A New Resource: The Medicaid Reference Desk

Recently, the Arc of the United States has created a new, comprehensive online reference center offering information on Medicaid and state Medicaid services. The website is designed to provide information to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, Service brokers, service providers, and policymakers alike. It is currently the only website that provides in-depth Medicaid service information specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This project is funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), a government agency whose mission is to make sure that people with developmental disabilities have access to the community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that they need. ADD and The Arc support people with I/DD to be independent, self-determined, healthy and productive people who are included in all areas of community life.

The website is designed to offer information on common questions and concerns regarding Medicaid. It includes a “Medicaid terms and definitions” section, defining words commonly used on Medicaid forms and correspondence. The site also offers state by state information on Medicaid programs and waivers, and includes a list of what types of services fall under each program/waiver’s jurisdiction.

The Medicaid reference desk is a noteworthy resource for several key reasons. First, the website includes state specific Medicaid service information, including printable resource sheets in common language that is easy to understand. Also included is Medicaid information for U.S. Territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam. Second, the website has been designed with a “person-centered module” that allows individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their family members to create a list of services they require for their service coordinator. Persons using the website are able to use various accessibility options to see and hear the information as well. Third, the site highlights a growing collection of stories centered on persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities using Medicaid funding to create choice and opportunity in their lives. So far, more than 3,000 stories have been recorded on the site.

The Arc is currently seeking more stories to include on the website. If you have a story, please send an email message to stories@thedesk.info or call toll free at 1-877-431-8532. If you know someone else who has a story, please forward this email to them. The Arc is especially interested in stories from Hispanic/Latino families, for presentation on the site in Spanish.

We encourage you to utilize this site as one of your Medicaid resources. Please click this link to visit the website. If you have any feedback regarding the site, please email the website administrators at contact@thedesk.info.

**The Medicaid Reference Desk is also listed in Exceptional Family TV's Resource List as well.**