State Grants for the Implementation, Enhancement, and Expansion of Medicaid and CHIP School-Based Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a state grant initiative to increase access to health care services for children and adolescents. This program specifically aims to reduce disparities in care availability, encourage education achievement, and create a dependable support system.

Recognizing the unique positioning of schools in children's lives, this program seeks to leverage these institutions to enhance health equity. Primarily, schools will serve as hubs for enrolling eligible children and adolescents into various health programs, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Besides enrollment, school settings will be facilitated to deliver covered health services such as mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services. Equally important, the initiative will offer access to necessary health care services for children who are already enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.

The empowered school-based services (SBS), encompassing Medicaid or CHIP-covered services delivered in the school context, are a central component of this initiative. Besides promoting the overall well-being of children and adolescents, these services will particularly benefit those enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP programs.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) outlines the provision for funding states to streamline, escalate, or broaden the delivery of assistance through school-based entities under Medicaid and CHIP. It's important to note that this initiative is authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). However, the BSCA prohibits the use of the grant to directly fund medical assistance, child health assistance, or other health services. The focus remains primarily on the implementation, enhancement, and expansion of Medicaid and CHIP in schools.