Financing services for developmentally disabled people: directions for reform.

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Disability Services
• Public Health

Background:

• Federal policies significantly influence the financing of services for individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
• Existing policies may inadvertently create barriers to community-based and family living arrangements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the findings and recommendations of a working group tasked with examining Federal policies.
• To identify policy alternatives that can improve service delivery for persons with developmental disabilities.

Main Methods:

• Review of current Federal policies affecting service financing.
• Analysis of policy impacts on community and family living opportunities.
• Identification and proposal of policy alternatives.

Main Results:

• Federal policies were found to act as barriers to community and family living.
• Policy alternatives emphasize increased flexibility in service provision.
• Recommendations include targeting services to the most severely disabled and addressing Federal cost structures.

Conclusions:

• Reforming Federal policies is crucial for enhancing community and family living options.
• Flexible, targeted, and cost-effective policy approaches are needed.
• The findings provide a framework for improving support systems for individuals with developmental disabilities.