Every year since 2006, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) produces The Case for Inclusion, an annual ranking of how well state Medicaid programs serve Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). Individuals with ID/DD, including the aging, want and deserve the same freedoms and quality of life as all Americans.
Medicaid affects all of us -- children and adults with disabilities, as we are aging, as our family ages, and when the unexpected happens. It is the critical safety net that provides financial and healthcare security, and community supports to Americans with ID/DD, aging, and low-income individuals and families, so that their desired freedom, quality of life and community participation can be fully realized. It is the duty of a civil society such as ours to aid these individuals, who are often the most vulnerable members of society. Yet some states do much better than others in having the needed political will and sound Medicaid policies necessary to achieve this ideal.
The Case for Inclusion ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC) – not on their spending – but on their outcomes for Americans with ID/DD. The Case for Inclusion shows how well each individual state is performing overall; how each state matches up against other states regarding key data measures; and, most importantly, the top performing states with policies and practices that should be replicated.
- Full Report for 2012
- Sources
- About Author
Tarren Bragdon has been involved in healthcare policy research and analysis for over a decade. His work has been featured in newspapers and media outlets nationwide including The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, New York Sun and PBS. He served two terms in the Maine House of Representatives on the Health and Human Services Committee and served as chair of the board of directors of Spurwink Services, one of the largest social service providers in Maine.
- Past Reports:
