Politics & Government

Hevesi Bill Would Reimburse Schools Millions

Medicaid funds currently going too long without being reimbursed to schools downstate, Assemblyman says.

Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, D-Forest Hills, introduced a bill earlier this month to help local schools claim needed Medicaid funds for special needs students.

The bill aims to help schools recoup funds for services they are required to provide under federal law. Services can include anything from occupational therapy for students to audiological testing for students that can detect hearing loss at a young age.

Currently, Hevesi said, New York City schools in particular are forced to wait for a doctor’s approval to claim Medicaid funds. As a result, many schools have to budget in unexpected medical costs and keep track of overruns with budgets already tight.

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The problem, Hevesi said, is more prevalent in the five boroughs.

“I don’t believe that New York City schools should be regularly budgeting for hundreds of millions of dollars in lost special needs service costs,” Hevesi said. “We need better communication between all parties involved to ensure that Medicaid eligible special needs services are being reimbursed, instead of further draining money from our already overstretched school budgets.”

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Hevesi added that New York City Department of Education budget information suggested that 2011 cost overruns from reimbursable medical spending approached $80 million dollars.

With fewer barriers to reimbursement, Hevesi said, schools could see money more consistently and sooner.

The bill was introduced earlier this month and has been referred to committee.


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