Transcript Understanding Special Education Funding The School

Understanding
Special Education Funding
The School-Based ACCESS Program
(SBAP)
Presented by:
Federal and State Medicaid
Program
In 1988, Congress enacted legislation to
encourage state and local education agencies
across the nation to access federal Medicaid
reimbursement for health-related services for
disabled children.
PDE launched the SBAP in 1991-92 as an
avenue for schools to receive federal funding
through Medicaid.
Overview
SBAP allows the following school entities to
receive federal Medicaid funds for providing
IEP health-related services to Medical
Assistance (MA) special-education students:
• School Districts
• Intermediate Units
• MAWAs
• Charter Schools
• Approved Private Schools
Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage
54.39%
SBAP is a partnership
LEA
Leader
PDE
Pennsylvania
Department of
Education
Local Education
Agency
Billing
Agent
DPW
Department
of Public
Welfare
Eligible Services
•
•
•
•
•
•
Assistive Devices
Audiology
IEP Development
Nursing (RN & LPN)
Occupational Therapy
Orientation and
Mobility
• Personal Care
Assistant
• Physical Therapy
• Physician
•
•
•
•
•
Psychiatry
Psychology
Social Work
Speech/Language
Teacher of Hearing
Impaired
• Special
Transportation
• Vision (limited)
SBAP Reimbursement Totals
In the 2003-2004 school year, LEAs received:
$70 million
In the 2004-2005 school year, LEAs received:
$90 million
In the 2005-2006 school year, LEAs received:
$110 million
Reimbursement Rate Factors
The amount of reimbursement generated can
vary greatly based on:
• Special education population
• MA population
• Health-related services provided by
LEA and contracted staff
• Number of qualified providers
• Level of program oversight
Requirements for Success
• Oversight by someone who will ensure the
program’s integrity:
 Track service provider billings
 Timely claims submissions to Leader
 Perform self-audits
 Monitor students for MA eligibility
 Outreach to families not enrolled in MA
 Give service providers positive feedback
What’s My Role in SBAP?
1. Determine which service providers are
eligible to participate in SBAP.
a. Salaries for service providers or
contracted providers must be partially
or fully funded by state and/or local
dollars.
b. Providers must meet SBAP credential
requirements.
What’s My Role in
SBAP?
2. Complete the Cost Calculation Worksheet
What’s My Role in
SBAP?
3. Review your account balance monthly
provided by Leader.
What’s My Role in
SBAP?
4. Review guidelines for allowable
expenditures prior to applying for funds
withdrawal.
What’s My Role in
SBAP?
5. Apply for funds withdrawal at
least bi-annually (for actual or
projected expenses) using
either:
a. A PDE 352 Form (school-age
withdrawal)
b. A PDE 352M Form (EI withdrawal)
Submit LEA cover letter describing the
programs, services, or products to be acquired.
Do not send copies of purchase orders.
What’s My Role in SBAP?
PDE 352 Form
(for school-age
withdrawals)
All requests must be
for a minimum of
$1,000.
How Funds Have Been Spent
SBAP funds have been used by LEAs for:
• Assistive devices to help disabled
children function to their full capacity in
both the home and classroom settings.
• Hiring additional special education staff.
How Funds Have Been Spent
• Purchasing small buses to transport
students with special needs.
• Updating special education classrooms
with new computers and printers.
• Funding field trips for special education
students.
• Making capital improvements (require prior
approval).
SBAP Funds Flow
It helps to understand how the SBAP funds
flow in this process:
• LEA submits SBAP transactions to
Leader.
• Leader processes transactions nightly
and submits weekly MA claims file to
DPW.
• PDE Comptroller’s Office receives
check from DPW.
SBAP Funds Flow
• PDE posts payment to LEA’s restricted
account.
• LEA submits funds request to PDE by
completing Withdrawal Form.
• Upon approval, PDE transfers funds to the
LEA’s account.
• Monthly, Leader reconciles that correct fund
amounts were transferred to the correct LEA.
• On average, reimbursement funds are
disbursed within 8 weeks from time of request.
New Challenges facing
LEAs...
Federal audits of states have prompted:
• Medicaid cutbacks targeting schoolbased programs
• Costing methodologies that would
considerably decrease amount of
reimbursement
New Challenges...continued
Federal OSEP regulations...
• Require states to obtain written parental
consent prior to billing Medicaid
State audits have prompted...
• More stringent and detailed
documentation
Service Offerings
As the statewide SBAP vendor, Leader
provides the following services:
• Web sites to record service provider logs
and/or service billing data
• Call center (800 number)
• Phone and teleconferencing
• On-site and regional trainings
• Custom-report generation
• Program analysis
Contact Information
Your SBAP Account Manager
Phone:
(800) 360-8511
E-mail:
[email protected]
Your SBAP Liaison
Name:
Roni Russell
E-mail:
[email protected]
Please e-mail us your comments at:
[email protected]