Disparities in Service Access and Waitlists for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities​

Abstract

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) most often look to their state IDD agencies to receive long-term supports and services (LTSS). However, access to these services varies significantly by state, and hundreds of thousands of people on LTSS waitlists nationally, some of whom wait more than a decade before being selected for services. Furthermore, while some states have eliminated waitlists and serve more people, this does not necessarily mean there are fewer people with unmet service needs. The Residential Information Systems Project (RISP) is a longitudinal study of LTSS for people with IDD that captures how states differ in access to and waitlists for Medicaid waiver-funded services (the most common type of LTSS). This poster will demonstrate with RISP data the state of LTSS access nationally, as well as differences by state in LTSS access, waitlists, and funding. We will also explain how RISP data challenges the notion that states with fewer people on waitlists have stronger LTSS systems.