$64M Settlement in Medicaid Lawsuit May Improve Access, Services for Developmentally Disabled in Washington State

Washington state officials and the Arc of Washington have agreed to a $64 million settlement in a federal lawsuit, the AP/Spokane Spokesman Review reports. The deal stems from a 1999 class-action suit that Arc, an advocacy group for people with developmental disabilities, brought against the state for not providing sufficient funding of Medicaid services for qualified people with developmental disabilities. According to the lawsuit, individuals had been "forced to wait much longer" than a federally mandated 90-day maximum after becoming eligible to receive access to group homes, life-skills training or other services. Additionally, a state Department of Social and Health Services audit found that people with developmental disabilities were getting only 45% of mandated services. The settlement would provide $14 million for "additional services" in 2003 and $25 million each in 2004 and 2005, pending approval by a federal court judge and the state Legislature. If the settlement is approved, 1,800 of the state's 9,000 individuals with developmental disabilities who are awaiting care would receive immediate access to services (AP/Spokane Spokesman Review, 8/19).