On March 18, 2013 Medicaid providers of school-based services were relieved of the burden to obtain parental consent each time they accessed the student’s public benefits.  However, the regulations have created new challenges for districts in providing the required notification of parental consent. 

Districts are required to provide written notification prior to obtaining the parent's one-time consent.  After the initial consent is obtained, districts are further required to provide annual notification of parental consent.  The new regulations give the districts flexibility in determining the timing of the annual written notification, but it’s important to note that the notification must be written in the native language or other communication mode of the parents. 

Districts have until July 1, 2013 to attain full compliance with the regulations.  Is your district compliant with getting the word out? 

Below is a list of ways to provide the required parental consent notification.

• Publish the notice on the district’s website in sections available to parents

• Add the notice to the School-based Services Program brochure

• Include the notice in the procedural safeguards or parent handbook

• Add the notice to the IEP/IFSP form

• Include the notice in the enrollment packet

• E-mail the notice to parents and guardians

• Provide the notice to liaisons of parent committees so they can help get the word out   

Be sure to refer to your state and local agency policies regarding publication of notices. 

I would love to hear about the fun and creative ideas you came up with for getting the word out
regarding parental consent.  

If you need help developing your notification and consent forms, please contact us and we
will be happy to assist you.  

Have a great day!

You can find a copy of the final regulations published in the Federal Register Vol. 78, No.
31, Thursday, February 14, 2013 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-14/pdf/2013-03443.pdf