Assessing the presence of medical homes for adults with disabilities in Connecticut

In order to ensure adults with disabilities receive the health care they need in a participant-driven manner, data on the presence of medical homes must be readily available. The medical home concept has been primarily applied to children with special health care needs. Adults with disabilities should also receive the accessible, coordinated, comprehensive, continuous, and compassionate health care characteristic of a medical home. Findings from a statewide telephone survey designed to assess the presence of medical homes among adults with disabilities in Connecticut will be presented. The survey sample includes 87 participants from across the state with a wide range of disabilities including physical, developmental, and psychiatric. Roughly two-thirds of the participants were female and the majority of participants (74%) were between 41 and 60 years old. Results indicate that most participants (48%) do not receive help coordinating their health care. The majority of participants (60%) report having delayed or gone without needed health care in the past twelve months. Participants also report that health insurance does not pay for needed services or medical durable equipment (57%). One-quarter of the participants report not having access to the health care they need when they need it, despite their having a regular place to go for care (96%). Policy implications include trainings for people with disabilities to develop the necessary tools to advocate for needed services and supports from agencies, providers, and insurance companies. In addition, trainings for health care providers are sorely needed to promote effective ways of coordinating care.