An Act to amend 49.45 (39) (b) 1. and 49.45 (39) (b) 2. of the statutes; Relating to: payment for school medical services. (FE)
Summary
SB349 would increase the state reimbursement rate for school medical services provided by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies (CESAs), and, through the Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Under current law, the Department of Health Services (DHS) reimburses 60% of the federal share of allowable charges for these services; the bill raises that reimbursement to 100% of the federal share.
The bill also raises reimbursement for allowable administrative costs associated with those services from 90% of the federal share to 100% of the federal share. It preserves existing provisions allowing claims for common carrier transportation costs as a school medical service, subject to federal policy, and keeps the requirement that providers comply with federal rules for receiving federal financial participation. The bill is framed as a technical funding change rather than a substantive expansion of which services are covered.
Impact
SB349 would amend Wisconsin Statutes s. 49.45 (39) (b) 1. and 2. to require DHS to pay a larger share of Medicaid-related school medical service costs and administrative costs. The practical effect would be to reduce the state/local share of costs for participating school districts, CESAs, and the specified DPI-administered programs for students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing. Because the bill ties reimbursement to the federal share of allowable costs, it would shift more of the financial burden for these services to DHS and, by extension, state Medicaid funding.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill was generally supportive and noncontroversial in concept, as it was introduced by a broad bipartisan coalition of senators and representatives. The bill’s purpose appears to be to fully fund school medical services and related administrative costs at the federal-share level, which is typically favorable to school districts and special education service providers. However, the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, indicating that despite support at introduction, it did not advance to enactment.
Contention
The main policy issue is fiscal: whether DHS should reimburse 100% rather than 60% or 90% of the federal share for school medical services and administrative costs. Supporters would likely view the change as relieving local school systems and special education programs of unreimbursed costs, while any opposition would likely focus on the increased state expenditure and budget impact. No committee transcript or recorded vote information is provided, so there is no evidence of substantive disagreement over the service categories covered or the mechanics of reimbursement beyond the funding increase.
Requires the executive office of health and human services to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a state plan amendment for reimbursement for health services in a school.
Requires the executive office of health and human services to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a state plan amendment for reimbursement for health services in a school.
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Reaffirming Wisconsin’s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin’s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan’s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan’s international profile.