Special Education

Center based programs consist of students with learning differences who have been grouped together because of similarity of individual needs for the purpose of receiving specially designed instruction in a self -contained setting. Students in a center based program are receiving their primary instruction separate from their non-disabled peers. Center based programs provide services for students with autism spectrum disorders, developmental cognitive delay, emotional behavior disorders and other health disabilities.

Related services include speech and language, physical therapy, occupational therapy, developmental adapted physical education, deaf/hard of hearing, vision services, or health services. Based on the needs of the student, related services can be provided in a group or individually, in the classroom or in an alternative location.

Transition services address needs in the areas of post-secondary training, employment and independent living. These needs are assessed and services are provided beginning by grade 9. South Washington County Schools offers a transition program for students up to age 21 who have completed their academic goals for high school credits but continue to have identified needs in one or more of the transition areas of post-secondary training, employment and independent living. Students are taught marketable employment skills and are supported in their efforts to find meaningful competitive or supportive employment along with exploration of post-secondary training opportunities.

WRITTEN ANNUAL NOTICE OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES 

Minnesota school districts may seek reimbursement from insurers and similar third parties for school based health related services. Health related services may include assessments and services for nursing, speech/language/hearing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, personal care assistance, assistive technology devices, interpreter services, special transportation, and/or mental health.  This consent for reimbursement will apply to health related services received by students either with or without an IEP (Individual Education plan)/IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan).  

Before billing Medical Assistance (MA) or MinnesotaCare (MC) for health-related services the first time, and each year, the district must inform you in writing that: 

1. The district will bill MA or MC for health-related services for students with an IEP/IFSP. Minn. Stat. § 125A.21, Subd. 2(c)(1).

2. The district must obtain your consent, including specifying the personally identifiable information that may be disclosed (e.g., records or information about the services that may be provided), the purpose of the disclosure, the agency to which the disclosure may be made (i.e. the Department of Human Services) and which specifies that you understand and agree that the school district may access your (or your child’s) public benefits or insurance to pay for health-related services. You have the right to receive a copy of education records the district shares with any third party when seeking reimbursement for health-related services. Minn. Stat. § 125A.21, Subd. 2(c)(2). 

3. For children aged 3 and older with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) The Minnesota Department of Education has indicated that consent for reimbursement may be obtained through the school district consent form, or the Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) enrollment/re-enrollment form for MA/MC (05/02/2013, MDE memo). 

4. The district will share data related to your child and health-related services with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to determine if your child is covered by MA or MC and whether those services may be billed to MA or MC.

5. The district may not require you to sign up for or enroll in MA or MC or other insurance programs in order for your child to receive health related services.

6. There will be NO cost to your family and this will NOT affect your MA/MC coverage, including TEFRA, waivered programs, service limits or thresholds. The district may not require you to incur an out-of-pocket expense such as the payment of a deductible or co-pay amount incurred in filing a claim for health services provided, but may pay the cost that you otherwise would be required to pay. The district may not use your child's benefits under MA or MC if that use would: decrease available lifetime coverage or any other insured benefit; result in your family paying for services that would otherwise be covered by the public benefits or insurance program and that are required for the child outside of the time your child is in school; increase your premiums or lead to the discontinuation of benefits or insurance; or risk your loss of eligibility for home and community-based waivers, based on aggregate health-related expenditures.

7. You have the right to stop your consent for disclosure of your child’s education records to a third party, including the Department of Human Services, at any time. If you stop consent, the district may no longer share your child’s education records to seek reimbursement for health-related services. You may revoke your consent, in writing via thirdpartyconsent@spps.org, at any time without affecting your child’s services. Revocation is not retroactive. Minn. Stat. § 125A.21, Subd. 2(c)(3).

8. Even though South Washington County Schools will not bill your private insurance; if your child is under age 3 and has an IFSP, the District is required to inform you that:

   1. Consent is required whenever the IFSP is revised due to increase (in frequency, length, duration or intensity) in the provision of services in your child’s IFSP;

   2. The Early Childhood program cannot require the use of private insurance to pay for IFSP services if there is any cost to the family, including co-pays, deductibles, increased premiums or effects on service limits and prior authorization;

   3. If private insurance is used and you are charged out of pocket expenses by your insurer, the school district may pay or reimburse co-payments, deductibles or other insurance related costs in connection with health related services in your child’s IFSP 

   4. If you have private insurance coverage, the early childhood program will seek a denial from your private insurance before public insurance or benefits are used to pay for early childhood services. Services will still be provided if your private insurance denies coverage for any reason.