Montana Code Annotated 2021

TITLE 20. EDUCATION

CHAPTER 9. FINANCE

Part 2. Administration of Finances

Funding For School-Based Medical Services -- Duties Of Office Of Public Instruction And Department Of Public Health And Human Services -- School-Based Services Account

20-9-240. Funding for school-based medical services -- duties of office of public instruction and department of public health and human services -- school-based services account. (1) The legislature intends that the office of public instruction and department of public health and human services collaborate to facilitate school districts in securing federal reimbursements when a district provides services eligible for reimbursement under medicaid or the children's health insurance program. The legislature further intends that this collaboration minimizes to the greatest extent possible the administrative burden on school districts.

(2) The department of public health and human services shall provide necessary facilitation and technical support to the office of public instruction regarding school-based mental health services and other school-based services that may be eligible for reimbursement under medicaid or the children's health insurance program. The technical support must include:

(a) training to explain the requirements to be eligible for reimbursement under medicaid or the children's health insurance program;

(b) the establishment of provider rates for relevant services that will permit successful service delivery while adhering to the standards of the centers for medicare and medicaid services;

(c) coordination with the centers for medicare and medicaid services to ensure federal reimbursement for eligible services; and

(d) any other facilitation or support required in order to offer successful delivery of school-based mental health services and other school-based services that may be eligible for reimbursement under medicaid or the children's health insurance program while adhering to the standards of the centers for medicare and medicaid services.

(3) The office of public instruction shall provide necessary facilitation and technical support to school districts to secure reimbursement under medicaid or the children's health insurance program for school-based services, including but not limited to school mental health services. The technical support must include:

(a) training to explain the requirements to be eligible for reimbursement under medicaid or the children's health insurance program;

(b) accounting guidance and necessary support to enable districts to track the costs associated with services eligible for reimbursement under medicaid or the children's health insurance program, including any documentation required by the department of public health and human services for audit purposes; and

(c) collaboration with the department of public health and human services in communicating with school districts.

(4) There is school-based services account in the state special revenue fund provided for in 17-2-102. The account may be used by the office of public instruction in coordination with the department of public health and human services to:

(a) receive necessary matching funds from school districts seeking reimbursement under medicaid or the children's health insurance program for school-based services; and

(b) fulfill financial requirements of the centers for medicare and medicaid services for reimbursement.

History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 562, L. 2021.