A Department of Health and Human Services official clarified that no autism registry is being created, contradicting NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya’s recent announcement about plans for a national disease registry to study autism. Concerns over patient privacy have led to backlash from advocacy groups and healthcare providers, prompting some to cancel appointments. The NIH will still invest $50 million in autism research, focusing on linking existing datasets while ensuring security and privacy, despite the confusion surrounding the initiative.
