Public Health Review

Adults with disabilities are reported to experience more mental distress than those without disabilities. Mental distress in this population is associated with poorer health behaviors, an increase in health services use, mental and behavioral health disorders, and reduced quality of life. In particular, the pandemic has spotlighted a need for improved healthcare delivery systems and public health response strategies as COVID-19 has exacerbated health disparities in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In this podcast episode, Alison Beam (alumni-PA) and Kristin Ahrens (deputy secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Health) offer cross-agency perspectives on the challenges and experiences they faced addressing the complex needs of people with IDD during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also share strategies to leverage state Medicaid data to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on the health of people with IDD, along with how cross-agency data-sharing can provide a more comprehensive lo