Medicaid and Special Education: Coordination of Services for Children with211 Disabilities Is Evolving

摘要

Medicaid and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) interact211u001edifferently at the federal, state, and local levels, and the extent and nature of 211u001ecoordination continue to evolve. Federal efforts focus on helping states access 211u001efunding sources such as Medicaid and working to develop clear and consistent 211u001eguidance to help educational entities appropriately claim Medicaid funding for 211u001eIDEA-related medical services. While charged with ensuring that Medicaid-eligible 211u001eindividuals have access to and receive covered services, Health Care Financing 211u001eAdministration (HCFA) must also safeguard Medicaid against improper claims. 211u001eInteragency agreements are generally used to assign roles and responsibilities to 211u001eparticipating agencies, while agency liaisons typically serve as resources for 211u001eschool districts coordination efforts Local interactions between Medicaid and 211u001eIDEA are affected by a variety of factors, including the commitment of individual 211u001eschool districts to seek Medicaid reimbursement, as well as specific 211u001echaracteristics and concerns of local communities.