The District 118 Board of Education approved a license agreement with Gateway Family Services of Illinois that will allow Gateway to continue providing counseling services at Mark Denman and bill those services to Medicaid, director of special education Molly Bailey told the board.

Bailey said the district previously used ESSER funds to support Gateway services and that Gateway has since arranged to bill Medicaid for counseling services. Bailey told the board that staff identified students who have benefited from Gateway’s support based on data and trauma-related needs. She recommended approving the license agreement at no cost to the district.

“Gateway has explored other options, and they're now able to bill Medicaid for their counseling services,” Bailey said. Board members noted the value of the long-standing relationship and said Gateway was already on referral forms, making the arrangement “seamless,” in Bailey’s words. A board member added that Medicaid reimbursement rates do not cover all costs but praised Gateway for continuing to provide services.

The board approved the license agreement by roll call.