergency rooms. Inpatient care includes
services received in residential health care facilities such as
hospitals. Some services, such as therapy, can be provided in
different types of facilities. For this analysis, we classified each
service as outpatient care, office-based care, or inpatient care based
on the type of facility in which it was provided. Expenditure data
were adjusted to 2008 dollars and include the amount paid by the
primary insurance company, the deductible, coinsurance, and the amount
paid by secondary insurance. The age ranges in our analysis are
constructed so that, for example, "under 1 year" includes all children
from birth up to but not including their first birthday, and so on,
with each range consisting of 1 full year.
[End of figure]
Families Were More Likely to Receive the Resources Recommended for
Time of Diagnosis Than Those Recommended for Early Childhood, and May
Face Barriers to Using Available Resources:
Families Were Likely to Receive Many, but Not All, of the Resources
That Down Syndrome Clinic Specialists Recommended They Receive at
Diagnosis:
Down syndrome advocacy groups in selected communities told us that
families in those communities were likely to receive many, but not
all, of the resources that Down syndrome clinic specialists
recommended they receive at the time of diagnosis. The specialists
from six Down syndrome clinics we interviewed recommended 32
resources. (See table 2.) Advocacy groups reported that families were
likely to receive about two-thirds (20 of 32) of the recommended
resources; these resources were generally directly related to the
health of children with Down syndrome, such as information about the
risk of cardiac problems and the need for thyroid screening. Families
were less likely to receive about one-third (10 of 32) of the
recommended resources; these resources were generally related to the
family's understanding of Down syndrome and overall family well-being,
such as a copy of the Down syndrome-specific health care guidelines
[Footnote 49] and information about the causes of Down syndrome and
the effect of Down syndrome on the family and caregivers.[Footnote 50]
Table 2: Resources That Specialists from Six Down Syndrome Clinics
Recommended Families Receive Immediately upon Diagnosis, Likelihood of
Receipt, and Consequences If Not Received:
Recommended resources: Information about: Need to screen for cardiac
problems;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not screened, serious complications or death
in the first days or weeks of life may occur.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need to perform
echocardiogram[A];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not performed, a congenital heart problem could go
undiagnosed, and serious complications or death may occur.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need for thyroid
screening[B];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not screened, hypothyroidism may not be
detected, and permanent cognitive impairment, along with growth and
metabolic issues, may occur.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need for complete blood
count screening[C];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not screened, early signs of leukemia may go
undetected.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need for hearing
screening[C];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not screened, problems such as impaired
language development or permanent hearing loss may occur.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need for vaccines (following
standard schedule);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not vaccinated, severe illness due to
delayed immune system maturity may occur.
Recommended resources: Information about: Impact of low muscle tone
(e.g., for feeding, walking);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may not understand the need for
interventions such as therapy services, which can help improve feeding
and gross and fine motor skills, such as learning how to sit, crawl,
stand, and walk.
Recommended resources: Information about: Potential for
gastrointestinal problems;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, families may be unaware that the child can
experience complications such as an intestinal obstruction, which may
be life-threatening.
Recommended resources: Information about: Potential need for referrals
to pediatric specialists;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If families do not access a specialist when care is needed,
conditions may go undiagnosed or untreated.
Recommended resources: Information about: Potential developmental
delays;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If families are not prepared for potential developmental
delays, such as delayed speech, they may have unrealistic expectations
of their child and experience additional stress and confusion.
Recommended resources: Information about: Most medical issues for
children with Down syndrome being treatable;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may experience unnecessary stress
and anxiety about their child‘s health and well-being.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need for therapy services
(e.g., occupational and speech therapy);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, the child may not have appropriate
therapies and may develop maladaptive behaviors.
Recommended resources: Information about: Likelihood for Down syndrome
recurrence (e.g., check karyotype[D]);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, parents may be unaware that their child has
a rare, inherited form of Down syndrome.
Recommended resources: Information about: Breast feeding support
resources;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, child may have difficulty feeding”-
especially sucking and swallowing-”which can affect growth.
Recommended resources: Information about: Overview of health issues
that are likely to occur in the first year or two of life;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If families do not receive this information, they may be
unaware of what conditions their child is at risk for developing and
what symptoms they should look for.
Recommended resources: Referral to early intervention program in their
area;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If this referral is not received, developmental delays
cannot be addressed and monitored and the child may develop
maladaptive behaviors.
Recommended resources: Referral to meet with a genetic counselor;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, family may not benefit from the expertise
of a genetic counselor, who can discuss the cause of Down syndrome and
any related health concerns.
Recommended resources: Contact information for local Down syndrome
support groups;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may not benefit from learning
about the experiences of other families and may face difficulties,
such as feeling isolated, which may affect their ability to care for
their child with Down syndrome or their other children.
Recommended resources: Contact information for a Down syndrome clinic
(if available in their area);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, child or family may not benefit from the
specialized resources of a Down syndrome clinic, if needed.
Recommended resources: Additional support (e.g., social workers) to
families whose babies have long hospital stays;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, child or family may not benefit from the
specialized resources of a Down syndrome clinic, if needed.
