Action required: Help save School-Based Medi-Cal Administrative Activities program
Published: June 1, 2014
CSBA is asking for your help in outreach to local legislators to create awareness of and to resolve serious problems involving the School-Based Medi-Cal Administrative Activities program. The SMAA program helps to ensure that children are enrolled in the Medi-Cal program and able to access health services through their schools.
Currently, 982 California school districts and county offices of education participate in the program, which draws millions in federal funding; 50 percent of SMAA program costs are reimbursed by the federal Medicaid program operated under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Due to its audit of the program, CMS has deferred school district and COE claims for reimbursement—in some cases going back to 2009—that total more than $360 million. In addition, the state Department of Health Care Services is proposing new rules that are restrictive, burdensome and impractical.
This has resulted in a growing number of districts dropping out of the program, laying off staff and putting the health and education of children as well as jobs at risk. More information on this issue is included in the sample letter cited below.
CSBA is asking that you please email or mail a letter to your local legislator using the sample letter.
If you have any questions about this issue, please contact Vina Guzman, CSBA’s Director of District & Financial Services at vguzman@csba.org.