District staff told the Elizabeth School District Board on Nov. 11 that the district has joined a fee-for-service Medicaid program to recoup school-based health-care costs and to fund health-related services and equipment.

The district’s presenter said the program allows the district to bill Medicaid for services such as speech-language therapy, occupational therapy and mental-health supports. "It's a onetime consent form, and we have about 35%, almost 36% that had returned them," the presenter said, describing family response to the consent request.

Staff said the district will prepare a local services plan that outlines how it would spend reimbursements. Officials estimated roughly $81,000 in reimbursements in the plan’s first year, and said those funds could be used for salaries, new medical or screening equipment (the presenter cited a vision screener that costs about $6,000) and training.

The district said the reimbursement process includes a random-moment-time-study for service providers and quarterly financial reporting; a minimum response rate is required to remain eligible. Staff noted the district was at a 100% response rate for the random-moment surveys while the program requires an 85% response rate to maintain eligibility.

Staff stressed the parental consent element. "The parents do have to sign a consent form that Medicare can share... that student is eligible," the grants lead said, adding that families who decline can be asked again in future years. Staff said signing does not change families’ Medicaid benefits.

Board members asked about strings attached to grants and reporting burdens. Staff replied that much of the program’s administrative work focuses on financial and program reporting—and that suggested templates or questionnaires are optional guidance rather than mandatory requirements.

Next steps: staff said they will draft the local services plan with a wellness committee and return to the board with detailed spending proposals.