Recommended resources: Information about: When child's first early
intervention[E] visit should occur;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If families are not informed that the first visit should
occur within the first few weeks or months of birth, they may delay
accessing this important resource.
Recommended resources: Information about: Importance of mother and
infant bonding;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If families are not informed of the importance of this
bonding and the mother is struggling to bond with her infant, she may
experience depression and anxiety, which can have repercussions for
the health of the child if it continues over a long period of time.
Recommended resources: Information about: Causes of Down syndrome;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families without information or with
inaccurate information may struggle to cope with the diagnosis and
understand their child.
Recommended resources: Information about: Effect of Down syndrome on
family and caregivers;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, family members may experience stress and
develop feelings of isolation.
Recommended resources: Information about: Sibling support resources;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, siblings may experience stress and develop
feelings of isolation that could affect long-term family well-being.
Recommended resources: Information about: Sources for accurate, up-to-
date Down syndrome information;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If families do not receive accurate, up-to-date Down
syndrome information, they may not be informed advocates for their
child and family as they negotiate the health care system.
Recommended resources: Information about: Importance of enjoying time
with baby;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If families are not informed of the importance of enjoying
their baby, they may focus more on the Down syndrome diagnosis than on
their new baby.
Recommended resources: Information about: Financial assistance
resources (e.g., advisor, public insurance);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If families do not receive this information, they may be
unaware of the long-term financial planning needs of their child with
Down syndrome or the insurance coverage that their child can access.
Recommended resources: Contact information for national Down syndrome
groups;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may not access important resources
that can help with stress and feelings of isolation.
Recommended resources: Copy of health care guidelines for children
with Down syndrome (e.g., those from AAP and/or DSMIG[F]);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may not be fully aware of the
health risks their child may face and, as a result, may be less
effective advocates.
Recommended resources: Information about what Down syndrome is;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: half said like; half said unlikely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may have inaccurate information,
which may affect how they understand and cope with the diagnosis and
advocate for their child.
Recommended resources: Additional support to families who ask for help
talking about Down syndrome diagnosis;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: half said like; half said unlikely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may experience confusion, anxiety,
and isolation because they do not know how to cope with the diagnosis
and convey their child‘s diagnosis to people in their social networks.
Source: GAO.
Note: According to the Down syndrome clinic specialists, some of the
resources in this table should be received by families at the time of
diagnosis and again throughout the child's life.
[A] An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create a
moving picture of the heart.
[B] Newborns across the United States are universally screened for
thyroid problems at birth.
[C] Newborns in most states are universally screened for hearing
problems at birth.
[D] A karyotype is a test to examine the chromosomes in a sample of
cells.
[E] Early intervention programs, which are generally administered by
state-level agencies, provide infants and toddlers (ages 0 to 3) who
have a disability, or who are at risk of developing a disability, and
their families with appropriate services, such as speech therapy,
occupational therapy, and family counseling.
[F] Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Down
Syndrome Medical Interest Group (DSMIG) have published Down syndrome-
specific health care guidelines for physicians. These guidelines for
physicians contain many of the same health items that are on this list.
[End of table]
The time of diagnosis is a key time for children with Down syndrome
and their families. According to the Down syndrome clinic specialists,
if newborns are not tested for certain medical conditions immediately
after diagnosis, serious and even life-threatening consequences can
occur. In addition, specialists from one Down syndrome clinic noted
that this is a key time for families to be given information to help
them understand how their child's diagnosis may affect their family.
However, according to the Down syndrome clinic specialists, families
can be overwhelmed if too much information is presented at the time of
diagnosis, especially if they are already overwhelmed emotionally and
psychologically from receiving the diagnosis.
All of the specialists we interviewed at the six Down syndrome clinics
agreed that if families do not receive resources recommended for the
time of diagnosis, the health consequences for the child could be
severe. For example, if a newborn's heart defect is not detected
early, he or she may experience serious complications and even death
in the first days or weeks of life. If a newborn's
hypothyroidism[Footnote 51]--which can be easily treated--is not
detected early, he or she may experience additional cognitive
impairment or other complications. If a family is not provided with a
copy of the Down syndrome-specific health care guidelines, they may
not be fully aware of the health risks their child may face, and they
may be less effective advocates. (See table 2 for these and other
health consequences that may occur if these resources are not received
by families.)
Advocacy groups told us that if there were gaps in the resources that
families received from their health care providers upon diagnosis,
advocacy groups and other community organizations sometimes provided
the missing material. For example, advocacy groups sometimes drop off
"New Parent Packets" at area hospitals that include the Down syndrome-
specific health care guidelines and information about what Down
syndrome is and how it can affect the family. Advocacy groups also
offer family support groups, including groups geared specifically
toward grandparents and fathers, and host seminars on financial
planning.
