Evaluation of the Ticket to Work Program, Implementation ...

8Only a few beneficiary characteristics predict whether they participate with differenttypes of providers or with providers using different TTW payment systems. Further, evenfor those having all of the characteristics that have a positive association with participation,the participation is low—under 10 percent. Groups that are more likely to assign theirTickets to ENs rather than SVRAs include older beneficiaries, new beneficiaries, and DIbeneficiaries in their extended period of eligibility. Groups that are more likely to assigntheir Tickets to SVRAs include younger beneficiaries, those who require communicationfrom SSA in some form other than written English or Spanish, and those with hearingimpairments. As a rule, SVRAs accept very few assignments under either of the newpayments systems, although there are two significant exceptions among Phase 1 states(Oklahoma and Vermont) and another two among Phase 2 states (Connecticut andLouisiana).This chapter extends the findings presented in our initial evaluation report throughMarch 2004 (the initial report included data through August 2003). The chapterincorporates data elements that were not available to us for the earlier report and presentsadditional analyses. We therefore summarize the findings from the more recent analysis,focusing on how old findings have changed and on findings that are completely new. Themajor sections present updated rollout and participation statistics as well as analyses of howparticipation rates vary among beneficiary subgroups and of how provider and payment typevary with beneficiary characteristics. More extensive statistics appear in Appendix B.A. ROLLOUT STATISTICS1. Ticket Mailings and Eligible Beneficiaries with TicketsAs of March 2004, SSA had mailed over 7.3 million Tickets to beneficiaries. By design,the schedule for the Phase 2 and 3 mailings was slower and more uniform than the schedulefor the Phase 1 mailings (Figure II.1). The change was made in response to the difficultiesexperienced by providers and others in Phase 1 states in handling the large number ofbeneficiary inquiries generated by the mailings. 1As of March 2004, there were 2.64 million eligible beneficiaries in Phase 1 states and2.79 million in Phase 2 states. The Phase 3 data through March 2004 imply thatapproximately 3.5 million beneficiaries were selected to receive tickets, so approximatelynine million Tickets were to be mailed by the end of the TTW rollout in September 2004 (byMarch 2005 more than 10 million Tickets had been mailed).1 See Appendix A for the rollout schedule and a list of states by phase.II: Beneficiary Participation in Ticket to Work