People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) receive assistance with living in the community, respite services, help with daily living such as help getting dressed, taking medication, preparing meals, managing money, and getting in and out of bed. States are required to provide these services in nursing homes for people who need that level of care and they have the option of providing these services in home and community based settings.
~ Nationwide, state and federal Medicaid together provide over 75% of the funding for these services for people with I/DD. Medicaid is a primary source of health insurance for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and provides needed health care services such as prescription drugs, dental, physical therapy, speech therapy, prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, and other health care services for eligible people.
~ Private insurance is often unavailable or unaffordable for people with I/DD due to discrimination in health insurance, high unemployment, and other factors. The budget cannot be balanced on the backs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
* The budget cannot be balanced on spending cuts alone—raising revenues must be part of the solution.
* Deep cuts in Medicaid cannot be tolerated.
* Medicaid and other low income programs need to be exempt from any automatic enforcement provisions.
* Deficit reduction must be fair and balanced.
