CHINO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUAL NOTICE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Notice Regarding the District’s Participation in the LEA Medi-Cal Billing Program

The District, in cooperation with the California Departments of Health Care Services and Education, participates in a program that allows the district to be reimbursed with federal Medicaid dollars for select health services provided to enrolled Medi-Cal students at school. The money received through this program is directly reinvested into expanding and improving health and social services for all students.

In accordance with state and federal rules and guidelines, we are notifying you that some information may be released from your student’s records to our reimbursement recovery vendor, Paradigm Healthcare Services, LLC and to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for claiming purposes only (and your child’s Medi-Cal benefits may be accessed). This information is only released if we have received your consent to do so. Your consent may have been provided to the district when you registered your student for school, as part of your back-to-school paperwork, or during the IEP/IFSP development and review process (if applicable).

All information that is shared is encrypted and transmitted securely to both our vendor and to DHCS. The education records that may be shared as a result of our participation in this program include:

• Student name, date of birth, and health-related evaluation, intervention, and referral information (for services received at school)
• Practitioners’ notes related to these health services and select data from child’s IEP/IFSP (if applicable)

You have the right to withdraw your consent to disclose your student’s information at any time—feel free to visit your school’s front desk to discuss this program. Please note that students will not be denied services they require to attend school, and parents will never be billed by the school district for services provided as a result of your consent, or nonconsent. Further, while Medi-Cal is reimbursing the district for select health services, your child’s Medi-Cal benefits should not be impacted in any way. We participate in this program in an effort to obtain federal funding for the Medi-Cal reimbursable health services already being performed at school, and then use this funding to expand services that are available to all students.

Additional notes:

• Confidentiality & Privacy. The district’s reimbursement recovery vendor is bound by a contract that contains specific provisions to keep student records confidential, ensuring information is not used or disclosed inappropriately; further, our vendor is HIPAA compliant. In addition, the district and DHCS are bound by agreements that include specific provisions about the use of the information shared in this program, and governing security protocols.

Third Party Liability. If your student is enrolled in Medi-Cal and is also covered by a third party insurer, DHCS may attempt to recover third party liability if they pay a school-based claim submitted by us. This occurs due to the assignment of third party liability rights that was provided when your application to Medi-Cal was approved

Consent to Share Information for Medi-Cal Billing and FAQs

In order for the District to receive reimbursement for these services, we must obtain your consent to release limited education records to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and our reimbursement recovery vendor; and, we must obtain your consent to access public benefits if your child is enrolled in Medi-Cal* Records that may be shared include: child’s name and date of birth; and health-related evaluation, intervention, and referral information (for services received at school), all of which are shared securely.

If my child is or may become eligible for public benefits (Medi-Cal): I authorize the LEA/District to release student information for the limited purpose of billing Medi-Cal/Medicaid and to access Medi-Cal: health insurance benefits for applicable services.

*Your consent, or non-consent, does not affect the services available and provided to your child, and should not impact your Medi-Cal benefits.

1. Will I ever be billed for school-based services that my child receives? 

No. You will never receive a bill from the District, and there is no cost to you or to your child for school-based health services, regardless of your child's Medi-Cal eligibility. Bills for eligible school-based health services provided to children who are Medi-Cal eligible are submitted to Medi-Cal for reimbursement.

2. Do I have to be involved in the billing process in any way?

You will only be asked to provide the District with your consent for Medi-Cal billing. Parents have no other responsibilities in this process.

3. Does this program (and my consent) impact my child's Medi-Cal benefits in any way?

Whether or not you give consent, Medi-Cal will continue to pay for medically necessary health-related services your child receives outside of school. Further, the District's participation in this program and your consent should not impact your child's benefits in any way.

4. How does the District use the funds received from Medi-Cal billing?

The District uses Medi-Cal funds to supplement the cost of the services being performed at school sites every day. In addition, these funds are used to support additional family outreach efforts, school health offices, updating testing equipment and materials, purchasing supplies, etc., in an effort to support all children in the District.

5. Will the District stop providing the services for my child if I do not provide my consent to bill Medi-Cal?

No. Without your consent for billing, your child will continue to receive care, but the District will not receive Medi-Cal funds for the eligible services that your child may be provided. Other District funds will be used to support the full cost of these necessary services.

6. What if I change my mind after I have provided you with my consent?

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time (a withdrawal will not be retroactive). See the front desk at your child's school if you'd like to make a change.

7. What information is shared, with whom, and what guarantees exist to ensure confidentiality of these records?

The education records that may be shared include the following: child's name and date of birth; health related evaluation, intervention, and referral information (for services received at school); practioners' notes related to these health services; and select data from child's IEP/IFSP (if applicable). The District's reimbursement recovery vendor is bound by a contract that contains specific provisions to keep student records confidential and secure, ensuring information is not used or disclosed inappropriately; further, our vendor is HIPPA compliant. In addition, the District and DHCS are bound by agreements that include specific provisions about the use of the information shared in this program, and explicit security protocols to keep your child's information confidential and secure.