SCHOOL-BASED MEDICAL BILLING: A TRANSFORMATIVE SHIFT IN CALIFORNIA
In recent years, California has undergone significant changes in school-based medical billing, opening up new pathways for schools to secure funding for health services delivered in educational settings. The state is at the forefront of implementing diverse billing programs, including the Medi-Cal LEA Billing Option Program (LEA BOP), the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Fee […]
Schools could be getting millions more from Medicaid. Why aren’t they?
Seven-year-old Winnie Hoyt sits nestled in her mother’s lap in a therapy room at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. She’s dressed in a lavender romper that sets off her soft brown eyes and smacks her lips occasionally while her mom and her speech-language pathologist fiddle with settings on an iPad-like device hovering in […]
Parent Consent Proposed Rule
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education. Secretary proposes to remove the requirement for public agencies to obtain parental consent prior to accessing for the first time a child’s public benefits or insurance ( e.g., Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)) to provide or pay for required IDEA Part B services. We […]
CMS Releases New School Based Medicaid Claiming Guide
The Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services has released an updated Comprehensive Guide for School-Based Billing Programs. It has been over twenty years since the last update, and states now have new flexibility in improving school-based services and reimbursement. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/delivering-service-school-based-settings-comprehensive-guide-medicaid-services-and-administrative
CMS Approves Illinois Proposal to Expand Access to Care for Kids in Schools
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-approves-illinois-proposal-expand-access-care-kids-schools Apr 18, 2023 Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), approved a state plan amendment (SPA) that will provide Illinois more Medicaid funding for eligible children receiving Medicaid-covered health care services in schools. This approval advances the expansion of school-based health services, a […]
New Counseling Opportunities
Beginning January 1st, 2023, LEA’s are able to bill for individual and group counseling provided by Credentialed School Counselors. California Education Code 49600 has been updated to include provisions for direct services, allowing the role of school counselors in mental and behavioral health. Specifically, it clarifies that school counselors are mental health professionals, A recent […]
Stop double recording your special education services
With the forthcoming CDE Implementation requirements, LEAs are already beginning to have staff document their IEP related service minutes. In some cases, we are hearing that providers are having to double their documentation efforts by entering services into their billing software and again in their special education management system. We are here to tell you […]
Understanding CRCS Results
2022 has been a busy year with CRCS (Cost Reimbursement and Comparison Schedule) submissions. Not only did LEA’s submit their first CRCS Report, post SPA 15-021 adoption, but also re-submitting prior CRCS reports, using new cost and time methodologies. Before we begin, here is a short refresher on what the CRCS process is. CRCS is […]
Documentation protects your LEA
We have seen it far too often. News articles about LEA’s having to settle with parents, when promised services are not delivered in accordance with the student special education plan. We all know that the IEP is a legal document and services, support and resources must be provided in accordance with the plan. With current […]
Changing Landscape for School-Based Healthcare
The future of school-based health care is changing. LEA’s should start today in preparing for collaborative health care for students. Practi-Cal has been actively monitoring existing and proposed legislation to provide on-time solutions for our clients. Click the link below to read the story from Foley & Lardner LLP. https://www.foley.com/en/insights/publications/2022/10/calif-transform-behavioral-health-delivery-system