Published: Oct. 09, 2026
By Jackie Scarcella
Here at A Very Special Place, we work to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities on Staten Island and beyond. Every day, we witness how critical Medicaid is for those we support. But growing administrative and eligibility challenges are making it increasingly difficult for people to maintain the coverage and services they need.
One woman who lives in one of our residences has received Medicaid and Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits for more than 30 years. She is wheelchair-bound and has significant medical needs. Yet she has now experienced prolonged lapses in coverage with no clear explanation as to why.
Her case has gone through multiple fair hearings, and her coverage has been restored only to be revoked again. During these lapses, doctors have canceled appointments and raised concerns about continuing medications because of the loss of coverage. Our organization has stepped in to cover costs because we cannot stand by and watch someone in our care go without the medical treatment she depends on.
This is more than an administrative inconvenience. It disrupts people’s health, stability, independence and quality of life.
And this is not an isolated administrative burden. Our organization has experienced a significant increase in denied claims and recertification issues, requiring staff to spend substantially more time navigating Medicaid and Social Security processes rather than focusing on what matters most, providing care.
People with I/DD and their families, caregivers and support systems should not have to repeatedly fight to maintain coverage they have depended on for decades.
Federal policymakers must protect Medicaid and ensure that administrative and eligibility processes do not become barriers to essential services for people with disabilities.
(Jackie Scarcella is executive director at A Very Special Place, Inc.)