Senator introduces bill to require parental consent for Medicaid-billed school services; districts, health centers warn of administrative burden

Summary

Sen. Ruth Ward introduced SB 34 to require parental consent each time a new service is provided under the Medicaid-to-Schools program. School and health center witnesses said the change would increase paperwork, delay services, and threaten school billing; parental-rights advocates urged the committee to adopt the measure to protect oversight and

Senator Ruth Ward introduced Senate Bill 34, saying the measure would require schools to obtain parental consent for each new service provided to a student under the Medicaid-to-Schools program and would require legislative policy committees to receive program reports.

The measure, Ward said, "is intended to provide transparency, protect parental involvement, and ensure that a continuity of care is provided to adolescents and young adults." She told the committee the bill grew from the Committee to Study Consent and Confidentiality Laws Applicable to Adolescent and Young Adult Health Care in New Hampshire.

The change prompted sharply divided testimony during the hearing. Sean Parr, chair of the Manchester School Board's Education Legislation Committee, said SB 34 would "greatly increase administrative labor and could jeopardize students receiving timely services," especially for families with language barriers, work constraints, or housing instability. Parr said Manchester Public Schools has about 12,000 students and roughly 3,000 students with individualized education programs (IEPs), and that requiring repeated signed consents each time…

Senator introduces bill to require parental consent for Medicaid-billed school services; districts, health centers warn of administrative burden

Summary

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