Families Were Less Likely to Receive Most of the Resources That Down
Syndrome Clinic Specialists Recommended for Early Childhood:
In contrast to the time of diagnosis, Down syndrome advocacy groups in
selected communities told us that families of children with Down
syndrome in those communities were less likely to receive most of the
recommended resources from their health care providers for early
childhood. These resources are important to their children's ongoing
health and the well-being of their families. The specialists from six
Down syndrome clinics we interviewed recommended 23 resources that
families should receive through their health care providers after
diagnosis and throughout early childhood. (See table 3.) Advocacy
groups reported that families were likely to receive only about one-
quarter (6 of 23) of these resources. For example, resources that
families were likely to receive included information about the need to
screen for celiac disease, the need for vision screening, and the risk
for upper respiratory infections. But families were less likely to
receive about three-quarters (17 of 23) of the resources recommended
for early childhood. For example, families were less likely to receive
information about the need to see a pediatric dentist, how to prevent
obesity, and the importance of communicating with their child. In
addition, families were less likely to receive a copy of a Down
syndrome-specific growth chart.
Table 3: Resources Important to the Ongoing Health of the Child That
Specialists from Six Down Syndrome Clinics Recommended Families
Receive for Early Childhood, Likelihood of Receipt, and Consequences
If Not Received:
Recommended resources: Information about: Need for vision screening;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not screened, an undiagnosed impairment may
delay vision development and may cause permanent blindness.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need for celiac disease
screening[A];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not screened, undiagnosed celiac disease may
affect the child‘s growth and cause problems such as diarrhea,
constipation, and behavioral changes.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need for cervical spine
screening[B];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not screened, undiagnosed movement of the
cervical spine may lead to serious or permanent damage to the spinal
cord.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need to perform neck X-ray;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not screened, undiagnosed movement of the
cervical spine may lead to serious or permanent damage to the spinal
cord.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need to perform neurological
examination[C];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If the child is not screened, undiagnosed movement of the
cervical spine may lead to serious or permanent damage to the spinal
cord.
Recommended resources: Information about: Risk for upper respiratory
infections;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, families may not be aware that upper
respiratory issues need to be treated quickly to prevent more serious
illness.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need for more doctor visits
for child with Down syndrome;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may be surprised and unprepared
for the frequent referrals to specialists and the need for follow-up
appointments.
Recommended resources: Information about: Need to see a pediatric
dentist;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may be unaware that children with
Down syndrome have a high risk for dental problems, such as missing or
crowded teeth.
Recommended resources: Information about: Potential for infantile
spasms[D];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, the parents may not recognize the symptoms,
which might lead to additional developmental delays.
Recommended resources: Information about: Potential sleeping issues;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, families may be unaware that sleeping
issues, particularly obstructive sleep apnea and sleep disturbances,
can lead to chronic cardiopulmonary disease as well as problems with
attention, behavior, and learning.
Recommended resources: Information about: Potential use of Synagis
vaccine[E] (e.g., for respiratory illness);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, at-risk children may not be vaccinated and
can develop respiratory syncytial virus, which can cause illnesses
ranging from the common cold to a very severe illness, and even death.
Recommended resources: Information about: Potential sensory processing
disorders[F];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, families may be unaware that children with
Down syndrome can develop sensitivities such as those related to food
texture, touch, and sound, which can lead to behavior that further
complicates development.
Recommended resources: Information about: Physical activity and proper
nutrition to prevent obesity;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, families may be unaware that the child can
develop obesity and associated medical conditions, such as type II
diabetes and blood pressure problems. Lack of physical activity
affects other health issues, such as energy levels, sleep, and mental
health.
Recommended resources: Information about: Transition that occurs at
age 3 from early intervention[G] to school system;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, parents may not place their child in the
most appropriate educational setting.
Recommended resources: Information about: Importance of communicating
with child (e.g., sign language);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, families may not use early communication
techniques, which may lead to frustration and behavioral problems.
Recommended resources: Information about: Learning styles for children
with Down syndrome (e.g., visual learners);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not informed, parents may not learn about educational
techniques that work well for children with Down syndrome.
Recommended resources: Information about: What it is like to grow up
with Down syndrome;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may have inaccurate information,
which may affect how they cope with the diagnosis, approach parenting,
and understand what is possible for their child.
Recommended resources: Information about: National conferences where
families can network and get information;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may miss an opportunity to
interact with other people with Down syndrome and their families and
gather important information.
Recommended resources: Information about: Support groups for
comorbidities/dual diagnoses, if needed (e.g., autism);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families of children with dual diagnoses
may feel excluded from Down syndrome-only support groups and
experience feelings of isolation.
Recommended resources: Information about: The Special Olympics[H];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, children may not participate in the Special
Olympics; programs such as this help physical development, which is
important for mental health and weight management.
Recommended resources: Information about: Social development
opportunities in the community (e.g., playgroups);
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, children with Down syndrome may miss the
opportunity to practice speech and language, model behaviors, and
develop social skills.
Recommended resources: Information about: Non-Down syndrome community
resources for children;
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, children with Down syndrome may not feel
integrated into their community and could miss out on these social
development opportunities.
Recommended resources: Copy of a Down syndrome-specific growth
chart[I];
Twelve advocacy groups' assessment of likelihood of receipt by
families: less likely to be received;
Consequences Down syndrome clinic specialists reported if resource not
received: If not received, families may not have an understanding of
the growth expectations for their child and how they differ from the
typical growth chart.
Source: GAO.
Note: Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Down
Syndrome Medical Interest Group (DSMIG) have published Down syndrome-
specific health care guidelines for physicians. These guidelines for
physicians contain many of the same items that are on this list.
