Impact of Unmet Need for Health and Mental Health Care on Employment for Persons with Disabilities

The employment rate among adults with disabilities is significantly lower than for the general population, particularly for those with severe disabilities receiving Social Security cash benefits for whom the employment rate hovers at around 13% (Livermore, 2008). Access to health and mental health care services has been shown to be significantly related to work activity among persons with disabilities, yet there is little research examining the relationship between unmet need for such services and employment. Using data from a survey of 436 Massachusetts Medicaid recipients, this study investigates this relationship with a focus on six specific Medicaid services that may be of particular relevance to employment for persons with disabilities: personal assistance services (PAS), durable medical equipment (DME), medical supplies, medications, behavioral health services and substance abuse services. Study results showed that the number of unmet health needs for these services was related to employment status and that unmet need for physical health services (PAS, DME and medical supplies) was significantly higher than for behavioral health services (mental health and substance abuse services) or for medications. PAS services and medications were rated most important to work by working persons with disabilities. Those who were not working most frequently reported that meeting their unmet need for medical supplies and mental health services would help them to work. The study results suggest that meeting these unmet needs may result in modest increases in employment among persons with disabilities.