Medicaid School Services Program

Since 1993, Michigan Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) have participated in a federal and state funded Medicaid reimbursement program.  The School Services Program’s (SSP) sole purpose is to assure students receive needed health care (medical, emotional, and transportation related) services at school.  The School Services Program accomplishes this goal by participating in three service and reimbursement programs for students up to the age of 21. 

Medicaid funds for this program come from a special source for schools, and DO NOT affect the family's Medicaid insurance benefits, and are at NO COST to the family.  Parent consent is needed to access the funds. This consent simply seeks permission to claim funds reserved by the state to help school provide the services listed on an IEP or IFSP.

Reimbursement Program Components

Administrative Outreach Program (AOP)

• The AOP segment of the program assists school districts by providing partial reimbursement for the administrative costs used to identify and help students who are considered “at risk” for various health problems.  The program accomplishes the goal by tracking the time school personnel spend on outreach activities and by factoring the district’s expense for staff providing these services.

Caring 4 Students (C4S)

• The C4S segment of the program assists school districts by providing partial reimbursement for the cost of expanding and enhancing emotional and medical services to Medicaid eligible students with services provided through a Plan of Care.

Direct Service Claiming (DSC)

• The DSC segment of the program assists school districts with the cost of providing health related (medical, emotional, and transportation related) services to Medicaid eligible students with special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 
• The DSC medical staff portion of the program generates revenue by tracking the services and time Medicaid-qualified school personnel spend on Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) prescribed health related services, and by factoring the district’s expense for staff providing them. 

How can I help assure my school district receives benefits from the School-based Service program?

School districts have been participating in the Medicaid School-based Services program since 1993, but recently Federal regulations changed to require the parent/guardian:

• To be fully informed about the School-based Services program
• To provide consent to release school records containing the student’s information to Michigan Medicaid and billing agencies for the purpose of participating in the School-based Services program
• To understand that consent is voluntary and can be revoked

You can help by providing your written consent which allows your school district to continue to participate in the School-based Services program. In the times of reduced state funding for schools, all reimbursements are extremely important.