Back to Wyoming

HB0119 • 2020

Medicaid billing for school-based services.

AN ACT relating to school finance; authorizing school districts to bill for school based services for Medicaid eligible students as specified; providing reimbursement to school districts for administrative costs; providing appropriations; authorizing positions; authorizing a transfer of funds; requiring reports; and providing for effective dates.

Budget Education Labor
Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor
Appropriations
Last action
2020-03-30
Official status
inactive
Effective date
7/1/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status is vetoed by the governor on March 30, 2020. It remains to be seen if lawmakers will override this veto.

Medicaid Billing for School-Based Services

This act allows school districts with at least 25 Medicaid-eligible students receiving special education programs to bill for certain covered services starting July 1, 2021.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows school districts with at least 25 Medicaid-eligible students receiving special education programs to bill the Department of Health for covered services starting July 1, 2021.
  • Requires the Department of Health to pay eligible schools as soon as reasonably practical for approved services.
  • Provides funding and positions to help implement this new billing process.
  • Requires reports from both the Department of Education and the Department of Health on how well the program is working.

Who It Names or Affects

  • School districts with at least 25 Medicaid-eligible students receiving special education programs.
  • The Department of Health, which will pay for covered services.
  • Students who receive special education services through their schools.

Terms To Know

Medicaid
A government program that helps people with low income get health care.
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
A plan created for each public school student who needs special education services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill was vetoed by the governor on March 30, 2020.
  • It is unclear if and when lawmakers will override this veto.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0119HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Larsen

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes certain language and changes a specific dollar amount in the bill.

  • Removes the word 'two' on page 7, line 4 of the bill.
  • Deletes an entire line on page 7, line 5 of the bill.
  • Changes the dollar amount from $228,337.00 to $114,169.00 on page 7, line 6 of the bill.
  • The amendment does not explain what these changes mean or why they are being made, which limits understanding of its full impact.
HB0119HS001

Standing Committee • House Education Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment allows the Department of Education to transfer up to $5 million from its school foundation program account to the Department of Health for making payments to school districts under a new law.

  • Authorizes the Department of Education to transfer up to $5 million to the Department of Health for Medicaid-related payments to school districts.
  • The amendment only specifies the transfer amount and timeframe (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022), so it's unclear what happens after this period.
  • Details about how the transferred funds will be used or reimbursed are not provided in the amendment text.
HB0119HS002

Standing Committee • House Appropriations Committee

Failed

Plain English: The amendment removes specific lines from the bill that relate to Medicaid billing for school-based services and administrative cost reimbursement.

  • Removes lines 5 through 13 on page 7 of the original bill text.
  • Deletes the phrase following 'act.' at line 4 on page 7.
  • The exact content removed is not provided, making it hard to explain specific changes in detail.
HB0119S2001

2nd reading • Senator Bebout

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes specific language about how school districts can use funds for Medicaid billing and administrative costs.

  • Removes the phrase 'is authorized one' and replaces it with 'may expend', changing how school districts are allowed to spend money.
  • Deletes a line entirely, removing details about fund usage.
  • Eliminates language that specifies where in the act certain provisions apply.
  • Removes wording related to how funds can be used for full-time employees.
  • The exact impact of these changes on school districts' ability to bill for Medicaid services and manage administrative costs is unclear without additional context.
HB0119SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Appropriations Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment reduces the amount of money allocated for administrative costs related to Medicaid billing for school-based services from $5 million to $2.5 million.

  • Reduces the funding allocation from five million dollars to two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) in two separate instances.

Bill History

  1. 2020-03-30 Governor

    Governor Vetoed HEA No. 0046

  2. 2020-03-30 Wyoming Legislature

    Veto Message Received

  3. 2020-03-10 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0046

  4. 2020-03-10 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0046

  5. 2020-03-09 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0046

  6. 2020-03-09 House

    H Concur:Passed 44-14-2-0-0

  7. 2020-03-06 House

    H Received for Concurrence

  8. 2020-03-06 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 25-3-2-0-0

  9. 2020-03-05 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  10. 2020-03-04 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  11. 2020-03-03 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  12. 2020-03-03 Senate

    S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-0-1-0-0

  13. 2020-02-27 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S02 - Appropriations

  14. 2020-02-25 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  15. 2020-02-24 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 47-11-2-0-0

  16. 2020-02-21 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  17. 2020-02-20 House

    H COW:Passed

  18. 2020-02-18 House

    H Placed on General File

  19. 2020-02-18 House

    H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0

  20. 2020-02-17 House

    :Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations

  21. 2020-02-17 House

    H Placed on General File

  22. 2020-02-17 House

    H04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 6-3-0-0-0

  23. 2020-02-11 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education 49-10-1-0-0

  24. 2020-02-07 House

    H Received for Introduction

  25. 2020-02-06 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
20LSO-0400

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0119

ENROLLED ACT NO. 46,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2020 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to school finance; authorizing school districts to bill for school based services for Medicaid eligible students as specified; providing reimbursement to school districts for administrative costs; providing appropriations; authorizing positions; authorizing a transfer of funds; requiring reports; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
‑
13
‑
321(b) and by creating new subsections (h) and (j) and 42
‑
4
‑
103(a) by creating new paragraphs (xxxiv) through (xxxvi) are amended to read:

21
‑
13
‑
321.

Special education; amount within foundation program formula for special education programs and services; district reporting requirements; billing for Medicaid authorized school based services.

