For Immediate Release
Contact: Tara Kennon, 312-419-1810
tara@healthyschoolscampaign.org

Healthy Schools Campaign Opposes Proposed Cuts
to Medicaid Reimbursement for Schools
Regulations would strain school budgets, jeopardize student health and academic opportunity

Chicago, Feb. 26, 2007 -- The Healthy Schools Campaign today joined groups around the nation in opposing President Bush’s proposed regulations limiting Medicaid reimbursement to schools for medical and health-related services that the poorest of the nation's 7 million school children with disabilities need in order to attend school.

“School districts should not be treated differently than health clinics or other agencies -- they should be guaranteed reimbursement for Medicaid-eligible services they provide to students with special needs,” said Rochelle Davis, founding executive director of the Healthy Schools Campaign, an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to healthy school environments.

The president’s regulatory proposal would put additional strain on school district budgets by cutting $3.6 billion over five years for federally mandated services such as speech therapy and physical therapy for Medicaid-eligible students. The proposed cuts represent a significant loss to school district funding for special education services but a savings of only slightly more than 1 percent to the $350 billion Medicaid budget.

School administrators say that the proposed regulations would force school districts -- many of which are already struggling financially -- to cut other programs in order to pay for these essential services to students with disabilities.

“School leaders already make difficult decisions about how to allocate limited funding in a way that provides academic services in safe, healthy schools,” said Davis. “The budgets simply cannot be stretched any further without jeopardizing student health or academic opportunity.”

Legislation developed in response to the president’s proposed cuts has been introduced by bi-partisan coalitions in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate bill, S.578, was introduced by Senators Kennedy (D-MA) and Smith (R-OR); the House bill, HR.1077, was introduced by Representatives Dingell (D-MI), Miller (D-CA) and Whitfield (R-KY). This legislation, called the Protecting Children’s Health in School Act, offers the promise of safeguarding schools’ reimbursement for Medicaid-eligible services.

“We have a responsibility to protect Medicaid reimbursement for the critical services schools provide to children with disabilities,” added Davis, “so that they can learn in a safe, healthy environment with the services they need.”

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The Healthy Schools Campaign, an independent not-for-profit organization, is the leading authority on healthy school environments and a voice for people who care about our environment, our children, and education. Our mission is to advocate for policies and model programs that allow students and staff members to learn and work in a healthy school environment.