Medicaid School-Based Transportation Services Florida Association for Pupil Transportation April 24, 2018

Medicaid Transportation in Schools Schools receive Medicaid reimbursement for many services provided to students with disabilities Therapy services Nursing services Behavioral services Transportation services Districts have received over 1 billion dollars in Medicaid reimbursement since the mid-90s

Types of Medicaid School- Based Transportation Service Two types of service— Type One: Handicapped equipped or adapted vehicle Type Two: Attendant required to accompany student

Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or Family Support Plan (IFSP) The need for transportation must be referenced on the student’s IEP or IFSP Medical or vehicle adaptive equipment required Medical condition that requires a special transportation environment Attendant required because of physical or behavioral disability and specific needs of the student

What is reimbursable? Any trip to and from school when a Medicaid-covered service is provided at school Examples of Medicaid-covered services Physical therapy Speech therapy Nursing service Behavioral service Occupational therapy

What Bus Trips are Reimbursable? Bus trip from home to school and from school to home (when covered service is provided at school) Bus trip from school to medical service and from medical service back to school (when covered service is provided away from school)

Service Limitations Only four one-way trips allowable per day Generally two trips will be reimbursed (to and from school) Additional two trips when a covered service is provided at school and another service off campus on the same day

Documentation of Transportation Service Must keep trip log in some form District may submit and get approval from Medicaid for alternate system of documentation Multiple student names may be on the same log Must initial each trip daily

Transportation Logs Transportation log must contain Student name Date the student was transported Daily initials of bus driver or “loading dock attendant” on the date of each trip verifying that the students on the trip log actually rode in the vehicle

Contact Anne Glass BEESS/USF Student Support Services Project Florida Department of Education anne.glass@fldoe.org 850-245-7838