All States/Territories

What are the major outcomes and systems improvements stemming from the activities of state MIGs? The MIG program was authorized for eleven years and expires in federal fiscal year 2011. This succinct impact statement highlights key outcomes and impacts related to health care, employment and economic outcomes, Medicaid and employment policy improvements, and service improvements.

Check out New Mexico’s Medicaid Buy-in Program (WDI) website. The program was created in 1999. Collaborative efforts of agencies, employers and consumers statewide continue to build upon the MIG initiatives for a sustainable, streamlined employment support system. See their website which includes marketing materials in both Spanish and English, applications, employment survey, policies, and much more.

The unemployment rate of persons with a disability was well above the rate of those with no disability. Nearly one-third of workers with a disability were employed part time, compared with about one-fifth of those with no disability. Review the findings of this report, as well as a related journal article.

Review the results of a survey that measures the current attitudes of corporate employers toward employees with disabilities and corporate action on hiring people with disabilities. Findings are presented on current corporate disability policies and programs, steps employers have been taking towards recruiting, training, and retaining people with disabilities, as well as the barriers they experience, and more.

Findings in this report focus on what has been learned about the status of grant implementation and factors that facilitate progress early and throughout the implementation period, and progress on grantees’ goals and achievement of Systems Transformation (ST). It presents results for both FY05 and FY06 ST Grantees, builds on findings from the first annual report and focuses on two different stages of implementation for the FY05 grantees (Year 3) and the FY06 grantees(initial 15-months).

Learn about how Medicaid Buy-In participants with severe mental illness compare to other program participants. Their characteristics, employment experiences, and medical expenditures are profiled in this issue brief. It is shown that these individuals have lower medical expenditures and better employment outcomes than participants with other disabling conditions, at least in the short to medium term. Research results, policy implications and next steps are discussed.

Review the results of a survey that assesses the quality of life of people with disabilities on a wide range of critical dimensions and tracks them over time. A number of indicators were used, and findings show that while there has been modest improvement in a few areas, there has yet to be significant progress. Employment remained as the largest gap between people with disabilities and those without. Attached are links to the final report, executive summary, presentation and webinar.

A study was conducted to identify current definitions, issues and strategies related to the use of PAS in the workplace. Participants were employees with disabilities who used PAS in the workplace as well as employers. More than 30 articles were reviewed and a comprehensive search of bibliographic resources was conducted. The study revealed an increasing need for PAS, and highlighted fiscal and societal barriers to the full implementation of PAS at work.

Statistics show a significant percentage increase in older persons able to receive LTSS outside of nursing homes, however unnecessary institutionalization is still a routine problem. This report clearly delineates the limitations on progress, including differences in Medicaid structure around nursing home vs. HCBS waiver coverage. The authors recommend specific steps that federal and state governments should take to reduce unnecessary institutionalization.

Review slides from the CMS Leadership Summit on building capacity and coordinating support for family caregivers and the LTSS direct service workforce, held on September 16-17, 2010. Topics include ACA Opportunities for Family Caregivers and the Direct Care Workforce; Assistance and Support Services for Caregivers; DSW Policy Issues and Challenges; Building Capacity and Coordinating Support for Family Caregivers and the LTSS Direct Care Workforce.