The evolution of federal government mental retardation financial assistance programs from the formation of the U.S. Public Health Service in 1798 through the appointment of the President's Panel on Mental Retardation in 1961 is reviewed. (Author/CL)

The evolution of federal assistance programs from the issuance of the report of the President's Panel on Mental Retardation in 1962 to the enactment of the Deficit Reduction Act Amendments of 1985 is reviewed. (Author/CB)

Data are presented on the number of people with developmental disabilities who are projected to lose long-term Medicaid health care services in the year 2002 under the 104th Congress' Medicaid spending reduction proposals. A table illustrates by state the number of people with developmental disabilities receiving services in 1992 and the number…