Public schools provide an opportunity to address health inequities that many communities face. Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) provides support to schools around the country by developing policy and program recommendations that work towards healthy schools. A key component supporting their efforts is their program Health Schools, Promising Futures Learning Collaborative (HSPF). HSPF provides ways to engage state and local leaders and educators in collaborating on solutions, including regular collaborative meetings, where educators can talk in larger groups as well as break off to discuss specific school health issues they may be dealing with in their communities.

PCG has been a partner to the Healthy Schools Campaign and Healthy Schools, Promising Futures Learning Collaborative since 2017, working with them to provide guidance on school-based services to members. As the Campaign has grown, PCG works with their team to collaborate and share information with states, supporting the sharing of knowledge and information. PCG supported HSPF to build on their subject matter expertise to better serve communities by sharing experience and expertise about Medicaid school-based services.

Before December 2014, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had what they referred to as their “Free Care Rule,” which limited reimbursement for medical services in schools to only those students with IEPs and IFSPs. This policy has since changed to include a wider population of students and PCG has helped numerous states expand their programs to fully utilize this program. “Working with states across the country to expand their programs following the ‘free care’ reversal and coordinating with organizations like Healthy Schools Campaign to share information as part of that effort, has provided states and schools districts with opportunities for sustainable solutions in meeting the needs of all their student populations.” Melinda Hollinshead, Education Director, explains. “HSC and the Learning Collaborative have been instrumental in providing states and school districts with an avenue for collaboration and information sharing and PCG has been excited to participate in that knowledge sharing.”

In addition to supporting Healthy School Campaign’s national work, PCG is involved in their work in Illinois, supporting the state in expanding the School-Based Medicaid Program to allow school districts to receive reimbursement for services they provide to Medicaid enrolled students. This covers eligible students that have medical necessity established in a manner other than an IEP or IFSP.  PCG has continued to partner with Illinois to expand the program, helping draft methodology and obtain CMS approval for the expanded scope. Since 2022, the program expansion has generated more than $64M in additional reimbursement to date.

Healthy Schools Campaign is a well-known and trusted organization in the school-health space. The introduction of Healthy Schools, Promising Futures Learning Collaborative came at a key time for school-based Medicaid. HSC and HSPF have built strong relationships with national level organizations and agencies like CMS and can bring them to the table with local leaders working in schools. PCG is proud to have played a part in the development and growth of HSPF and continues to value this partnership.

To learn more about how PCG works with education partners, click here.