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Board hears Medicaid-funded in-school nursing pitch; tables contract for attorney review
Summary
Presenters described Medicaid-funded extended-care and intermittent nursing that lets high-acuity students stay in school at no cost to districts; the St. Landry Parish committee tabled contract consideration pending legal and Medicaid-compliance review and set the item for the full board on May 19.
Mrs. Danielle Romero, area administrator for LZ Group/Ununice Community Home Health, told the St. Landry Parish School Board committee that extended-care nursing — paid by Medicaid — can allow medically complex students to attend school without district cost. "It cost the school nothing," Romero said, describing full shifts for one-on-one care and shorter intermittent visits for wound care and IV therapy.
The provider outlined how services operate: an RN or LPN accompanies students to school, is overseen by an RN director, and the agency handles vetting, payroll, drug screening and training. Romero said schools in other parishes contract with her agency to bring approved nurses into school settings; families' Medicaid authorizations determine the weekly hours for which a child qualifies.
Board members questioned who bills Medicaid and how overlapping claims are prevented. Romero said the provider bills Medicaid when its nurse is on the provider’s payroll and uses electronic visit verification (time/GPS stamps) to avoid duplicate claims. Board members signaled concern about supervision and parity with district nurses, and asked the school system’s attorney to review the sample contract Romero provided.
Dr. Brown, a pediatric nurse who addressed the committee during the Q&A, pressed the board on clinical safeguards and delegation limits. "Assessing should not be delegated to anyone other than a nurse," she said, arguing that clinical assessment — not just task performance — requires a licensed nurse.
After discussion, the committee twice debated next steps. An initial motion to move the item directly to the full board failed for lack of a second. Later the board agreed to table the matter pending attorney review and further information, and directed staff to invite the provider’s executive director and the area administrator back to answer remaining questions. The tabling motion was approved and the item was scheduled for the full board meeting on May 19 for fuller consideration.
What happens next: district attorneys and Medicaid compliance staff will review the sample contract and the committee expects a return presentation that clarifies who will be the Medicaid biller, how supervision is delineated, and how electronic verification will prevent overlapping payments.
