Bridging the Aging and Developmental Disabilities Service ... - rrtcadd

Comprehensive data on the health care needs and the impact of health and
long-term support and services reforms on people with developmental
disabilities is lacking.
• Surveillance instruments documenting health disparities often lack reliable information
on people with developmental disabilities. While the CDC is working toward establishing
a national health surveillance system for people with developmental disabilities, it is not
yet in place.
• Past evaluations of the ADRCs have reported little data on the program’s outcomes for
people with developmental disabilities and their families.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BRIDGING THE AGING AND DD
NETWORKS
With the “sea of change” in federal health and long-term supports and service reforms targeting
aging and disability populations, it is important ADD, AoA , CMS and other federal agencies are
actively engaged to effectively collaborate on ways to improve outreach and support to people
with developmental disabilities and their families: Key goals and recommendations arising from
this project are to: a) raise the visibility of developmental disabilities concerns in policy reforms,
b) improve program implementation of health and long-term support initiatives to better address
needs of persons with developmental disabilities; c) develop a workforce with knowledge and
skills to address disability and aging issues; and d) better understand the age-related needs and
best practices in meeting those needs through research and evaluation.
Goal A. Raise the visibility of developmental disabilities concerns in policy
reforms
1. ADD and developmental disabilities stakeholders need to work with CMS to develop
a joint understanding of underlying values and unifying principles regarding such
concepts as “person-centered planning” and “ transition planning”. Clear guidelines
and tools are necessary for incorporating these concepts in applications to adults with
developmental disabilities with respect to health and long term support and services
initiatives. To accomplish this we recommend a national task force consisting of
enlightened state Medicaid agency and state DD and Aging directors that would tackle
these policy and implementation issues with input from advocacy organizations.
2. ADD must have a direct and influential role in providing feedback on national
rebalancing and healthcare reforms that affect people with developmental
disabilities which include: Money Follows the Person, the role and efficacy of ADRCs ,
managed and integrated care innovations, integrated care for people whole are dually
eligible for Medicare and Medicaid; and possible consolidation of state Medicaid
Bridging the Aging and Developmental Disabilities Service Networks Page 44