(b)

The amount provided for special education within the education resource block grant model pursuant to W.S. 21
‑
13
‑
309(m)(v)(E)(II) shall be equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the amount actually expended by the district during the previous school year for special education programs and services
, which shall include the amount actually expended by the district during the previous school year for reasonable administrative costs to bill for authorized Medicaid services under subsection (h) of this section
. The statewide total amount reimbursed under this section in school year 2019
‑
2020 or 2020
‑
2021 shall not exceed the statewide total amount reimbursed under this section in school year 2018
‑
2019, notwithstanding any additional appropriation for that purpose by the legislature.

(h)

Beginning July 1, 2021, each school district with twenty
‑
five (25) or more Medicaid eligible students receiving special education programs and services, as calculated by the department of education pursuant to subsection (j) of this section, may bill the department of health for the costs of any special education program and service covered under W.S. 42
‑
4
‑
103(a)(xxxiv) through (xxxvi) provided to the district's students. No other school district shall bill the department of health under this subsection. The department of health shall provide payment to each eligible school district as soon as reasonably practical for the costs of approved services. By September 1 of each school year, each school district shall remit to the department of education all funds received during the prior school year from the department of health for billed services. The department of education shall remit all funds received under this subsection to the state treasurer for deposit in the school foundation program account.

(j)

A school district may report the number of Medicaid eligible students receiving special education programs and services enrolled within the school district on forms and in such manner required by the department. The number of Medicaid eligible students receiving special education programs and services for a school year shall be determined by the department of education using data from October 1 of the immediately preceding school year.

42
‑
4
‑
103.

Authorized services and supplies.

(a)

Services and supplies authorized for medical assistance under this chapter include:

(xxxiv)

The professional services of a school psychologist;

(xxxv)

The professional services of a school social worker;

(xxxvi)

School based services delivered pursuant to an individualized education program, including services:

(A)

Provided by an otherwise enrolled Medicaid provider type;

(B)

Provided by a licensed professional in a school setting; or

(C)

Otherwise covered under this chapter to support delivery of special education programs and services.

Section 2.

2018 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 134, as amended by 2019 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 80, Section 344(a) and (b) is amended to read:

[MEDICAID APPROVED SERVICES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS]

Section 344.

(a)

In addition to the services and supplies authorized under W.S. 42
‑
4
‑
103(a), subject to approval under subsection (b) of this section, the state plan for Medicaid shall include all services authorized under federal law which may be provided in a school based setting to eligible students, including
the professional

services
of a school psychologist, the professional services of a school social worker and those services
delivered pursuant to an individualized education
plan
program
or individualized family service plan for speech and language therapy, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy
,

and
mental health interventions
.
and services provided by a school psychologist.

(b)

The director of the department of health, with the consent of the governor, shall negotiate with the United States department of health and human services regarding necessary amendments to the state Medicaid plan, or any necessary waiver under 42 U.S.C. § 1315, to provide the services specified under subsection (a) of this section. Any state Medicaid plan amendments or waiver under this subsection shall be effective
July 1, 2020
July 1, 2021 or upon state plan or waiver approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, whichever is later
.

Section 3.

(a)

The department of education is authorized to transfer one (1) full
‑
time employee from the title 1A – administration unit to the finance unit to support implementation of this act. There is appropriated one hundred fourteen thousand one hundred sixty-nine dollars ($114,169.00) from the general fund to the department of education for salary and benefits for the full
‑
time employee. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2022. This
appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2022. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the department of education's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

(b)

There is appropriated two hundred twenty
‑
eight thousand one hundred fifty
‑
nine dollars ($228,159.00) from the school foundation program account to the department of health. Additionally, there is appropriated two hundred twenty
‑
eight thousand one hundred fifty
‑
nine dollars ($228,159.00) in federal funds to the department of health. Up to two hundred sixty
‑
one thousand dollars ($261,000.00) of the appropriations made under this subsection may be expended for contract services to implement this act. Additionally, the department of health may expend up to one hundred ninety
‑
five thousand three hundred eighteen dollars ($195,318.00) of the appropriations made under this section for salary and benefits. Appropriations made under this subsection shall be for the period beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2022. The appropriations shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated state funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2022.

Section 4.

(a)

For the period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022, the department of education is authorized to transfer to the department of health for purposes of making payments to school districts pursuant to W.S. 21-13-321(h), as created by this act, up to two million five hundred
thousand dollars ($2,500,000.00) of amounts appropriated to the department of education from the school foundation program account. Amounts transferred to the department of health pursuant to this subsection are reappropriated to the department of health for purposes of making payments to school districts pursuant to W.S. 21-13-321(h), as created by this act.

(b)

There is appropriated up to two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000.00) of federal funds to the department of health for purposes of making payments to school districts pursuant to W.S. 21
‑
13
‑
321(h), as created by this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2022. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose.

Section 5.

The department of health and the department of education shall report on implementation of Medicaid billing for school based services as provided for by this act. Reports on implementation required by this section shall include information on relevant action taken by school districts, relevant action taken by the department of health and the department of education and any approvals received from the federal government for plan amendments or waivers to the state Medicaid plan. The departments shall evaluate impediments to implementation and determine necessary or recommended improvements to the program and any required additional funding. Findings shall be submitted in two (2) written reports to the joint education interim committee, the joint labor, health and social services interim committee and the joint appropriations committee, one (1) report to be submitted not later than October 1, 2020 and the other report to be submitted not later than October 1, 2021.

Section 6.

(a)

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2020.

(b)

Sections 2 and 6 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1