Closing Care Gaps for I/DD Waiver Populations

An exploration of telehealth benefits for aging I/DD populations

The percentage of hospitals implementing telehealth services has more than doubled since 2010. This has far-reaching impacts for many patient populations, but it can be particularly impactful for an often overlooked group: individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) aged 65 or older.

Medicaid eligible individuals with I/DD are also eligible for Medicare services as they age. But, despite being dually eligible for two programs, this population can still face significant barriers to accessing quality care and services, especially as waitlists for services continue to get longer each year.

Additionally, it may be difficult to find primary providers with the adequate training needed to best support or accommodate those with I/DD, meaning the I/DD population is more likely to require caregiver assistance and specialty providers. Coordinating multiple schedules is daunting and may result in prolonged waits between visits. In-person appointments may also require reliable transportation and accessible parking, which may not always be available.

The increasing popularity of telehealth initiatives could help break down these barriers, improving quality of care and overall quality of life, according to Resources for Integrated Care (RIC).

Hospitals and other providers across the country are exploring three major telemedicine avenues that could positively impact the aging I/DD population:

• Live, two-way video can replace in-person visits when simple treatments are needed. It can also be used by different providers to coordinate care, taking this burden off the individual.
• Data gathering services, like the store-and-forward approach to telemedicine, can secure and support the transmission of health records, allowing consultations and evaluations to be conducted off-site with data already collected in prior, in-person visits.
• Remote patient monitoring collects data manually or through biosensors to provide real-time updates to providers. Providers can use this data for monitoring, assessment and intervention.

Because telemedicine is still relatively new, more research is needed to investigate its limitations. Some studies and trial runs have shown the potential for tremendous benefits, including cost savings and improved outcomes.

As telemedicine services continue to develop, and waiver programs for dually eligible individuals expand, case management for long-term services and supports (LTSS) will get more complicated. FEI stands ready to help. Our Blue Compass case management for LTSS solution offers interoperability with multiple systems, building stronger connections between communities, providers and department staff across the continuum of care. Our case management solution reduces administrative burdens in waiver program management and allows agencies to focus on delivering quality services and supports aging I/DD populations need to thrive in their communities.