West Virginia Implementing Broader Access to SBHS in WV - The West Virginia (WV) Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) is submitting this application to support efforts for the “Implementation of School-Based Services.” BMS and the WV Department of Education (WVDE) partner on administration and oversight of the State’s program, called the School-Based Health Services (SBHS) program in WV. Since the program's inception, the State has successfully partnered with local education agencies to leverage educational settings as accessible healthcare sites. WV will use this funding opportunity to plan for and implement an expansion of the SBHS program, which would serve all West Virginia Medicaid-eligible youth. This extended population reach will build on the current program and help reduce current health care disparities, by ensuring more members can access necessary care while at school, particularly behavioral health services. The funding will support WV with capacity building, addressing identified program needs and priorities, and providing training and technical assistance to providers and SBHS billing specialists. During this project period, the BMS and WVDE teams, in partnership with CMS, will engage a spectrum of stakeholders and develop a work plan to increase the availability of. BMS is requesting funds totaling $2,498,454 which will support the following activities: • Capacity building to help ensure infrastructure to support provision of SBHS to a broader eligible population is available. • Technical assistance and training for SBHS providers, inclusive of developing materials and providing avenues for ongoing support. • Development and provision of targeted training for billing specialists, related to billing processes and record keeping for Medicaid-covered services. • Development, submission, and implementation of a State Plan Amendment (SPA) and associated policies/supporting documentation to expand the SBHS program. Through the successful execution of these activities, BMS will work toward its longer-term vision: offering SBHS services for the broadest range of youth possible, through continued collaboration with WVDE partners. The State will utilize funding to advance the implementation of SBHS to: • Reduce disparities through increased access to and member utilization of SBHS services. • Improve health outcomes for youth, particularly related to access to behavioral health services. • Increase provider participation in the program, enhancing capacity. • Enhance provider training on Medicaid principles, practices, and requirements. • Ensure SBHS program integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency. • Improve upon existing data reporting, building a more robust structure. The funding is expected to yield positive results for West Virginia, most importantly building the infrastructure needed to support the implementation of SBHS for an expanded population, which will support the State’s efforts to provider greater access to behavioral health services and reduce disparities for Medicaid-eligible youth in schools.
