Past Events | Medicaid

Virtual Meeting: Introduction to the Readiness Checklist: A Comprehensive Tool to Assist with School-Based Services State Plan Amendment Submission and Compliance

During this virtual meeting on June 13, 2024, State Medicaid Agencies (SMAs) were introduced to the School-Based Services (SBS) Readiness Checklist.

The SBS Readiness Checklist can help states with five tasks—

Drafting a Medicaid State Plan amendment (SPA) to expand the scope of the population and services covered by the school Medicaid program, e.g., to include 504 and general education populations and behavioral health services in addition to IEP students and services.
Adopting certain flexibilities, such as expanding Medicaid-eligible providers lists to include education-credentialed providers, modifying the methodology used to provide interim payments to school-based providers, or creating exceptions to third-party liability requirements for “never-covered services,” among others listed in the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Informational Bulletin and Comprehensive Guide.
Assessing whether the current Medicaid State Plan meets CMS requirements for the State’s payment methodology, SBS populations, and services; and drafting a SPA if needed.
Preparing additional documents, such as a Time Study Implementation Plan and Interagency Agreements for Medicaid Administrative Claiming or assessing whether the State’s current versions of these documents meet CMS requirements.
Discussing plans for SBS with CMS and across State agencies, including the SMA and SEA finance, policy, and managed care staff.

The virtual meeting provided an overview of the tool, a live demonstration of how the tool can be used, and a discussion with a State that helped to pilot the resource. By the end of this event, participants will have a better understanding of how they can use this tool in their State.

The release of the SBS Readiness Checklist coincides with the one-year anniversary of the SBS Technical Assistance Center and the two-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Please direct any questions related to the virtual meeting or guidance to the SBS mailbox at SchoolBasedServices@cms.hhs.gov.

Downloads

Introduction to the Readiness Checklist Virtual Meeting Recording
Introduction to the Readiness Checklist Virtual Meeting Slides

Webinar: The Intersection of Medicaid Managed Care and School-Based Services

This webinar on May 23, 2024, explored how State Medicaid Agencies (SMAs) can work with their managed care plans (MCPs) to improve access to and quality of school-based services. The webinar explain how MCPs and local education authorities (LEAs) can partner to ensure delivery of high-quality SBS to children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP and described how these partnerships can benefit MCPs, LEAs, and SMAs. The role of the SMA in helping to establish contractual language that promotes collaboration between MCPs and LEAs were also discussed. Finally, the webinar included a panel discussion from States that have embarked on this work and who will discuss facilitators, barriers, and lessons learned.

A recording of the webinar, presentation slides, and summary handout are available below. Please direct any questions related to the webinar or guidance to the SBS mailbox at SchoolBasedServices@cms.hhs.gov.

Downloads

The Intersection of Medicaid Managed Care and School-Based Services Webinar Recording
The Intersection of Medicaid Managed Care and School-Based Services Webinar Slides
The Intersection of Medicaid Managed Care and School-Based Services Summary Handout

Webinar: Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders

This webinar on May 9, 2024, hosted alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provided State Medicaid agencies (SMAs), State education agencies (SEAs), local education agencies (LEAs), and other stakeholders an introduction to the CDC’s Mental Health Action Guide, described the key strategies for promoting mental health and well-being in school, and considered promising practices and tools available to assist with the implementation of these strategies. The webinar included a panel discussion with the presenter from CDC, as well as a guest discussant from Connecticut who spoke about their efforts to support mental health practices in schools and the community.

Downloads

Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders Webinar Recording
Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders Webinar Slides
Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders

Webinar: Provider Billing for Mental Health Services within Medicaid School-Based Services

This webinar on April 25, 2024, provided State Medicaid agencies (SMAs) and State education agencies (SEAs) with an overview of provider considerations and best practices for Medicaid billing for Comprehensive School Mental Health. It included an overview of Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems, federal funding sources available to promote mental health, and how SMAs and SEAs can support LEA-level billing for mental health services. Finally, panelists from Colorado, Michigan, and Minnesota spoke about their States’ efforts to support behavioral health services in schools.

A recording of the webinar and presentation slides are available below. Please direct any questions related to the meeting or guidance to the SBS mailbox at SchoolBasedServices@cms.hhs.gov.

Downloads

Provider Billing for Mental Health Within Medicaid SBS Webinar Recording
Provider Billing for Mental Health Within Medicaid SBS Webinar Slides

Virtual Meeting: Fostering Program Integrity for School-Based Services – How SMAs Can Help LEAs with Compliance

During this Virtual Meeting on February 15, 2024, State Medicaid agencies (SMAs) and State education agencies (SEAs) had an opportunity to learn about program integrity in a school-based services (SBS) context, including local education agency (LEA) Random Moment Time Study participation and service documentation compliance.

The session featured background information about key facets of program integrity and offered a framework for mitigating common risks for noncompliance in school-based services. Additionally, the session highlighted opportunities for linking increased compliance with better quality of care. State- and local-level panelists from Michigan discussed key challenges and successes and offered ideas for how SMAs, SEAs, and LEAs can work together to support program integrity for SBS.

