There has never been a larger need for diverse and sustainable funding sources for school nursing, especially considering the recent expiry of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding, which many schools used to hire school nurses. This funding expired September 30, 2024, forcing many schools to eliminate school health services led by school nurses.
NASN advocates for sufficient funding to ensure school nurses are present in every school in the country. To address the challenges of Medicaid billing and secure sustainable funding for school health services, the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) proposes several policy changes and legislative efforts including, but not limited, to the following:
Simplify Medicaid Billing Processes
- Streamline Documentation Requirements: Advocate for simplified documentation standards that reduce the administrative burden on school nurses. This could include accepting electronic health records (EHRs) as sufficient documentation and minimizing the need for redundant paperwork.
- Automated Billing Systems: Promote the development and adoption of user-friendly, automated billing systems specifically designed for school health settings. This could be supported through federal grants to offset the implementation costs for smaller districts.
- Recognition of School Health Teams: Advocate for policies that allow various school health team members (e.g., unlicensed assistive personnel) to be reimbursed for Medicaid-covered services under the supervision of a school nurse.
These proposed changes aim to reduce the administrative burden on school nurses, ensure fair compensation for their services, and make Medicaid billing processes more accessible for all school districts, especially those with limited resources.
See also Medicaid in School Nursing.
Investigate other funding sources
- Securing sustainable funding, understanding funding drivers, and demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of school nursing services so all students can access high-quality school health services led by a school nurse.
- Advocating for sustainable funding for school nurse services and public health efforts that impact students and families.
Existing legislation related to sustainable funding include:
- NASN’s NURSE (Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere) Act
- NASN’s One School, One Nurse Act
- Expanded Medicaid School-Based Services
- Advocate for CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) to be permanent
- Support the work of the Commission for Nurse Reimbursement