Advancing Health Policy and Outcomes for People With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Pham Hoangmai H. , Benevides Teal W. , Andresen May-Lynn , Bahr Madelyn , Nicholson Joanne , Corey Tim , Jaremski Jennifer E. , Faughnan Kristen , Edelman Miriam , Hernandez-Hons Alexis , Langer Carolyn , Shore Stephen , Ausderau Karla , Burstin Helen , Hingle Susan T. , Kirk Arethusa S. , Johnson Khaliliah , Siasoco Vincent , Budway Emma , Chin Kit-Wells Meelin Dian , Cifra-Bean Laura , Damiani Marco , Eisenchenk Shelby , Finn Chester , Friedman Merrill , Onaiwu Morénike Giwa , Haythorn Martha , Jirikowic Tracy , Lo Margaret C. , Mackin Coleen , Mangrum Thomas , Matisse Zanetha Amani , Merahn Steven , Myers Adam L. , Nobbie Patricia D. , Siebert Julie H. , Skoch Michael G. , Smith Ivanova , Stasio B. J. , Sullivan Maura K. , Vuong Huan , Wheeler Max , Wigington Tyler G. , Woodward Charlotte 
Published: August 2024

Importance

At least 10 million people in the United States have an intellectual and/or developmental disability (IDD). People with IDD experience considerably higher rates of poor overall health, chronic conditions including diabetes, mental health challenges, maternal mortality, and preventable deaths. This Special Communication proposes national goals based on a community-led consensus model that advances priority health outcomes for people with IDD and their caregivers/partners and identifies critical policy opportunities and challenges in achieving these goals. A community-led consensus agenda offers a foundation for focusing research, improving data collection and quality measurement, enhancing coverage and payment for services, and investing in a prepared clinical workforce and infrastructure in ways that align with lived experiences and perspectives of community members.

Observations

People with IDD prioritize holistic health outcomes and tailored supports and services, driven by personalized health goals, which shift over their life course. Caregivers/partners need support for their own well-being, and easy access to resources to optimize how they support loved ones with IDD. Development of an adequately prepared clinical workforce to serve people with IDD requires national and regional policy changes that incentivize and structure training and continuing education. Ensuring effective and high-value coverage, payment, and clinical decisions requires investments in new data repositories and data-sharing infrastructure, shared learning across public and private payers, and development of new technologies and tools to empower people with IDD to actively participate in their own health care.

Conclusions and Relevance

Consensus health priorities identified in this project and centered on IDD community members’ perspectives are generalizable to many other patient populations. Public and private payers and regulators setting standards for health information technology have an opportunity to promote clinical data collection that focuses on individuals’ needs, quality measurement that emphasizes person-centered goals rather than primarily clinical guidelines, and direct involvement of community members in the design of payment policies. Clinical education leaders, accrediting bodies, and investors/entrepreneurs have an opportunity to innovate a better prepared health care workforce and shared data infrastructure to support value-based care programs.