Medicaid recipients in intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded.

In this study, we examined Medicaid utilization and expenditure patterns of Medicaid recipients in intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded (ICF's/MR) in three States: California, Georgia, and Michigan. Data were obtained from uniform Medicaid data files (Tape-to-Tape project). Most recipients in ICF's/MR were nonelderly adults with severe or profound mental retardation who were in an ICF/MR for the entire year. The average annual cost of care ranged from $26,617 per recipient in Georgia to $36,128 per recipient in Michigan. The vast majority of recipients were low utilizers of other Medicaid services. Approximately one-third of the recipients were also covered by Medicare.