Proposal could open help schools provide more health services

BOWLING GREEN Ky.- Medicaid has played a crucial role in providing health services to students who have individualized education programs.

A proposed Medicaid state plan amendment supported by both the Kentucky Education Commissioner and the Kentucky Medicaid commissioner would, if passed, allow districts across the commonwealth to leverage federal Medicaid funding to provide school-based health services, both physical and mental health. Bowling Green psychiatrist Dr. David Kapley said he hopes this will bring more involvement from mental health professionals into the world of education.

“I think it’s very important for school systems to coordinate different professionals to reduce the risk of school violence, and more cooperation between mental health professionals and the local school officials,” Kapley said.

Student and family counselor of the Bowling Green City Schools Tanner Steelman said the passing of this proposal is a good way to alleviate problems from the start, especially when speaking on mental health.

“If we can address some of these issues early on, we can start to change thinking systems, we can start to change behavior patterns, and we really can see a benefit to society as a whole if we can address these things in school,” Steelman said.

With heath care being accessible in school, Steelman said this would also be an incentive for students to stay and be attentive.

“Chronic absenteeism is something that’s being addressed at all levels of state government and at school. If the mental health symptoms are addressed, it’s a direct relation to a child’s attendance at school,” Steelman said.

While it’s still in the works, Steelman said he hopes that the passing of this amendment will remove any barriers for students to get the help they need.

“I’m hoping that some of these barriers to access to treatment will be minimized in the amendment that’s coming out. I’m interested to see how this amendment is going to come down and what the specifics are, and how that’s going to impact us as a whole,” Steelman said.