As of October 2023, Healthy Schools Campaign has identified 25 states that have expanded their school Medicaid program to cover services outside of an IEP/IFSP using the “free care” policy reversal.

This brief provides a summary of the actions each state took, along with related state documents and other resources that may be helpful to states working to increase access to and funding for physical, behavioral and mental school-based health services.

In May 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released new school Medicaid guidance affirming that states have flexibility in their school-based Medicaid program to allow school districts to bill Medicaid for health services delivered to all Medicaid-enrolled children.

This brief answers key questions about the guidance and highlights what policymakers and advocates need to know — and how to get involved — to ensure states are best positioned to leverage federal opportunities increasing children's access to the services they need.

Key opportunities exist for education, healthcare and public health sectors to improve both health and education outcomes by focusing on school-based health services. This brief addresses the opportunity in Illinois to expand on Medicaid-funded health services delivered within a school by school nurses and other district-employed providers.