CEREBRAL PALSY NEWS
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Top States in Community Inclusion Revealed
March 2, 2006
A new national study called A Case for Inclusion revealed how the 50 states are using Medicaid funds for service delivery.
Medicaid serves almost 530,000 people with developmental disabilities and mental retardation. While those who suffer from developmental disabilities and mental retardation make up just one percent of all Medicaid recipients, services to the population account for nearly 10 percent of all Medicaid expenditures. These individuals are among Medicaid's most vulnerable beneficiaries.
The report showed the state that emphasized the most community inclusion for those with developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, is New Hampshire. According to the report, New Hampshire used 98 percent of Medicaid dollars to support people living in their communities through home and community based services. Texas, which ranked last in the United Cerebral Palsy Report, only used 31 percent of their Medicaid dollars to support home and community cerebral palsy funding.
The best Medicaid programs produce outcomes that enrich the lives of people with disabilities. These programs should promote self-sufficiency and focus on individuals and families rather than promote institutionalized care. According to Stephen Bennett, President of United Cerebral Palsy, states that put more emphasis in community inclusion perform better in the analysis.
Also found in the study was that successful states support the smallest possible and most home-like residential settings in communities, assist individuals in the transition from Medicaid to a working lifestyle, give people the ability to direct their own services, and utilize nationally-recognized quality assurance programs.
The report that United Cerebral Palsy conducted is intended to encourage people with disabilities to seek a more self-sufficient lifestyle. Also, it is intended to encourage all advocates to focus Medicaid on the effectiveness of services, instead of just budget numbers. The new data collected will create state-level action plans to improve Medicaid programs in specific regions.
While there are the states that topped the list, not one state received a top grade in all service categories. The study shows that all states have room for improvement.
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