[A] Celiac disease causes a reaction to eating gluten, which damages
the lining of the small intestine and prevents the intestine from
absorbing food.
[B] A cervical spine screening can detect increased mobility of the
cervical spine, a condition also referred to as atlantoaxial
instability.
[C] A neurological examination uses a series of questions and tests to
check the brain, spinal cord, and nerve function. The examination also
checks mental status, coordination, and the functioning of muscles,
senses, and reflexes.
[D] Infantile spasms are a type of seizure seen in infancy and
childhood that causes a sudden bending forward of the body with a
stiffening of the arms and legs.
[E] Synagis is a Food and Drug Administration-approved medication to
help protect young babies from respiratory syncytial virus, a common
virus that can be serious and, in some cases, can cause death.
[F] Sensory processing disorders are characterized by over-or
undersensitivity to environmental stimuli.
[G] Early intervention programs, which are generally administered by
state-level agencies, provide infants and toddlers (ages 0 to 3) who
have disabilities, or who are at risk of developing a disability, and
their families with appropriate services, such as speech therapy,
occupational therapy, and family counseling.
[H] The Special Olympics is an organization and competition for people
who have intellectual disabilities and guides local, national, and
international programs. Children with intellectual disabilities
between the ages of 2 through 7 can participate in the Youth Athletes
program, and children with intellectual disabilities ages 8 and older
can become Special Olympics athletes.
[I] C. Cronk et al. "Growth Charts for Children with Down Syndrome: 1
Month to 18 Years of Age," Pediatrics, vol. 81, no. 1 (1988).
[End of table]
According to the Down syndrome clinic specialists, some information is
most useful if provided in early childhood rather than at the time of
diagnosis. For example, information about celiac disease is not
necessary at diagnosis because it usually is not detectable until the
child has begun eating solid foods.
According to the clinic specialists, if families do not receive the
resources recommended for early childhood, there may be health
consequences for the child. For example, if a child's poor vision is
not detected, he or she may develop permanent vision loss. Similarly,
if a child's celiac disease is not treated, the child's growth may be
affected and he or she may develop diarrhea, constipation, and
behavioral changes. (See table 3 for these and other health
consequences that may occur if these resources are not received by
families.)
Advocacy groups told us that if there were gaps in the resources that
families received from their health care providers in early childhood,
advocacy groups and other community organizations sometimes provided
the missing material. For example, one advocacy group initiated a
support group for families of children with Down syndrome who also
have other medical conditions, such as autism. In addition, advocacy
groups provide social development opportunities for children with Down
syndrome by hosting playgroups, providing information about the
Special Olympics to families, and sponsoring members to attend
national and state conferences. Some community organizations also
offer social opportunities for children, including children with Down
syndrome, such as baseball leagues and swimming classes.
Advocacy Groups and National Survey Results Indicate Families May Face
Barriers Such as Outdated or Inaccurate Information:
According to Down syndrome advocacy groups, families in their
communities may face barriers that can prevent them from using
available resources, which can have a significant impact on the child
and the family. (See table 4.) For example, barriers such as outdated
or inaccurate information may lead parents to have a limited
understanding of their child's Down syndrome diagnosis and, as a
result, underestimate their child's potential. Important resources,
such as early intervention therapy services and parent support groups,
can be out of reach for some families who face barriers. For instance,
advocacy groups identified barriers related to difficulty
communicating in English, a lack of transportation, lengthy travel
times to appointments (because of distance to resources or geographic
location), or busy work schedules (which prevent them from accessing
certain resources, such as early intervention therapy services and
doctor appointments, that may only be available during the workweek).
Furthermore, advocacy groups mentioned that culture can be a barrier
to accessing resources. For example, in some communities, parents of
children with Down syndrome from other countries were reluctant to
seek resources because of concerns about their community's social
acceptance of people with Down syndrome.
Table 4: Barriers Commonly Cited by Advocacy Groups in Selected
Communities:
Barrier: Outdated or inaccurate information;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 7 of 12.
Barrier: Lack of insurance or barriers to access to care;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 7 of 12.
Barrier: Lack of transportation;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 7 of 12.
Barrier: Lack of adequate financial resources;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 6 of 12.
Barrier: Difficulty communicating in English;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 6 of 12.
Barrier: Negative attitudes about Down syndrome;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 6 of 12.
Barrier: Lack of technology access (e.g., computer, Internet,
telephone);
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 5 of 12.
Barrier: Inability to recognize or connect with resources;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 5 of 12.
Barrier: Cultural differences;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 5 of 12.
Barrier: Distance to resources, geographic location;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 4 of 12.
Barrier: Limited time;
Number of advocacy groups that cited barrier: 4 of 12.
Source: GAO analysis of information provided by 12 advocacy groups.
Note: Barriers cited by fewer than 4 of the advocacy groups were not
included.
