Medicaid is a leading source of financing for school mental health services and programs.  As Medicaid policies change, there may be greater opportunities for mental health providers to bill Medicaid for more services in schools.  In this two-part webinar event, Dr. Adam Wilk (SE MHTTC Policy Lead) will describe key policies that govern Medicaid funding for school mental health services, and how they can be changed to increase school mental health funding.  He will provide examples of states that have pursued specific reforms, and he will also highlight important resources that can help school mental health leaders to identify what steps may be most appropriate to take in their home state.  This series is designed for school mental health leaders who are interested in learning 1) about the fundamentals of Medicaid financing of school mental health services and 2) about options for changing Medicaid policy to better support school mental health systems and services.

In this session (Part I) we will focus on policies related to who is eligible for Medicaid coverage and what services Medicaid covers.

In Part II on Dec. 13 will focus on policies concerning which providers can bill Medicaid for services and whether Medicaid can be billed for services provided in school settings.

Learning Objectives:

1. Specify when Medicaid can be billed for school mental health services.
2. Discuss how Medicaid policies affect who may be eligible for coverage under Medicaid and what services may be covered by Medicaid.
3. Describe and distinguish the two main pathways for reforming state Medicaid eligibility and service coverage policies in support of school mental health.