Medicaid Managed Care - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

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We recognize that managed care is fraught with uncertainty and peril. However, we also
are convinced that, unless public developmental disabilties service systems become more
cost-effective and accountable for valued outcomes, they will be less and less able to fulfill
their mission and be increasingly subject to privatization. In the absense of a forthright
response to these issues, we are profoundly concemed that existing service systems will
be absorbed into managed care arrangements that serve interests other than those of the
individuals and families who are the intended beneficiaries. If managed care comes to
public MR/DD service systems, all key stakeholders should be involved in designing the
state's basic approach in order to assure that the best interests of people with disabilities
and their families remain paramount.
This white paper summarizes NASDDDS' views regarding the basic challenges which
public MRIDD service systems face today; it explains why we believe that such systems
will have to be realigned and outlines the principles and policies that should guide this
realignment process. The paper is labelled a working document because d should not be
viewed as the final word on the subject Instead, our aim is to stimulate discussion and
debate within the community of individuals who are committed to the values we share.
These values are reflected in the Association's mission statement and guiding principles,
which specify in part that NASDDDS will '...assist member states to build a person-centered
system of services...' in which '...people with developmental disabilities have a right
to:
(a) be treated with dignity and respect;
(b) be independent and make individual choices;
(c) participate in family and community life;
(d) have opportunities to maximize their full potential; and
(e) receive outcome-based services and supports.'
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