Evaluating a Medicaid home and community-based physical disability waiver.
State Medicaid waivers have fostered innovative health delivery systems for persons with special needs. Yet their overall cost effectiveness remains poorly understood. Changes were recently analyzed in Medicaid health services and costs for persons newly enrolled in the Kansas Physical Disability (PD) Waiver and found that ambulatory services increased, consistent with meeting enrollees' unmet medical needs and their access to enriched services. Home health, transportation, and personal care services also rose. Though not significant, hospital inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care services declined. This movement towards community-based service use in the short term reflects improved self-directed care and possible long-term cost savings.
Fox
Michael H
MH
Research and Training Center on Independent Living, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045-2093, USA. mfox@ku.edu
Kim
Kyung Mee
KM
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States