A recording of the virtual meeting and presentation slides are available below. Please direct any questions related to the meeting or guidance to the SBS mailbox at SchoolBasedServices@cms.hhs.gov.

Downloads

Fostering Program Integrity for SBS Virtual Meeting Recording
Fostering Program Integrity for SBS Virtual Meeting Slides

Webinar: Primer for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) on Medicaid School-Based Services

In this webinar, held on January 25, 2024, LEAs were provided with a high-level overview of the work that State Medicaid agencies (SMAs) and State education agencies (SEAs) may engage in to expand Medicaid School-Based Services (SBS). Recommendations for ways that LEAs can benefit from State support were offered and direct care service provision considerations were discussed. The webinar also included a panel discussion with speakers from various New Mexico LEAs. This presentation covered:

Ways LEAs can engage in State work to expand Medicaid SBS
Resources and solutions to support Medicaid SBS expansion

A recording of the webinar, presentation slides, and summary handout are available below. Please direct any questions related to the meeting or guidance to the SBS mailbox at SchoolBasedServices@cms.hhs.gov.

Downloads

Primer for LEAs on Medicaid SBS Webinar Recording
Primer for LEAs on Medicaid SBS Webinar Slides
Primer for LEAs on Medicaid SBS Summary Handout

Virtual Meeting: Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems

On November 15th, 2023, the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) provided an overview of comprehensive school mental health systems (CSMHSs). CSMHSs provide a full array of tiered supports and services that promote a positive school climate, social and emotional learning, and mental health and well-being, while reducing the prevalence and severity of mental illness and substance use. CSMHSs are built on a strong foundation of district and school professionals, including administrators and educators, specialized instructional support personnel, in strategic collaboration with students, families, and community health and mental health partners. Attendees learned about these systems, best practices, and key resources. The session also featured a panel of speakers from Massachusetts, who discussed their efforts to leverage Medicaid to support student mental health.

Downloads

Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems Virtual Meeting Recording
Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems Virtual Meeting Slides
Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems Virtual Meeting Handout

Webinar: Understanding Rate Setting and Cost-Based Interim Payment Methodologies for Direct School-Based Services (SBS)

This webinar, held on November 14th, 2023, provided an overview of payment methodologies for Medicaid School-Based-Services (SBS). The Technical Assistance Center (TAC) reviewed options for cost- and rate-based reimbursement and presented considerations in implementing payment methodology and rate setting. The webinar also included a panel discussion with speakers from Colorado’s State Medicaid agency. This presentation covered:

General process for paying for SBS through Medicaid
Key considerations and action steps for developing payment methodologies
Specific considerations for states using rate- or cost-based methodologies
Best practices and lessons learned from States that have embarked on offering expanded SBS in addition to IEP services

Downloads

Understanding Rate Setting and Cost-Based Interim Payment Methodologies for SBS Webinar Recording
Understanding Rate Setting and Cost-Based Interim Payment Methodologies for SBS Webinar Slides
Understanding Rate Setting and Cost-Based Interim Payment Methodologies Webinar Handout

Webinar: Medicaid Coverable and Administrative Services for Medicaid School-Based Services (SBS)

This webinar, held on October 19, 2023, provided an overview of Medicaid coverable and administrative services and the options for billing for Medicaid School-Based-Services (SBS). A summary of the new Medicaid SBS flexibilities, released in the Delivering Services in School Based Settings: A Comprehensive Guide to Medicaid Services and Administrative Claiming 2023, related to billing and service provision was highlighted. This presentation covered:

Context by which decisions to enhance Medicaid SBS should be considered.
Identified the types of direct and administrative services that can support Medicaid SBS.
Described the components of a state’s administrative and direct services claiming guide to help inform LEA billing.

Downloads

Medicaid Coverable and Administrative Services for SBS Webinar Recording
Medicaid Coverable and Administrative Services for SBS Webinar Slides
Medicaid Coverable and Administrative Services Handout

Webinar: Getting Started with Medicaid School-Based Services (SBS)

This webinar, held on September 28, 2023, provided a high-level overview of the general content for State Medicaid agencies (SMAs), State education agencies (SEAs), and local education agencies (LEAs) regarding how States can start or promote their current work on expanding Medicaid School-Based Services (SBS). Recommendations for implementation of expansion action items and strategies were also offered. The presentation covered:

Details regarding pre-implementation and expansion planning, including stakeholder identification, program goals (Medicaid and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act legal requirements), expectations, and evaluation process.
Recommendations for level-setting to inform all key State stakeholders of the State’s implementation or evolving plans for Medicaid SBS.
Suggestions for meeting topics and considerations to outline the purpose of team meetings.

Downloads

Getting Started with Medicaid SBS Webinar Recording
Getting Started with Medicaid SBS Webinar Slides
Getting Started with Medicaid SBS Summary Handout