Southeast Area Cooperative provides Medicaid billing services to area schools. Speech, occupational and physical therapy services, as well as nursing services and psychological evaluations, are billed for Medicaid eligible students. Medicaid funds are reimbursed to each individual school.
FREE MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), expands the State Medicaid program to specifically serve low-income uninsured children. CHIP provides FREE medical coverage for children under age 19. Examples of medical payments include: physician, hospital, dental, nursing care, home health care, family planning, clinic, rehabilitation hospital, prescription drugs, and certain diagnostic services, as well as certain Special Education Services provided by school districts.
WHAT IS CHIP?
The purpose of CHIP/Medicaid is to assure the availability of quality medical care, including certain special education costs, to families who meet income eligibility and have no medical insurance. The program is financed jointly by state and federal government and is run by the South Dakota Department of Social Services.
BENEFITS TO FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS
School districts are required to provide special education services to all eligible children. However, in an effort to maintain the highest quality of special education services to all eligible children and their families, the districts are now seeking assistance in accessing funds for certain special education costs. The benefits for eligible children and their families are two-fold. First, the costs of most medical services for your child will be paid for by CHIP/Medicaid. Second, the school districts now have available a funding source to help defray the cost of special education services provided at the local level.
WHAT SCHOOL SERVICES ARE COVERED?
The South Dakota Medicaid/CHIP program provides coverage of services in School Districts for the following special education related services when they are provided by properly licensed or certified professionals: Psychological services, physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, speech therapy services, audiological services, and nursing services. These services are provided as part of an evaluation or an individual education program (IEP/IFSP) or 504 plan.
WHAT WILL IT COST ME?
Special education services are provided to the parent at no cost. With your voluntary approval by signing the form on the reverse side, the school district will be allowed to file for CHIP/Medicaid reimbursement at no cost to you, and you will not lose any CHIP/Medicaid benefits. The funds received from Medicaid will be used by your School District to enhance Special Education services.
HOW DO I BECOME ELIGIBLE?
An application is available through your local Department of Social Services office. If you are unable to determine the location of your county office, you can call 1-800-305-3064 or go to http://dss.sd.gov/medicaleligibility/ for more information. Your local Social Services will be able to provide income guidelines