Desonia, R. (2003) Is Community Care a Civil Right? The Unfolding Saga of the Olmstead Decision. National Health Policy Forum.
The purpose of this report was to provide a comprehensive overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Olmstead and how these decisions impacted state and federal administration of the Medicaid long term care system.
This paper provides a background to the ADA, Medicaid’s role, Federal activity, changes in the LTC system, the Olmstead decision (and its implications) and subsequent Federal and state activity, complaints and lawsuits. It draws on many of the reports written so far on the issue to discuss questions raised by lawsuits and the role that Olmstead might play in the development of the LTC system.