Resources to Protect School Medicaid & Student Health
November 21, 2025
Healthy Schools Campaign is committed to protecting Medicaid funding that supports children’s health and well-being. Please share the resources below with your networks. This page is regularly updated with new resources (last update: November 2025).
Medicaid funding is essential for school-based health services — and for state and school district budgets overall. In 2024, Medicaid supported approximately $8 billion in school health services.
The 2025 budget reconciliation bill (H.R.1) cuts almost $1 trillion in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade. As states grapple with balancing state budgets, there will be negative ripple effects on student health services, schools and communities. This is how it may look on the ground:
State budget gaps: State budget shortfalls will force school districts to compete for a smaller share of state dollars and force states to cut other parts of K-12 budgets.
District budget gaps: Cuts in Medicaid funding will require districts to divert funds from other educational programs to cover services for students with disabilities mandated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Cost to Communities: With many districts relying on Medicaid reimbursement to cover personnel costs for special education programs, school districts may need to raise property taxes and/or reduce or eliminate programs and services (including non-Medicaid services), to fund school budgets.
The bottom line: With limited available funds, students will experience reduced access to health services, health staffing and critical health supplies.
New Resource:
Protecting School Medicaid in States and School Districts Amid Federal Funding Cuts: An Advocacy Guide — This toolkit, updated in November 2025, includes actions you can take now to urge state leaders to reject Medicaid policies that jeopardize funding for school health services; suggestions for longer-term strategies; and links to school Medicaid policy briefs and other advocacy resources.
Survey of School District Leaders
- How Medicaid Cuts Will Harm Students & Schools presents the findings of a nationwide survey of more than 1,400 school district leaders on the role of school Medicaid and the potential impact of Medicaid cuts on school health services, student resources and district funding. National policy experts and school officials joined Healthy Schools Campaign for a webinar discussing the survey results and future actions.
- Related:
Learn More: How Medicaid Supports Schools and Students
- How Medicaid Supports Student Success – Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) & Georgetown Center for Children and Families (CCF)
- HSC Documents Medicaid Funding Boost for School Health Services – HSC
- Medicaid’s Role in Small Towns and Rural Areas – CCF
- Financial Impact of Expanding School Medicaid Services – HSC
- Connecting Students With School Health Services: Four Models for Providing Care Using Medicaid – HSC
Learn More: School Medicaid Advocacy Resources & Responses
- Children’s Access to Healthcare in Schools: State Strategies to Address Medicaid Cuts – HSC’s recommendations for how states can protect students’ access to care
- Letter to CMS re: School-Based Technical Assistance Center – Medicaid in Schools Coalition: Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC), The School Superintendents Association (AASA), National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
- Protect School Medicaid: Talking Points for Advocates – HSC
- School Medicaid Information Toolkit – AASA
- Medicaid: What to Watch in 2025 – KFF
- How Medicaid Works & What’s at Stake in 2025 – Georgetown Center for Children and Families
- Protect Medicaid Funding Series – National Health Law Program
Cross-posted at HealthySchoolsCampaign.org
