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Bill would boost Medicaid reimbursements and technical support for school‑based health services
Summary
Assembly Bill 516 would require DHHS to support school participation in Medicaid billing, create a School Health Access Resource Center, and increase reimbursement rates for services provided on school premises or at school‑based health centers, sponsors and stakeholders said.
Assembly Bill 516 was presented April 4 by Assemblywoman Cecilia Gonzales as a proposal to improve access to health care for Medicaid‑eligible students by making it easier for schools and providers to bill Medicaid and by incentivizing clinic contracts with schools.
Gonzales told the committee that roughly 36,000 children in Nevada are enrolled in Medicaid and that many get critical health services while at school. "As of 2024, 10 of the 17 school districts were enrolled in the program, but only 9 were billing for services," she said, describing billing challenges caused by limited knowledge and resources at school districts.
The bill would require the DHHS director to take actions so schools can receive Medicaid reimbursement when covered services are provided on school premises. It would establish a School Health Access Resource Center within the division of Health Care Financing and Policy to assist Medicaid providers and schools with billing and participation options. The bill also directs DHHS to amend the state Medicaid plan to increase reimbursement rates by at least 5 percent for services provided on school premises and by at least 10 percent for services provided by a school‑based health center; it would also simplify reimbursement methodology for primary care and preventive services at school‑based health centers.
Support testimony included representatives from the Nevada Primary Care Association, the Nevada Association of Counties, and the Nevada Association of School Superintendents, each saying that technical assistance and simplified billing would help expand services. "A lack of technical assistance is the barrier to development of new services," Amy Hein‑Sutherland of the Nevada Association of Counties said. Mary Pruzinsky of the Nevada Association of School Superintendents told the committee that simplifying billing would help districts better serve Medicaid students.
Committee members did not take a formal vote during the April 4 hearing; proponents asked DHHS and Medicaid to continue work on implementation details and technical assistance.