[End of table]
Results of the 2005-2006 NS-CSHCN also showed that families of
children with Down syndrome may have trouble accessing needed
services. The survey indicated that of the families of children with
Down syndrome, birth through age 17, in the United States who needed a
referral in the previous 12 months, an estimated 24 percent had
problems obtaining referrals. Similarly, of the families whose
children needed physical, occupational, or speech therapy in the
previous 12 months, 18 percent of their children did not receive all
needed therapies. In addition, 16 percent of families of children with
Down syndrome reported that they faced barriers using needed resources
in the previous 12 months. Some of the most commonly cited barriers
were as follows:
* not getting services when their child needed them,
* not getting needed information,
* having problems finding service providers with needed skills,
* not having the types of services their child needed in their area,
and:
* having problems in communication between service providers.
Except for problems in communication between service providers, each
of these barriers was also mentioned in our interviews with advocacy
groups.
Some advocacy groups reported that they and their communities have
made efforts to address some of the barriers faced by families related
to inaccurate information, financial issues, language, and
transportation. To address issues of inaccurate information, one
advocacy group initiated an educational outreach program to health
care professionals at area hospitals to share important information
about Down syndrome, including contact information for local support
groups and suggestions for giving a Down syndrome diagnosis to a
family. Some advocacy groups made efforts to address financial issues;
for example, some advocacy groups arranged for financial advisors to
speak to parents at workshops. In addition, some advocacy groups made
efforts to address language barriers by translating materials into
Spanish and having a staff person available who spoke Spanish.
[Footnote 52] Finally, several advocacy groups told us that they were
taking steps to address barriers related to transportation. For
example, an advocacy group located in an urban area established four
satellite community groups in outlying areas so that families could
access resources without driving into the city.
Agency Comments:
We provided a draft of this report to the Secretary of Health and
Human Services for comment. In response, the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) provided us with general comments, which are
reprinted in appendix II, and technical comments that we incorporated
as appropriate. In its general comments, HHS indicated that our report
"presents a thorough summary of the current practices and the
successes and challenges faced by children with Down syndrome and
their families." HHS emphasized the importance of early intervention
services in maximizing children's long-term development. The agency
also suggested that cost-benefit analyses, which were beyond the scope
of this review, could inform decisions about providing health care
services to children with Down syndrome. HHS also suggested that we
compare the results of the data analyses from the private health
insurance data, the Medicaid data, and the NS-CSHCN data. As we noted
earlier in this report, detailed comparisons across the private health
insurance and Medicaid data would not be appropriate because of
differences in the underlying insurance coverage. Finally, HHS
suggested that we provide population sizes for the data sets analyzed,
which we have done.
We are sending a copy of this report to the Secretary of Health and
Human Services. The report also is available at no charge on the GAO
Web site at [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov].
If you or your staffs have any questions regarding this report, please
contact me at (202) 512-7114 or bascettac@gao.gov. Contact points for
our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found
on the last page of this report. GAO staff who made major
contributions to this report are listed in appendix III.
Signed by:
Cynthia A. Bascetta Director, Health Care:
[End of section]
Appendix I: Medicaid Data:
Figures 7 through 10 show that of the children enrolled in Medicaid in
2007, children with Down syndrome from birth through age 4 received
more medical care than children without Down syndrome in the seven
states in our study.[Footnote 53] Children with Down syndrome had more
outpatient and office-based services than children without Down
syndrome in each state we reviewed. (See figure 7.) In addition,
children with Down syndrome generally had more hospitalizations and a
longer average length of stay than children without Down syndrome.
(See figures 8 and 9.) Medicaid expenditures were higher for children
with Down syndrome than for children without Down syndrome for
outpatient, office-based, and inpatient care. (See figure 10.)
Figure 7: Average Number of Medicaid Outpatient and Office-Based
Services for Children from Birth through Age 4, by State, 2007:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Average number of services:
California: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 7;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.3.
California: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 17.4;
Children without Down syndrome: 3.9.
Illinois: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 2.7;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.9.
Illinois: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 14.5;
Children without Down syndrome: 4.9.
Louisiana: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 8.7;
Children without Down syndrome: 2.3.
Louisiana: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 26.3;
Children without Down syndrome: 8.1.
New York: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 8.1;
Children without Down syndrome: 2.2.
New York: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 18.2;
Children without Down syndrome: 5.3.
North Carolina: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 7.2;
Children without Down syndrome: 2.
North Carolina: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 29.9;
Children without Down syndrome: 14.5.
Texas: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 4.7;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.1.
Texas: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 29.7;
Children without Down syndrome: 11.4.
Wisconsin: Outpatient;
Children with Down syndrome: 4.9;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.8.
Wisconsin: Office-based;
Children with Down syndrome: 13;
Children without Down syndrome: 8.
Source: GAO analysis of 2007 Medicaid MAX data.
[End of figure]
Figure 8: Average Number of Medicaid Hospitalizations for Children
from Birth through Age 4, by State, 2007:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Average number of hospitalization:
California:
Children with Down syndrome: 0.5;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.1.
Illinois:
Children with Down syndrome: 0.7;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.1.
Louisiana:
Children with Down syndrome: 0.7;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.2.
New York:
Children with Down syndrome: 1;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.9.
North Carolina:
Children with Down syndrome: 0.6;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.3.
Texas:
Children with Down syndrome: 0.6;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.4.
Wisconsin:
Children with Down syndrome: 0.3;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.3.
Source: GAO analysis of 2007 Medicaid MAX data.
