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Olmstead Decision

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Reports/Resources

In the field of aging some people say the Olmstead decision is equivalent to Brown vs. the Board of Education. Learn about the potential impact of Olmstead on long-term care residents and on ombudsman programs.

Olmstead Decision
In its landmark decision of June 1999, Olmstead vs. L.C. and E. W., the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) grants consumers new rights to live in something other than an institution when health or supportive services are needed. The decision applies to all governmental funded programs and to all people with disabilities, without regard to age or the kind of disability.

Federal Resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights – Visit the HHS Community Living and Olmstead webpage for information about the Olmstead Act.

U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division – Visit their Olmstead: Community Integration for Everyone webpage for DOJ technical assistance, resources, and DOJ enforcement examples.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Olmstead Planning Guidance
This guidance to HUD-assisted housing providers details how they can support state and local Olmstead efforts to increase the integrated housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities who are transitioning from, or may be at risk of entering, institutions and other restrictive settings. HUD’s new guidance encourages public housing agencies and other HUD-assisted housing providers to consider the housing needs of their individual communities and their state and to partner with state and local governments to provide additional community-based, integrated housing opportunities. Some of the questions covered include:

What does the most integrated setting mean and how does an integrated setting differ from a segregated setting?
How can HUD housing programs support state and local governments’ efforts to comply with Olmstead?
What role does the Fair Housing Act play?
Where can I find more information?

Read HUD's new guidance.

CMS Olmstead Implementation Guidance
On June 18, 2012, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) within CMS issued an Informational Bulletin on recent Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) actions, policies, and resources that are available to states as they continue to develop long-term service and support systems that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Olmstead decision.