Health Service Utilization Patterns among Medicaid-Insured Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Implications for Access Needs in Outpatient Community-Based Medical Services

Abstract

Limited existing evidence suggests that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience substantial disparities in numerous areas of health care, including quality ambulatory care. A multistate cohort of adults with IDD was analyzed for patterns of inpatient admissions and emergency department utilization. Utilization was higher (inpatient [RR = 3.2], emergency department visits [RR = 2.6]) for adults with IDD, particularly for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (eg, urinary tract [RR = 6.6] and respiratory infections [RRs = 5.5-24.7]), and psychiatric conditions (RRs = 5.8-15). Findings underscore the importance of access to ambulatory care skilled in IDD-related needs to recognize and treat ambulatory care-sensitive conditions and to manage chronic medical and mental health conditions.