[ad_1]
The announcement will especially affect the tens of millions of children who get their health care through Medicaid, but all school-age children will benefit from the change because the new guidance makes clear that schools can use Medicaid dollars to hire more school counselors, nurses and social workers. Staff who can treat all students. More than half of children in public schools receive health care through the Medicaid and CHIP programs.
While the guidelines address both physical and mental health, the Biden administration has emphasized how much this will help children’s mental health.
“We certainly have a mental health crisis in our nation, especially with our nation’s children. And the guidance we’re releasing today encourages states to try to expand access to children’s mental health services,” the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid said. Services (CMS) manager Chiquita Brooks-Lasure told CNN. “As part of that, we’re reminding states of their obligation to cover mental health services. And we’re encouraging states to work with schools to make sure kids get those services.”
The guidance first explains a policy change issued by the Obama administration in 2014 that told schools that Medicaid would pay for any type of health care enrolled in the program. Before that policy change, schools could only bill Medicaid for children enrolled in special education programs. Some states had to apply to the federal government to expand medical services to all children covered by Medicaid, but only 16 states did.
The guidance issued Thursday should encourage other states to expand such health services in schools and increase mental health services for children in general.
“From our point of view, it’s making sure that schools can get funding through the Medicaid program to provide mental health services and other services to kids,” Brooks-Lasure said.
This new approach means schools are guaranteed payment for staff who provide medical and mental health services. This means more children need to get better preventive care, such as psychological evaluations, immunizations, counseling and screening services that ensure the child can see and hear. The money can be used to help a child manage their medications or take better care of your asthma.
Prior to this new policy, some schools were reluctant to provide these services because they were concerned about not being reimbursed by Medicaid and paying the money out of school budgets, experts say. Few schools could afford it.
“I think this raises a lot of questions and concerns and issues,” said Rochelle Davis, president and CEO of the Healthy Schools Campaign. Works with schools to ensure that all children have access to a healthy school environment.
Currently, students can get some health care through schools, Davis said, but it’s often paid for by the district or charities.
“It’s not sustainable and doesn’t allow for the comprehensive and coordinated care that’s needed,” Davis said. “This allows schools to keep the staff in school and build a sustainable and comprehensive program.”
“Expanded Medicaid funding for school health services is good for students,” Davis added.
Today’s guidance also clarifies for states that they cannot impose restrictions on mental health services for children. For example, states cannot deny mental health services to children on Medicaid who do not yet have an official mental health diagnosis. Currently, unless a child receives a specific diagnosis, accessing child mental health services, such as therapy or prescription medication, can be challenging, experts say.
“If I’m working with a young child, it may take a while to determine what the diagnosis is. I want to support that child and I don’t want to wait for something to come up, but there’s an administrative. There’s a hurdle there,” said the American Council on Pediatrics’ chair on healthy mental and emotional development. “This is a wonderful first step,” said Dr. Marian F. Earls, a pediatrician who serves as the chair.
Earls has seen what removing those administrative barriers can do in her own state of North Carolina. She worked closely with the state’s Medicaid director to remove the same administrative hurdle and immediately improved child care.
“It was huge, it was huge,” Earls said. “And actually in my state,[children’s]practices have allowed them to start integrating a mental health professional into their practice.” Having a mental health care professional on staff allowed the practice to care for the child’s physical and mental health.
“It really facilitates early detection and support,” Earls said. Proactively addressing mental health issues keeps kids out of the emergency room in times of crisis.
Davis believes the Biden administration’s announcement today can make a big difference in improving the physical and mental health of this generation of students.
“I think it’s going to make a difference,” she added. “And the bottom line is, this is good for students. It’s good for schools, and it’s good for the public because it’s using federal resources more efficiently.”
[ad_2]
Source link