[End of figure]
Figure 9: Average Length of Medicaid Hospital Stay for Children from
Birth through Age 4, by State, 2007:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Average length of stay in days:
California:
Children with Down syndrome: 4;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.5.
Illinois:
Children with Down syndrome: 5.9;
Children without Down syndrome: 0.6.
Louisiana:
Children with Down syndrome: 6.6;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.
New York:
Children with Down syndrome: 5.7;
Children without Down syndrome: 2.4.
North Carolina:
Children with Down syndrome: 4.7;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.2.
Texas:
Children with Down syndrome: 5.9;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.4.
Wisconsin:
Children with Down syndrome: 2.1;
Children without Down syndrome: 1.4.
Source: GAO analysis of 2007 Medicaid MAX data.
[End of figure]
Figure 10: Average Medicaid Expenditures for Office-Based, Outpatient,
and Inpatient Services for Children from Birth through Age 4, by
State, 2007:
[Refer to PDF for image: stacked vertical bar graph]
Average expenditures:
California: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $7,100;
Outpatient: $400;
Office-based: $1,600;
Total: $9,000.
California: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $800;
Outpatient: $400;
Office-based: $1,600;
Total: $1,200.
Illinois: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $13,600;
Outpatient: $400;
Office-based: $1,500;
Total: $15,600.
Illinois: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $1,300;
Outpatient: $100;
Office-based: $400.
Total: $1,700.
Louisiana: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $11,900;
Outpatient: $600;
Office-based: $2,900;
Total: $15,500.
Louisiana: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $1,200;
Outpatient: $100;
Office-based: $500;
Total: $1,900.
New York: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $14,600;
Outpatient: $1,000;
Office-based: $1,000;
Total: $16,600.
New York: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $4,400;
Outpatient: $200;
Office-based: $300;
Total: $4,900.
North Carolina: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $5,300;
Outpatient: $900;
Office-based: $2,200;
Total: $8,500.
North Carolina: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $800;
Outpatient: $200;
Office-based: $7400;
Total: $1,700.
Texas: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $12,300;
Outpatient: $500;
Office-based: $2,500;
Total: $15,400.
Texas: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $1,400;
Outpatient: $100;
Office-based: $600;
Total: $2,100.
Wisconsin: Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $2,900;
Outpatient: $700;
Office-based: $1,000;
Total: $4,600.
Wisconsin: No Down syndrome;
Inpatient: $1,800;
Outpatient: $300;
Office-based: $600;
Total: $2,600.
Source: GAO analysis of 2007 Medicaid MAX data.
Note: Expenditures represent the average Medicaid payments for office-
based, outpatient, and inpatient care made under fee-for-service
arrangements.
[End of figure]
[End of section]
Appendix II: Comments from the Department of Health and Human Services:
Department Of Health And Human Services:
Office Of The Secretary:
Assistant Secretary far Legislation:
Washington, DC 20201:
September 24, 2010:
Cynthia A Bascetta:
Director, Health Care:
U.S. Government Accountability Office:
441 G Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20548:
Dear Ms. Bascetta:
Attached are comments on the U.S. Government Accountability Office's
(GAO) report entitled: "Children with Down Syndrome: Families Are More
Likely to Receive Resources at Time of Diagnosis Than in Early
Childhood" (GAO-10-975).
The Department appreciates the opportunity to review this report
before its publication.
Sincerely,
Signed by:
Jim R. Esquea:
Assistant Secretary for Legislation:
Attachment:
[End of letter]
General Comments Of The Department Of Health And Human Services (HHS)
on The Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Draft Correspondence
Entitled, "Children With Downs Syndrome: Families Are More Likely To
Receive Resources At Time Of Diagnosis Than In Early Childhood" (GA0-
10-975):
The Department appreciates the opportunity to review and comment on
this draft report. The report presents a thorough summary of the
current practices and the successes and challenges faced by children
with Down Syndrome and their families Following are specific comments:
The report and report title suggest that Down Syndrome patients and
families receive more treatment and services than those families
without children with Down Syndrome. However, the report then proceeds
to note these children are not getting all the services that
specialists would recommend.
We are concerned that the report's emphasis on the number of services
received will drown out the improved impact from early intervention
and the long term benefits. We suggest more context be provided from
the previous GAO evaluation cited in footnote 31. If possible cost-
benefits should also be discussed. Given the concern about increased
health care costs, quoting costs without context is not providing a
fair review of the impact of the services and what benefits may be
gained.
GAO may also want to provide a hypothesis or make a statement
regarding the difference in findings between health insurance (private
and Medicaid), health services utilization, and expenditure data for
children with Down Syndrome and the survey findings from specialists
at Down Syndrome Specialty Care Clinics, advocacy groups, and the
National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs results.
Finally, we suggest that GAO may want to provide the population size
for the data analyzed. For example, what are the total numbers for
children with Down Syndrome compared to children without Down Syndrome
in both the Medicaid study population and the large private health
insurance company study population?
