Detecting Health Risks Early: How the HRST® Screening Service Saves Lives
Detecting Health Risks Early: How the HRST® Screening Service Saves Lives For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and other complex support needs, small changes in health can quickly become life-threatening if overlooked. Intellectual and developmental disabilities are present from birth and can affect multiple body parts and the individual’s physical development. These disabilities impact adaptive behavior, life
Understanding the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST®): A Proven Way to Replace Risk with Health and Wellness
Understanding the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST®): A Proven Way to Replace Risk with Health and Wellness By Aliah Farley Every day, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face health risks that often go unnoticed until it’s too late. These health risks affect individuals with IDD, who may require specialized support and monitoring. Many intellectual and developmental disabilities are
Top Reasons People Don’t “Act Right”: Understanding the Medical and Environmental Roots of Behavior in People with IDD
Top Reasons People Don’t “Act Right”: Understanding the Medical and Environmental Roots of Behavior in People with IDD When an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) begins to act differently — withdrawing, becoming irritable, losing interest in food or daily routines — supporters often describe it simply as, “They’re just not acting right.” But what does that really mean?
Optimizing HCBS and Healthcare Spending for People with IDD in a Time of Medicaid Cuts: 10 Strategies for Better Outcomes and Smarter Spending
Optimizing HCBS and Healthcare Spending for People with IDD in a Time of Medicaid Cuts: 10 Strategies for Better Outcomes and Smarter Spending By Aliah Farley As states prepare for significant shifts in Medicaid funding, providers and policymakers are asking the same urgent question: How can we continue delivering high-quality services while managing tighter budgets? The current healthcare system for
Supporting Aging People with IDD: Key Insights from Pam Merkle and Dr. Craig Escudé
Supporting Aging People with IDD: Key Insights from Pam Merkle and Dr. Craig Escudé By Aliah Farley As life expectancy increases, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are living longer than ever before. This presents both opportunities and challenges for service providers, families, and healthcare professionals. In a recent IDD Perspectives webinar, Pam Merkle, Executive Director of the Association
10 Strategies to Optimize HCBS Spending and Improve Outcomes
10 Strategies to Optimize HCBS Spending and Improve Outcomes By Aliah Farley Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services (HCBS) are at a crossroads. Demand continues to grow as more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), older adults, and people with physical disabilities seek support in their homes and communities. Yet funding is strained, costs keep rising, and the workforce is
IDD Smarter Spending, Better Outcomes: How States Can Optimize HCBS with IntellectAbility
IDD Smarter Spending, Better Outcomes: How States Can Optimize HCBS with IntellectAbility By Aliah Farley Medicaid programs across the country face a familiar challenge: rising demand, finite budgets, and a system too often forced into crisis response. The question isn’t whether states can keep spending more, it’s whether they can spend smarter. That’s where home- and community-based services (HCBS) come
