Case For Inclusion

Every year since 2006, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

An international advocate, educating and providing support services for children and adults with a spectrum of disabilities through an affiliate network– 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.

4 Key Aspects of a High Functioning Medicaid Program

The University of Minnesota’s Research and Training Center on Community Living identifies the four key aspects of a high functioning and effective Medicaid program, which have also been articulated in a number of legislative, administrative and judicial statements describing national policy.[i] TheCase for Inclusion’s five major outcome areas align, as indicated, with the following four-part holistic approach:

1Promoting Independence – People with disabilities will live in and participate in their communities.

2Promoting Productivity – People with disabilities will have satisfying lives and valued social roles.

3Keeping Families Together & Reaching Those in Need – People with disabilities will have sufficient access to needed support, and control over that support so that the assistance they receive contributes to lifestyles they desire.

4Tracking Health, Safety & Quality of Life – People will be safe and healthy in the environments in which they live.

It is the duty of a civil society such as ours to aid these individuals, who are often the most vulnerable among us.

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 (D.C.) – 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.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The ANCOR Foundation and UCP wish to extend deep gratitude to Donna Martin, ANCOR, and Catherine Thibedeau, Independence Advocates of Maine, who served as lead authors for this report.

We greatly appreciate the significant contributions made by members of the Case for Inclusion 2021 Steering Committee, including Ann Coffey, UCP Oregon; Colleen Crispino, UCP of Long Island; Lydia Dawson, Idaho Association of Community Providers; Mike Foddrill, UCP Association of Greater Indianapolis; Anne Hindrichs, McMains Children’s Development Center; and Yadira Holmes, Consumer Direct Care Network.

Finally, we are immensely grateful for the UCP and ANCOR staff and consultants who contributed to the development of this report. At UCP, we extend our gratitude to Armando Contreras, James Garcia, Fernanda Morrison and Anita Porco. At ANCOR, we extend our gratitude to Sean Luechtefeld, Shannon McCracken, Barbara Merrill and Gabrielle Sedor.

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