Our 2012 policy priorities are state and federal objectives that would make ambitious and meaningful improvements in school health and SBHC sustainability–but they are also realistic, taking into account the challenges of our economic and political environment. For example, while one of CSHC’s long-term goals is to secure state funding for SBHCs, we do not believe this is an actionable goal for 2012, given California’s budget deficit.
Health Policy
Goals
- Strengthen prevention in all health services for children and youth.
- Preserve confidential care for teens.
- Provide children and youth options for accessing care at school to maximize access as part of a health home.
- Ensure that school-based providers are reimbursed when providing services to clients covered by public programs.
- Maximize the potential for schools to serve as points of outreach and enrollment into coverage.
- Expand opportunities to deliver oral health and mental health services in schools.
Policy Targets/Opportunities
- CHDP and the Gateway. Preserve the CHDP Gateway to ensure the broadest possible access to preventive care for children. Improve CHDP by covering annual preventive exams through age 21 as specified in the Bright Futures guidelines that the ACA requires all plans to adopt.
- EPSDT. Ensure continued access to EPSDT services under realignment.
- Family PACT. Preserve Family PACT to ensure adolescents’ access to confidential services through a broad range of providers (including SBHCs) who are able to determine eligibility and enroll patients at point-of-service regardless of insurance status.
- Health Plan Reimbursement. Strengthen requirement for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families plans to enter into cooperative agreements with schools to reimburse for CHDP services.
- Medical/Health Home. Incorporate SBHCs into the coordinated, patient-centered medical home model for children.
- California Health Benefits Exchange. Include SBHCs as essential providers in the Exchange and in the Exchange Navigator program.
- Prevention. Provide requirements or incentives for Exchange plans to maximize preventive services for children, particularly in the area of obesity prevention.
Education Policy
Goals
- Remove barriers and create incentives for schools to expand health services, including via community partnerships.
- Foster active, strategic state level leadership on school health services.
- Maximize existing/potential state and federal funding sources.
- Promote the use of data to show need and impact, as well as to document service provision.
Policy Targets/Opportunities
- CDE’s Blueprint for Great Schools. Partner with non-governmental groups to realize the recommendations outlined in the education supports and health, nutrition, and physical activity sections. This may include addressing both facilities and liability challenges that arise in the development of new SBHCs.
- SCR 18 and the California Healthy Kids Survey. Build upon the Legislature’s stated commitment to the California SCHLS surveys by continuing to fund data collection through the annual CHKS.
- Existing CDE Programs. Explore ways of increasing funding for school health services through current programs, including the Student Mental Health Initiative and the Safe and Supportive Schools program.
- School Medicaid Programs. Support school district participation in LEA Billing and Medicaid Administrative Activities, both of which fund school health services. Advocate for elimination of federal “Free Care Rule,” which has the effect of limiting LEA Billing to services for students in special education.
- ESEA Reauthorization. Advocate for the inclusion of dedicated funding for school health services and SBHCs as part of the reauthorization of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
