How do children qualify for Medicaid speech, language, and hearing services in the schools?
Medicaid recognizes the importance of school-based speech-language pathology and audiology services although it is a medical assistance program. The federal Medicaid program actually encourages states to use their Medicaid programs to help pay for certain health care services delivered in the schools if federal regulations are followed. Section 1903 (c) of the Social Security Act was amended in 1988 to allow Medicaid coverage of health-related services provided to children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Part B of IDEA allows children with disabilities to receive special education and related services, such as speech-language pathology, when they are recommended in the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). CMS authorizes Medicaid reimbursement for some or all of the costs of health-related services provided under IDEA when the services are (1) provided to Medicaid-eligible children, 2) medically necessary, 3) delivered and claimed in accordance w
