Review of Colorado Direct Medical Service and Specialized Transportation Costs for the Medicaid School Health Services Program for State Fiscal Year 2008.

摘要

Pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act (the Act), the Medicaid program provides medical assistance to low-income individuals and individuals with disabilities. The Federal and State Governments jointly fund and administer the Medicaid program. At the Federal level, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the program. Each State administers its Medicaid program in accordance with a CMS-approved State plan. Although the State has considerable flexibility in designing and operating its Medicaid program, it must comply with applicable Federal requirements. Congress amended section 1903(c) of the Act in 1988 to allow Medicaid coverage of health-related services provided to children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The school health program permits children to receive health-related services through each childs individualized education plan, generally without having to leave school. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, P.L. No. 111-5 (Recovery Act), enacted February 17, 2009, provides, among other initiatives, fiscal relief to States to protect and maintain State Medicaid programs in a period of economic downturn. These provisions include temporary increases in States Federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP). The Federal Government pays its share of a States medical assistance expenditures under Medicaid based on the FMAP, which varies depending on that States relative per capita income. Medicaid allows the use of funds from units of government within the State to fund a portion of the States share of Medicaid expenditures. States may use funds that have been certified by units of government within the State as representing Medicaid expenditures for the State share. These funds are referred to as certified public expenditures (CPE).