Medicaid Funding for School-Based Services

New Mexico schools provide a variety of health-related services to students with disabilities. State Medicaid programs have the authority through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Initiative to reimburse schools for these expenses provided to Medicaid eligible children as part of their IEPs or IFSPs. Southwest REC works with school districts that provide services to children by maximizing Medicaid reimbursement for services provided to eligible students. We also assist our districts with regulatory compliance of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Federal Medicaid reimbursements provide the funding for the health related services provided by our member districts to students within the special education system. Some of these services include the following:

  • School social workers
  • Case management
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Speech language therapy
  • Personnel development and training for healthcare providers
  • Health-related equipment and materials
  • Mental health/psychologist services