Medicaid: How Did Your State Rank?

Yesterday, United Cerebral Palsy released The Case for Inclusion, a report indicating that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities being served by Medicaid are not getting the community-based supports they need in every state.
Some of the report’s key findings include:
Forty one states have 176 large state institutions (more than 16 beds) housing 39,000 Americans;
Only 16 states direct more than 80% of funding to people living in the community;
Sixteen states report very large and long waiting lists for services; and
Only one in four people with disabilities participates in competitive employment.
"Every American wants the opportunity to live and work in their community,” said Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. “The top-performing states in our rankings do a better job promoting independence and productivity in safe, quality community settings, but we still have far too many people with disabilities not getting the service and supports they desperately want and need. We can and should do better."
Nationwide, Medicaid serves almost 545,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, spending $28.8 billion in fiscal year 2005 or almost $53,000 per person per year. While individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities make up just over one percent of all Medicaid recipients, services to the population account for 9.4 percent of all Medicaid expenditures. In addition, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are among Medicaid’s most vulnerable beneficiaries.
More than 99 unique data elements and guidance from a wide body of national disability experts were considered to create comprehensive state snapshots.
This is the second year that UCP has scored and ranked states on their Medicaid-funded services to Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
To download the report and to review data specific to your state, visit UCP.org/Medicaid.