Therapy for babies with signs of autism cuts long-term disability costs
New research evaluating the potential cost savings of a therapy for babies displaying early autism signs has predicted a three dollar return to Australia鈥檚 National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for every dollar invested in therapy.
Published in the prestigious JAMA Network Open, the health economic study drew on the results of a landmark multi-centre randomised clinical trial which reported the world鈥檚 first evidence that a therapy commenced in infancy (iBASIS-VIPP)* could reduce early developmental disability to the point where a childhood clinical autism diagnosis was two-thirds less likely.
Now, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and Telethon Kids Institute, in partnership with the University of Manchester, La Trobe University, Griffith University and the University of Western Australia, have used this clinical trial data to model downstream cost implications for children up to age 13.
Modelling downstream disability support costs to the NDIS system, they predicted that use of the iBASIS- VIPP therapy during infancy would return a net cost savings of $10,695 per child, representing a three-to- one return on investment by age 13.
Lead author, UniSA鈥檚 Professor Leonie Segal, Chair, Health Economics and Social Policy, says the estimated cost savings are conservative as they only covered support costs to the NDIS until a child turned 13, and did not consider cost savings to other systems (for example, health, education, parental employment).
鈥淏y investing in services early in life for babies showing early autism signs 鈥� and thereby reducing levels of disability 鈥� the study predicted a net cost savings of $10,695 per child by age 13 years,鈥� Prof Segal, a health economist, says.
鈥淭he modelling also predicted that savings in support costs associated with disability would balance out therapy costs shortly after the child turned five 鈥� just four years after delivery of the therapy.
鈥淭he findings clearly argue the case that investing in early support for babies represents a good investment for the whole community.鈥�
This is a landmark study in autism which shows, for the first time, the value of pre-emptive intervention in reducing services use and costs later in child development
Prof Jonathan Green Professor of Child Psychiatry from University of Manchester says 鈥渢his is a landmark study in autism which shows, for the first time, the value of pre-emptive intervention in reducing services use and costs later in child development. The modelling was made possible by the structured NDIS health insurance system in Australia, but the implications of this go far wider 鈥� completely applicable to other health systems such as the UK. This is because the kinds of services modelled in the Australian system are comparable to those used in the UK and other advanced health systems 鈥� so we can confidently assume that this intervention applied in the UK will result in comparable savings.鈥�
鈥淭he discovery of therapies that reduce the disability experienced by children will often mean that that child requires fewer supports in later childhood. This is fantastic news for the child, their family and the systems that support kids and families.
Telethon Kids Institute鈥檚 Prof Andrew Whitehouse 鈥� the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at Telethon Kids and the University of Western Australia and Director of CliniKids 鈥� says autism is not typically diagnosed until three years of age. However, therapies commencing during the first two years of life 鈥� when the initial signs of development difference are observed, and the brain is rapidly developing 鈥� can positively impact developmental outcomes in later childhood,鈥� Prof Whitehouse says.
He says many services used the presence or absence of a diagnosis as a 鈥榯rigger鈥� for funding and therapy, but this study reinforces the potential value of therapies prior to a diagnosis.
鈥淒isability associated with autism has cost and quality of life implications for families and may result in extra government spending on areas such as health, education, disability services, and income support,鈥�
鈥淩educing disability associated with autism can relieve hardship to the individual, and in the process relieve costs to the individual, their family, and the broader systems that support them. At a time when NDIS sustainability is of great importance to everyone, these findings are very significant.鈥�
鈥淚 want to make it crystal clear that this is about finding the best use of funds to create the best outcomes for children,鈥� he says.
鈥淭his study is about how to provide the right supports to kids and families at the right time and in the right amount. Understanding this is critical in helping to structure systems to support kids and families when they need it.鈥�
*iBASIS-VIPP is a video therapy that helps parents understand and adapt to their baby鈥檚 communication style to optimise social and communication development in babies aged 9-14 months.
- Professor Jonathan Green from University of Manchester led the development and initial testing of iBASIS-VIPP along with UK colleagues, published in 2017. The replication trial of iBASIS-VIPP in Australia, on which this current paper is based, was led by Telethon Kids Institute鈥檚 Professor Andrew Whitehouse. It identified babies with early signs of potential autism (reduced eye contact, imitation, or response to name) using the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance Revised (SACS-R) tool, finding that a clinical diagnosis of autism at age three was only a third as likely in children who received iBASIS-VIPP compared to those who received treatment as usual.