Iowa Did Not Comply With Federal and State Requirements for Major Incidents Involving Medicaid Members With Developmental Disabilities

We are performing reviews in several States in response to a congressional request concerning deaths and abuse of people with developmental disabilities living in group homes.Federal waivers permit States to furnish an array of home and community-based services to Medicaid members with developmental disabilities so that they may live in community settings and avoid institutionalization. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires States to implement a critical incident reporting system to protect the health and welfare of the Medicaid members (as Medicaid beneficiaries are referred to in Iowa) receiving waiver services.