Tippy Valley Schools Approve Medicaid Claiming Program
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
MENTONE – By approving the Indiana Medicaid Administrative Claiming Program participation agreement Monday night, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. will be able to recoup some of its costs for personnel who support Medicaid-related activities.
Director of Special Services Donna Lehmann told the school board, “This is an opportunity that has been put in our laps.”
This is the first year the MAC Program has been an option for school districts in Indiana, according to information provided.
Lehmann said Valley is working with Professional Consulting Group on the program. PCG is a company that works in health care-related fields and educational settings. PCG has contracted with the state to work with school districts to help them claim any administrative costs they are eligible for regarding this Medicaid function.
To receive federal reimbursement, PCG collects data on “specific moments in time,” Lehmann said. If 85 percent or more of the staff Valley submits to them responds regarding the specific moment of the school day which they are asked to report on, Valley is then eligible for a share of the state reimbursement from the federal government. Only employees who work in related fields and who have a portion of their salary paid by the school district are eligible to participate.
At Valley, Lehmann said, eligible employees include school nurses, speech pathologists, language pathologists, some special education teachers, school counselors and the educational interpreter. Lehmann said these employees are paid out of Valley’s General Fund, and they won’t get back 100 percent. However, the program will allow Valley to recoup some of their costs.
“This could be a good way of getting revenue to pay for some of this,” Lehmann said.
The contract, approved by Valley, can be exited out of each quarter. PCG will take 12 percent of the amount Valley gains from the process.
Lehmann said Valley’s staff has been very great in responding to the program. So far, she’s received no complaints from the staff and she’s found it easy to do.
In Michigan, she said, all teachers are required to do this.
“It’s just another pocket of money,” Lehmann said. “No student information is shared with this.”
Since it is Medicaid, Lehmann said, she couldn’t provide the school board a timeline on when they’d receive money.
Superintendent Brett Boggs thanked Lehmann for pursuing it. Any funds Valley can recoup will help, he said.
To comply with federal tax laws and regulations, the school board amended its 403(b) plan.
According to Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dan Kramer, by the end of the 2011 plan year, all 403(b) plans need to include changes made by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Valley is currently compliant with the provision. However, by the end of the 2012 plan year, Valley’s plan needs to comply with the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 and the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008.
The resolution approved by the board reconfirms the PPA provisions of Valley’s current plan and includes the new provisions required by HEART and WRERA.
In other business, the school board:
– Accepted the following Kosciusko County Community Foundation grants: Kirk Doehrmann, Tippecanoe Valley High School, Boomerang Backpack, $687.51; Jon Hutton, TVHS, registration for National Science Convention, $645; Melanie Mason, TVHS, digital cameras, $246.90; Layne Early, Mentone Elementary, apps for mobile lab, $100; Patricia Newman, Akron Elementary, Math Manipulative, $200; Shelly Engle, Akron, Kindles, $324.39; and Hilary Parker, Akron, voice recorders, $324.39.
– Accepted a donation from Zimmer to the Tippecanoe Valley High School Graphic Imaging Technology Program. The donation includes two printing presses, a Multilith 1250 press and one Multi 1650 XE press with a second swing away color head. In addition, an envelope feeder and many expendable supplies were donated.
– Approved an addition to the school board policy regarding student random drug and alcohol testing as discussed at the November meeting.
– Approved an addition to the school board policy regarding student transfers. The statement ensures that the school corporation is not bound to offer services outside of the school district.
– Approved a memorandum of understanding for the School Resource Officer Program between the school corporation and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.
– Announced upcoming board meetings are: Jan. 16, Burket Educational Center; Feb. 13, Tippecanoe Valley Middle School; March 12, TVHS. All meetings are at 7:30 p.m.