[End of section]
Appendix III: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments:
[End of section]
GAO Contact:
Cynthia A. Bascetta, (202) 512-7114 or bascettac@gao.gov:
Staff Acknowledgments:
In addition to the contact named above, Jenny Grover, Assistant
Director; Julianne Flowers; Rich Lipinski; Sarah-Lynn McGrath; Julie
E. Pekowski; Roseanne Price; Laurie F. Thurber; Karin J. Wallestad;
and Jennifer Whitworth made key contributions to this report.
[End of section]
Footnotes:
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Improved National
Prevalence Estimates for 18 Selected Major Birth Defects - United
States, 1999 to 2001," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Jan. 6,
2006).
[2] J. Ferguson et al., "Resident Physicians' Competencies and
Attitudes in Delivering a Postnatal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome,"
Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 108, no. 4 (2006).
[3] Pub. L. No. 110-374, § 2, 122 Stat. 4051, 4051 (2008).
[4] It was beyond the scope of our work to evaluate the extent to
which the medical care that the children received was appropriate.
[5] Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that finances health
care for certain low-income children, families, and individuals who
are aged or disabled. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is
responsible for the Medicaid program and related data.
[6] The seven states were California, Illinois, Louisiana, New York,
North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.
[7] To identify children with Down syndrome, we examined the diagnosis
codes associated with services provided. In the private health
insurance population, we identified the following cohorts of children
with Down syndrome: children with Down syndrome under 1 year of age
(N=318), 1 year of age (N=358), 2 years of age (N=418), 3 years of age
(N=463), and 4 years of age (N=477). In the seven states where we
analyzed Medicaid data, the population of children with Down syndrome
from birth through age 4 ranged from a low of 261 children in one
state to a high of 1,020 in another.
[8] In our analysis of the 2007 Medicaid data, the required minimum
period of enrollment for children under 1 year of age was the child's
age minus 1 month.
[9] Outpatient care includes services received in facilities such as
urgent care facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, and hospital
emergency rooms. Inpatient care includes services received in
residential health care facilities such as hospitals. Office-based
care includes services received in facilities such as physician
offices, community health clinics, and school-based health clinics.
For our analysis, we classified each service based on the type of
facility in which it was provided. For example, in our analysis of the
private health insurance claims data, we considered therapy services
provided in an outpatient hospital setting to be outpatient care,
while the same type of therapy services provided in a physician's
office was classified as office-based care.
[10] The reference group of children includes all children from birth
through age 4 who did not have a Down syndrome diagnosis.
[11] The specialists varied among the Down syndrome clinics we
contacted and included health care professionals such as developmental
pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and genetic counselors.
[12] For the purposes of our study, we define Down syndrome advocacy
groups as local organizations that have been established to help
children with Down syndrome and their families.
[13] For Down syndrome clinics identified an equal number of times, we
considered the overall geographic diversity within our group of
clinics to make our final selection.
[14] For the purposes of our study, health care providers include
primary care professionals, such as family practitioners and
pediatricians, and other providers at a hospital, such as genetic
counselors and social workers, who interact with the family upon a
postnatal diagnosis.
[15] Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and
Services Administration, National Survey of Children with Special
Health Care Needs, 2005-2006. The NS-CSHCN, a large-scale telephone
survey sponsored by HRSA and conducted by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, defines children with special needs as those
who have or are at risk for a chronic physical, developmental,
behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and
related services of a type or amount beyond that required for children
generally. The NS-CSHCN provides information on the prevalence of
children with special health care needs in the nation and in each
state, the demographic characteristics of these children, the types of
health and support services they and their families need, and their
access to and satisfaction with the care they receive.
[16] We included survey data for families with children through age 17
to ensure a sufficient number of survey respondents.
[17] Based on the sampling error, the NS-CSHCN-reported percentages
are within plus or minus 11 points using a 90 percent confidence
interval.
[18] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
chromosomes are small "packages" of genes in the body. They determine
how a baby's body forms during gestation and how, as the baby grows in
the womb and after birth, the baby's body functions. Typically, a baby
is born with 46 chromosomes. Babies born with Down syndrome have an
extra copy of all or part of chromosome 21.
[19] Down syndrome is typically associated with a degree of
intellectual disability, usually ranging from mild to moderate.
[20] S. Rasmussen et al., "Setting a Public Health Research Agenda for
Down Syndrome: Summary of a Meeting Sponsored by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the National Down Syndrome
Society," American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, vol. 146A,
issue 23 (2008), 2998-3010.
[21] Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and
Services Administration, National Survey of Children with Special
Health Care Needs, 2005-2006.
[22] B. Skotko et al. for the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Study Group,
"Postnatal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome: Synthesis of the Evidence on
How Best to Deliver the News," Pediatrics, vol. 124, no. 4 (2009).
[23] J. Ferguson et al., "Resident Physicians' Competencies and
Attitudes in Delivering a Postnatal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome,"
Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 108, no. 4 (2006).
[24] B. Skotko, "Mothers of Children with Down Syndrome Reflect on
Their Postnatal Support," Pediatrics, vol. 115, no. 1 (2005).
[25] Skotko et al., "Postnatal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome."
