Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Hart District OKs Study of Medi-Cal Plan

SANTA CLARITA —  The William S. Hart Union High School District took its first step toward implementing a school-based Medi-Cal program by authorizing a study to determine if the idea is feasible.

Proponents say the program would allow the school district to receive federal funds just for providing existing health services required by law, and the money could be used to expand services to needy students and their families. But some parents are worried expanded services could include abortion referrals and drug counseling obtained without their knowledge.

The Hart district can select what services it wants to be reimbursed for, said Craig Cook, a consultant for school-based Medicaid programs. Medi-Cal is the state agency that oversees the federal Medicaid program in California.

There are too many potential benefits--and drawbacks--of the proposal to reject it without further study, said board member William Dinsenbacher on Wednesday night. He emphasized approval of the study does not mean the board endorses the plan, and said he strongly opposes providing abortion referrals.

“I think there are some cautions,” he said. “However, I believe for us to make a decision in the future we need information and this is what we are doing.”

The study is scheduled to be completed within 45 days. District officials said they hope to implement the program by fall.

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Officials estimate 10 to 15 states have passed recent legislation enabling schools to become Medicaid providers, and a pilot program in the San Diego Unified School District has received high approval ratings.

A district report indicates about 6,800 youths between the ages of 5 and 18--about 20% of students enrolled in local public schools--would qualify for school-based Medi-Cal services. Any plan approved would likely be a cooperative effort among the city’s school districts, municipal officials, medical centers and hospitals.

The district will contribute 25 cents for each of the district’s 11,500 students, or about $2,875, toward the $35,000 study. The city of Santa Clarita will contribute $1,000 and Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia will pay the remainder.