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CMS Guidance: State Medicaid Telemedicine Coverage and Reimbursement

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Created: Monday, 06 April 2015 10:05

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published guidance online for states that opt to cover telemedicine services. Noting that “Telemedicine is viewed as a cost-effective alternative to the more traditional face-to-face way of providing medical care (e.g., face-to-face consultations or examinations between provider and patient),” the federal agency advises that a separate Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) is not required if states “decide to reimburse for telemedicine services the same way/amount that they pay for face-to-face services/visits/consultations.”

For full details visit http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Delivery-Systems/Telemedicine.html.

Federal Policy Guidance Released on Free Care

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Created: Tuesday, 16 December 2014 13:58

In a December 15, 2014 letter to State Medicaid Directors, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance regarding “free care”. This topic appears in a number of previous CMS guidance documents, including: “1997 Medicaid and School Health: A Technical Assistance Guide,” and “2003 Medicaid School-Based Administrative Claiming Guide.” The 12/15/14 letter provides clarification on “free care” in light of 2004 Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) Decision Number 1924.  

NAME hopes to continue providing you information on this topic, as we reach out to our federal partners at CMS.

Click here to review the State Medicaid Directors Letter #14-006

In the Public Eye: School-based Services, Student Health and Academic Success

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Created: Wednesday, 10 December 2014 10:05

The American Public Health Association and its Center for School, Health and Education website highlights the role of school-based health services in helping to prevent school dropout and improve graduation rates.  In another publication demonstrating the inextricable link between health and academic success, the Center for Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University argues the cost effectiveness of public investments to reduce debilitating chronic conditions, save tax dollars and boost economic productivity.  And, in recognition that school dropout poses a major threat to public health, the Healthy People 2020 goals include an indicator related to educational achievement for the first time.

USED and US Department of Justice Issue Guidance on Communication Rights of Students with Certain Disabilities

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Created: Monday, 01 December 2014 12:38

On November 12, 2014, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, together with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, issued joint guidance that explain that public elementary and secondary students with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities have civil rights to receive effective communication. The guidance is in the form of a letter to educators (available in Spanish) with an attached Frequently Asked Questions document, and is intended to help schools understand and comply with federal legal requirements on meeting the communication needs of students with disabilities. They also released a fact sheet on the guidance for parents (available in Spanish).
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