Government Spending on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The Wall Street Journal reports:

For the first time in at least 30 years, inflation-adjusted government spending on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities fell in the U.S.

Total spending reached $56.65 billion in the 2011 fiscal year—the most recent total—down 0.2% from the previous year, according to the 2013 State of the States in Developmental Disabilities, compiled by the University of Colorado. About three-fourths is paid by Medicaid.

Most of the spending, 59%, goes to smaller group homes of six or fewer people. About 11.5% is spent by state-operated institutions with 16 or more residents. Settings with seven to 15 people receive about 5% of the funding; large privately run institutions receive 3%.