Reporting Abuses of Persons with Disabilities

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

This report provides a summary of systems used by some States to identify, investigate, and resolve incidents of abuse or neglect of persons with disabilities. Up to 90 percent of persons with disabilities reside in facilities, such as group homes, residential schools, and supervised apartments, that do not receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. With little or no Federal assistance involved, these people must rely solely on State systems to identify, investigate, and resolve reports of abuse or neglect. Such laws, regulations, and systems for protecting persons with disabilities from abuse or neglect can vary significantly from State to State. We are recommending that the Health Care Financing Administration, the Administration for Children and Families, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, and the Food and Drug Administration work cooperatively to provide information and technical assistance to the States to (1) improve the reporting of potential abuse or neglect of persons with disabilities; (2) strengthen investigative and resolution processes; (3) facilitate the analysis of incident data to identify trends indicative of systemic problems; and (4) identify the nature and cause of incidents to prevent future abuse.

---