School Psychologists and School-Based Medicaid Reimbursement

Approximately 20% of children in the United States experience significant mental, emotional, or behavioral concerns, yet there is often a lack of access to necessary mental or behavioral health services and supports to adequately address them. Furthermore, as many as one in seven adolescents have no health insurance and therefore cannot reasonably afford to receive third-party reimbursable mental health services in the private sector. There is compelling evidence to suggest that providing mental and behavioral health services in schools is an effective strategy for connecting with at-risk or hard to reach youth. This article will discuss best practices and current research on this topic.