Disability

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This research inventory was assembled in preparation for the National Conference on Managed Care for People with Disabilities.

In an effort to better understand the impact of managed care on disabled populations, staff from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation's Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy and the Office of Health Policy, in collaboration with HCFA, have developed a series of research and evaluation efforts focused on managed care and people with disabilities.

Federal disability programs, which provide services such as cash support, health care coverage, and direct supportive services to eligible people with disabilities, are typically limited to people under the age of 65.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation sponsored an expert meeting to advise DALTCP on policy issues and available data related to several populations of persons with disabilities: working age adults, children, persons age 65 and older, and special populations (e.g., persons with developmental disabilities, persons with mental illness).

A large minority of Americans (42.7 million or 17.2%) have disabilities, 12.7 million of whom need long-term care. About 29.7% of all people with disabilities and 5% of the entire population need long-term care.

Most adults with disabilities are in their working (not their elderly) years. According to the 1990 Survey of Income and Program Participation, among the civilian non-institutionalized population, 20,266,000 adults in their working years (18-64) and 15,413,000 elderly persons (65+) reported a disability.

According to the 1990 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and data from institutions, 4,536,000 children under 18 were reported as having a disability, with 4,444,500 living in the community and 91,800 residing in institutions.