Surveys

Do you currently employ anyone with a physical or mental disability? Business owners and decision-makers across the state of Maine were asked questions regarding the employment of people with disabilities in that state. This is the summary of the 432 surveys collected.

This employee survey captures the consumer’s level of disability and if and how it is being addressed in the workplace. The survey is specific to those employed by the state. Use this tool as a template to designing a questionnaire in your program.

Annual survey of all 50 States finds that during this time of recession the number of people on Medicaid is greatly increasing, as is the amount of money being spent on the program by individual States. Despite federal assistance from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), this leads to further strain on already tight State budgets. This trend is expected to continue & States should be expecting a predicted increase of 6.3% on Medicaid spending in the 2010 fiscal year.

The Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) conducted three focus groups in the Central Mississippi Planning & Development District/AAA service area. The groups gathered information from individuals with disabilities and older individuals concerning the status of HCBS programs and independent living related services. Discussion was facilitated by IDS and focused on AoA factors impacting successful ADRC implementation: visibility and trust, ease of access, responsiveness, and effectiveness.

The unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities seeking work remains well above those without disabilities, and the gap has widened further in recent years. A forum was convened to explore policy options and actions that could be taken to help adults with a current or past work history improve their participation in the workforce. This report summarizes key options and issues identified through the forum discussion and surveys conducted.

Nearly every state provides at least some funds for services for low-income older adults or people with disabilities who have too many assets to qualify for Medicaid. AARP reports on how much each state spends on both multiservice and single-service programs. It also compares funding sources, eligibility criteria, services, cost management strategies, consumer direction, and other characteristics.

Ohio seeks a contractor to coordinate the NCI survey and related interviews involving 400 subjects. The purpose of studying the indicators is to understand service outcomes, compare Ohio to other states, align the state with the CMS HCBS Services Quality Framework, and inform strategic planning. The RFP, a schedule for proposals, blank survey forms, and a “bidder’s library” are given. Proposals are due June 5, 2009.

The Chartbook documents trends in enrollment, earnings, employment, medical expenditures, and consumer experiences and satisfaction since Kansas began its Buy-In program. Summarized are survey and administrative data that document increased earnings and taxes paid over time by participants, decreased medical expenditures for those continuously enrolled, and improved quality of life and financial status.

Quality surveys were developed to be administered by consumers to other consumers and their families. They measure in-home attendant care, habilitation, and respite services delivered. In addition to surveys are materials used to train the interviewers, survey response thresholds, and a presentation outlining survey findings.

The majority of NH’s long-term care (LTC) expenditures go to nursing homes, despite the fact that only 2% of surveyed AARP members prefer to receive care in that setting. The AARP surveyed 800 randomly-selected members to set their advocacy agenda in the state. Other opinions gauged deal with ability to pay for LTC, personal sources of LTC financing, volunteerism, and voting practices.