New Medicaid Notification Rule Worries Some Special Educators

A change in Medicaid reimbursement policy has prompted concern from some special education officials who see it as potentially burdensome, but a federal official says the intent is to protect parental privacy rights, not to create more paperwork.

Medicaid, the nation’s health- insurance program for the poor, reimburses school districts for health services they provide to students with disabilities whose families are enrolled in Medicaid. Those services are primarily speech, physical, and occupational therapy.

The recently released final regulations for the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act say that “each time” a district asks for reimbursement from Medicaid,...