United States Spending for MR/DD Services Hit $22.8 Billion in 1996 Community Services Accounts for 67.9% of All Spending

OPEN MINDS, The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Industry Statistics National trends in expenditures for mental retardation/developmental disabilities services have historical and philosophical bases. Clearly, spending for such services has climbed dramatically over the past 20 years, reaching $22.8 billion in 1996. However, viewing this trend simply as a matter of total dollars spent excludes perhaps the most critical and elemental factors that reflect "where" and "how" these dollars are spent. Indeed, the manner in which services for individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities are designed, funded, managed and purchased continues to evolve today . . .