Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Launches the School-Based Services Technical Assistance Center

In follow up to the release of the School-Based Services Comprehensive Guide to Medicaid Services and Administrative Claiming in May 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently launched the SBS Technical Assistance Center. This center will continue to be developed in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education. It will:

• Support state Medicaid agencies, local education agencies and school-based entities seeking to expand their capacity for providing Medicaid school-based services.
• Reduce administrative burden.
• Support such entities in obtaining payment for the rendering of Medicaid school-based services.
• Ensure ongoing coordination and collaboration between the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding Medicaid school-based services.
• Provide guidance with regard to utilization of various funding sources.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services encourages stakeholders to use the Technical Assistance Center to assist in implementing the flexibilities and requirements discussed in the school-based services guide and to further enhance or expand current school-based services programs. The center will continue to add resources and materials to support states and schools in implementing Medicaid school-based services.

The Technical Assistance Center will continue to be updated with additional resources over the coming months. Future resources will include more in-depth guidance on various aspects of billing for school-based Medicaid for both state Medicaid agencies, state education agencies, local education agencies, and schools. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services welcomes input on what future content should be developed for the Technical Assistance Center. Please email any Technical Assistance Center suggestions to the school-based services mailbox. 

In Case You Missed It

The U.S. Department of Education released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that would streamline consent provisions when billing for Medicaid services provided through a student’s individualized education program. This would result in a uniform process applicable to all Medicaid enrolled children, regardless of disability. Learn more by referring to the news release.