[26] In November 2008, representatives from the following five
organizations reached consensus that resources provided to parents of
children with Down syndrome at the time of diagnosis should be
complete, consistent, accurate, and up-to-date: the National Down
Syndrome Society (NDSS), the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC),
the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG), the National Society
of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), and the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Since the consensus
conversation, two of the representatives--from NDSS and NDSC--have
collaborated with NSGC, ACMG, and ACOG representatives to develop
"gold standard" packets of information for health care providers on
how to deliver a prenatal and postnatal diagnosis, and a corresponding
packet to be given to parents at the time of diagnosis. The prenatal
packets were recently published, and the postnatal packet is currently
under development.
[27] The exact number of Down syndrome clinics in the United States is
difficult to ascertain. However, NDSS lists contact information for 52
Down syndrome clinics for children and adults across the country.
[28] According to a physician at a Down syndrome clinic, it is
recommended that children with Down syndrome visit a Down syndrome
clinic three to four times in the first year of life, two times in the
second year of life, and annually every year after that, if needed.
[29] At the age of 3, children with disabilities transition to special
education programs.
[30] 20 U.S.C. § 1433.
[31] GAO, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Education
Should Provide Additional Guidance to Help States Smoothly Transition
Children to Preschool, [hyperlink,
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-06-26] (Washington, D.C.: Dec. 14,
2005).
[32] To obtain each of these averages, we calculated the ratios of
services for children with Down syndrome compared to children without
Down syndrome for each of the 5 years and averaged the ratios.
[33] Outpatient care includes services received in facilities such as
urgent care facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, and hospital
emergency rooms. Office-based care includes services received in
facilities such as physician offices, community health clinics, and
school-based health clinics. Some services, such as therapy, can be
provided in different types of facilities. For this analysis, we
classified each service as outpatient care, office-based care, or
inpatient care based on the type of facility in which it was provided.
[34] The age ranges in our analysis are constructed so that, for
example, "children under 1 year of age" includes all children from
birth up to but not including their first birthday, and so on, with
each range consisting of 1 full year.
[35] It is likely that both groups of children received more office-
based care than outpatient care because, in general, office-based care
includes more routine services, such as office visits and
vaccinations, while outpatient care includes less routine services,
such as laboratory tests, surgical procedures, and emergency room
visits.
[36] Evaluation and management services refer to visits and
consultations provided by physicians or other qualified health care
professionals. Evaluation and management visits range from
straightforward medical evaluations to highly complex patient
evaluations and medical decision making.
[37] Children with Down syndrome are more likely to have outpatient
surgeries, such as surgeries to insert ear tubes, than children
without.
[38] This difference also appears in all other age groups. In addition
to this specific thyroid-stimulating hormone blood test, children may
have received other types of thyroid tests.
[39] The majority of physical, occupational, and speech therapy
services--which accounted for nearly 100 percent of therapy services
received--occurred in outpatient and office-based settings. Less than
15 percent occurred in other settings, such as the child's home.
[40] While overall patterns of utilization are consistent between the
private health insurance company and Medicaid, more detailed
comparisons of the data, such as a more detailed comparison of therapy
services, cannot be made because of differences in insurance coverage
as well as differences in how services are recorded and accounted for.
[41] Inpatient care includes services received in residential health
care facilities, such as hospitals.
[42] To obtain each of these averages, we calculated the ratios of
services for children with Down syndrome compared to children without
Down syndrome for each of the 5 years and averaged the ratios.
[43] Children with Down syndrome may be hospitalized for longer
periods in their first year of life for reasons such as additional
screening tests or complex surgeries (such as heart surgery).
[44] We determined the types of hospitalizations based on the
diagnosis-related group (DRG) associated with each hospitalization.
DRGs are a system for classifying hospital stays based on diagnosis
and procedures. Because of a change in DRG coding for 2008, our
analysis included DRG data from 2001 through 2007.
[45] The percentage of children hospitalized under this
hospitalization type does not represent all the cardiac-related
hospitalizations that could have occurred.
[46] While overall patterns of utilization are consistent between the
private health insurance company and Medicaid, more detailed
comparisons of the data cannot be made because of differences in
insurance coverage as well as differences in how services are recorded
and accounted for.
[47] Expenditure data were adjusted to 2008 dollars and include the
amount paid by the primary insurance company, the deductible,
coinsurance, and the amount paid by secondary insurance.
[48] To obtain this average, we calculated the ratios of services for
children with Down syndrome compared to children without Down syndrome
for each of the 5 years and averaged the ratios.
[49] There are two sets of health care guidelines available to help
primary care physicians manage the medical care of children with Down
syndrome--the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines and the Down
Syndrome Medical Interest Group guidelines. These serve as a resource
for primary care physicians by outlining screenings that should occur
and resources that should be shared with families at key points in a
child's life. In addition, the guidelines indicate when primary care
physicians should refer patients to specialists, if needed.
[50] For the remaining 2 of the 32 recommended resources, half of the
12 advocacy groups reported that the resource was likely to be
received, and the other half reported that the resource was less
likely to be received.
[51] Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not
produce enough thyroid hormone.
[52] However, some of these groups noted that they did not have the
resources to meet the needs of families who spoke languages other than
Spanish.
[53] We analyzed fee-for-service claims for services provided in 2007;
however, because of coverage variations within and across states, not
all services may be covered by fee-for-service plans across all states.
[End of section]
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