School-Based Health Services
What are school-based health services?
The CDC defines school health services as services provided by qualified professionals to students within the school environment. Traditionally, treatment and care coordination are undertaken by the school nurse or any licensed social workers employed by the school or district. Clinicians may also teach health-related programs to students in addition to providing care.
Services provided by school health services staff include, but are not limited to:
Acute Care
- Accidents happen! In schools without SBHCs, school nurses are the only qualified professionals who can provide injury management.
- Medication Provision. For students who require medication on school grounds, including over-the-counter pain medication, school nurses are often responsible for coordinating care plans with students and families.
Care Coordination
- School nurses and social workers are often responsible for managing chronic conditions and maintaining communication across the students’ providers.
- Students who are seen for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) may be seen by multiple school staff members, whose responsibilities are typically coordinated by school administrators.
Chronic Disease Management
- In schools without SBHCs, school nurses are often the only qualified professionals who can provide the necessary treatment to manage chronic diseases.
School-Based Health Care Services & Washington’s Health Care Authority
- Washington’s Health Care Authority, the agency that administers Apple Health (Medicaid), has a specific School-Based Health Care Services program. This program reimburses education entities who provide early intervention health-related services or special education health-related services.
- A full list of the specific services and providers eligible for reimbursement are available on the HCA website.