Review of Intermediate Care Facilities in New York With High Rates of Emergency Room Visits by Intellectually Disabled Medicaid Beneficiaries

Intermediate care facilities in New York with high rates of emergency room (ER) visits by intellectually disabled Medicaid beneficiaries under their care reported on these visits, as required, and potential neglect or abuse was reported and investigated by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities or the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. However, the vast majority of ER visits we reviewed resulted from circumstances associated with the Medicaid beneficiaries' underlying medical conditions-not from neglect or abuse. Accordingly, this report contained no recommendations.

We initiated this review in response to a congressional request to review the care of intellectually disabled Medicaid beneficiaries in group homes. The congressional request noted that, in several States, media outlets have raised serious concerns about cases of abuse of intellectually disabled individuals who reside in group homes.

In written comments on our draft report, New York stated that it was pleased that we had no recommendations.