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Speaking out for People with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Cost Comparison for High‐Acuity Individuals in Massachusetts

Our friends at the Saving Wrentham and Hogan Association have provided us with a detailed study comparing the costs of services for high-acuity individuals in Massachusetts' state-operated intermediate care facilities vs home- and community-based services. 

The study provides a detailed, data‑driven look at what it actually costs to support individuals with the most complex medical and behavioral needs, and it exposes the gap between those real costs and the assumptions driving current HCBS policy. Although the analysis focuses on Massachusetts, the underlying issues are national: states are underestimating the resources required for high‑acuity care, and individuals with the most significant needs are the ones most at risk when systems are stretched too thin.