Mathews County Public Schools opposes the proposed changes by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to the Virginia school-based Medicaid reimbursement program. The proposed changes requiring a physicians signature for each Plan of Care for nursing and personal care services could force school divisions to discontinue billing for these services. These changes would create additional work and costs to local school divisions.  The required physician signatures may be difficult to obtain, and will likely result in a decrease of reimbursement for these services.  This proposal could also negatively impact billing for transportation services since billing for transportation depends on billing for other services.

Mathews County is a rural school division and many of our students with disabilities have to travel a great distance to see specialized physicians.  The requirement proposed will be a burden to many.  A decrease in Medicaid reimbursement will negatively impact the services our students receive. 

We urge you to reconsider the proposed changes and allow the current requirements to stay in place.