To help clarify principles that should guide our health care system from an independent living perspective, this paper looks at how state health care programs targeted at people with disabilities achieve independent living objectives. As numerous states develop managed care programs for SSI and SSDI beneficiaries, it is important to focus attention on health care reform at this level. This paper (1) identifies principles (e.g., consumer control, non-discrimination, comprehensiveness, and equity,) and criteria used by the disability community in assessing health care policy in the United States, and (2) applies these them to six selected state health care programs aimed at adults and children with disabilities. Data were obtained from documents and in-depth interviews with state program planners and administrators.
Results show (1) a lack of consensus in the disability community on the criteria used to assess health care program performance for people with disabilities, (2) some criteria applied to assess universal health care reform proposals may not apply in state programs; and (3) it is not well understood how these principles and criteria interact with risk management, capitation, and other health care financing issues. The findings suggest the need for systematic development of independent living principles and measures to be applied in state health care programs for people with disabilities, a greater understanding of the interaction between health care financing issues and principles of independent living, and the need to systematically apply the new criteria to the expanding number of state health care programs for people with disabilities.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to (1) identify five principles of independent living that apply to state health care programs targeting people with disabilties; (2) identify criteria used to measure program structure and process against these principles; (3) evaluate the usefulness of these criteria in assessing state health care programs; and (4) identify the steps that the disability community could take to clarify its independent living principles as they apply to state health care programs
Keywords: Disability Policy, Health Care Quality
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.