The newly formed commission has sparked urgent concerns among parents and advocates who rely on evidence-based treatments for neurodevelopmental conditions. Below is an analysis of the risks and flawed assumptions driving these fears.
Why Parents Are Worried: Proven Treatments at Risk
Many families report life-changing improvements from ADHD medications and autism therapies (just two examples) now under scrutiny. Parents emphasize:
- Stimulants enabling academic/social success for children who previously struggled
- Medication combined with therapy as part of balanced treatment plans
- Fears of returning to pre-diagnosis challenges if access is restricted
“My son went from failing classes to honor roll with proper medication. This commission threatens his future,” shared one parent in a CHADD survey. (CHADD resources are linked at the bottom of this post.)
Flawed Premise: Rising Rates ≠ Actual Epidemic
The executive order cites “alarming increases in childhood illnesses” but ignores critical context:
- Improved diagnostic tools identifying previously missed cases (ADHD diagnoses in girls rose 55% since 2020 due to better screening)
- Reduced stigma leading more families to seek help
- Autism spectrum expansion in diagnostic criteria (DSM-5 revisions added 15% more children)
- Advanced Screening Tools: Universal autism screenings (implemented 2023) identify cases earlier.
This progress risks being mislabeled as “overdiagnosis” by the commission’s 100-day assessment.
Medication Oversight: Balancing Caution and Care
While reasonable evaluation is warranted, the commission’s focus on “pharmaceutical overuse” could:
- Dismiss legitimate medical needs of 3.4 million ADHD-medicated children
- Redirect Medicaid funds from FDA-approved treatments to unproven alternatives
- Create bureaucratic hurdles delaying time-sensitive interventions
Autism Treatment Backslide Threat
The commission’s emphasis on “root cause elimination” risks:
- Defunding early intervention programs showing proven results
- Promoting dangerous pseudoscience (e.g., bleach “cures”) over speech/occupational therapies
- Ignoring neurodiversity advocates who state: “Autism isn’t a disease—support beats eradication”
Beyond ADHD/Autism: Broader Healthcare Risks
The commission’s medication reduction goals could impact:
| Condition | Current Medication Use | Potential Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Childhood Anxiety | 5.8 million prescriptions (2024) | Loss of SSRIs coverage |
| Type 1 Diabetes | 100% insulin-dependent | Shift to unproven “diet cures” when knowing people digest and metabolize differently |
| Epilepsy | 470,000 pediatric cases | Alternative therapies replacing anticonvulsants |
Insurance Cost Domino Effect
Strict medication policies may lead to:
- Higher Premiums: Insurers could raise rates to offset costs of untreated ER visits for mental health crises.
- Coverage Gaps: Prior authorization hurdles for stimulants may expand to other drug classes.
- Alternative Therapy Limits: While the order promotes “holistic care,” most insurers don’t cover behavioral therapy fully.
How Families Can Respond
- Document treatment benefits: Track medications’ positive impacts
- Contact legislators: Share personal stories via Autism Science Foundation’s toolkit
- Monitor updates: Bookmark CDC ADHD Guidelines and CHADD Alerts
- Share Your Story: Submit comments via Regulations.gov (docket MAHA-2025-0012).
Sources: HHS briefing memo, Executive Order text, CHADD reports, ASAN statement, Medicaid reform proposal, Autism Science Foundation
The Bottom Line: Improved diagnostics help children get needed care—this progress shouldn’t be recast as a policy failure. Families deserve solutions that protect, not restrict, access to effective treatments.
