Stakeholder’s Guide to Implementing the Change in the Free Care Policy

The change in the free care policy presents an
important opportunity to increase access to and
resources for school health services. While the
December 2014 State Medicaid Director letter
clarified that school health services delivered to the
general student population, not just those included
in student Individualized Education Programs (IEPs),
are reimbursable by Medicaid, action is required
from states and school districts to implement this
change. The following framework highlights key
steps advocates can take to develop and implement a
plan for leveraging the change in the free care policy
to support increased access to comprehensive and
coordinated school health services.