The Case for Inclusion ranks states on their outcomes for Americans with ID/DD

The Case for Inclusion 2013 from UCP United Cerebal Palsy:

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.
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.

• Sources
• About Author
  Tarren Bragdon has been involved in healthcare policy research and analysis for more than 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.

Medicaid affects all of us: children and adults with disabilities, as we are age, as our family ages, and when the unexpected happens. UCP's annual report, The Case for Inclusion, ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC) on outcomes for Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD).

This year's report shows that:

1. All states have room for some improvement, but some have consistently remained at the bottom of the rankings;
2. Despite economic strains, many states have made real improvements in the quality of services being provided;
3. There is still work to be done in ensuring that people with ID/DD can enjoy the same freedoms and quality of life as all Americans.

Other highlights include:



This interactive website enables users to::

• Compare state & national data
• View state scorecards to determine individual state performance
• Interact with the ranking map
• See highlights of 2013 report
• Advocate for areas needing improvement & promote key achievements
• Learn more about states at the forefront of managed care and employment issues
• Download full 2012 report and previous reports