The Supreme Court’s landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision aimed to end the unnecessary institutionalization of people with developmental disabilities by creating and expanding Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS).
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) are a range of person-centered health and support services that enable people with disabilities and mental illness to receive care in their homes or communities rather than in institutional settings like nursing homes or hospitals. Georgia’s HBCS services are primarily funded through Georgia’s Medicaid waivers. The primary goal of HCBS is to promote independence, improve quality of life, and allow people to remain integrated in their communities while receiving necessary support.
In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement agreement with the state of Georgia (U.S. v. GA) to address violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Olmstead v. LC. decision. Advocates at the GAO monitor the state’s compliance with the settlement agreement and push for the expansion of HCBS to ensure that people with disabilities receive care in the most integrated setting.