In Partnership With:
Medicaid covers essential student health services, including mental and behavioral health care. From funding school health staffing, direct services and screening programs, to covering assistive equipment and technology for students with disabilities, Medicaid helps to ensure students are able to learn and thrive.
As readers of Say Ahhh! know, earlier this year, President Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” commonly referred to as HR1, including numerous provisions that cut Medicaid and other critical programs. While HR1 does not have provisions directly related to school Medicaid (or school-based services, more generally), states now face nearly $1 trillion in federal Medicaid cuts, which means serious consequences for state budgets. For example, as states grapple with how to make up for the lost federal dollars, many will be forced to consider reducing or eliminating programs and services, including non-Medicaid services, to fund school budgets and services for students with disabilities.
HR1 also adds new obstacles for Medicaid-eligible children and families to enroll in and maintain Medicaid coverage, including new eligibility restrictions for immigrant children and individuals. These barriers along with other administration actions will result in fewer students enrolled in Medicaid, putting children’s health at risk and leaving less money for the school’s Medicaid program, ultimately affecting the services and care schools can provide.
While each state and school district will make different decisions about what to cut and when, this much is clear: A strong school Medicaid program depends on a strong Medicaid program. State Medicaid cuts can jeopardize funding for school health services and reduce students’ access to care in schools.
A new advocacy guide from the Healthy Schools Campaign and Community Catalyst aims to help child health and education advocates protect Medicaid’s critical role in schools.
The advocacy toolkit provides background on the school Medicaid program, and includes actions state health and education advocates can take to urge state and local leaders to protect school Medicaid funding.
In addition, the toolkit also includes information about how to advance and strengthen state school Medicaid policy to help school districts preserve health investments, and mitigate the harm caused bys of cuts. By leveraging school Medicaid policy, school districts can maximize revenue and help back fill budget gaps to retain key health services and staff.
Because many state and local school Medicaid champions work for state agencies or school districts, the toolkit also includes strategies for getting involved without direct lobbying, and how to form coalitions and partnerships with advocacy coalitions.
The Guide can be Downloaded Here.
Now is the time for state child health and education advocates to work together to protect student health access and amplify Medicaid’s critical role in supporting student well-being and success.