A U.S. advisory committee appointed by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has recommended that the government adopt the term "profound autism" for those with the highest support needs, and improve medical care for people with autism. The committee, which helps guide federal autism research spending, also prioritized improving medical treatment for autistic patients who also suffer from other health conditions. In 2021, the Lancet Commission designated people with profound autism as those with severe intellectual impairment or minimal verbal communication, and the need for full-time access to a caregiver. Critics of the designation have welcomed the initiative, while others in the autism community oppose it as unnecessary and stigmatizing. The recommendations passed and will be sent to Kennedy.