In follow up to the release of the School-Based Services (SBS) Comprehensive Guide to Medicaid Services and Administrative Claiming in May 2023, HHS's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the SBS Technical Assistance (TA) Center. This center will continue to be developed in conjunction with the Department of Education (ED). It will:

• Support State Medicaid agencies, local education agencies (LEAs), and school-based entities seeking to expand their capacity for providing Medicaid SBS
• Reduce administrative burden
• Support such entities in obtaining payment for the rendering of Medicaid SBS
• Ensure ongoing coordination and collaboration between ED and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding Medicaid SBS
• Provide guidance with regard to utilization of various funding sources.

CMS encourages stakeholders to use the TA Center to assist in implementing the flexibilities and requirements discussed in the SBS Guide and further enhancing or expanding their current SBS programs. The Center will continue to add resources and materials to support States and schools in implementing Medicaid SBS.

The TAC will continue to be updated with additional resources over the coming months. Future resources will include more in depth guidance on various aspects of billing for school-based Medicaid for both state Medicaid agencies, state education agencies, local education agencies, and schools. CMS welcomes input on what future content should be developed for the TAC. Please email any TAC suggestions to the SBS mailbox at schoolbasedservices@cms.hhs.gov.

Visit the TA Center to learn more.

Are you a professional working with families of children with special needs? If so, we want to hear from you! The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) wants to learn how you get and share information and resources with the families you work with. Your responses will help us improve the information and resources provided to professionals like you to support families in finding their right next step. It will also help us develop marketing strategies to better reach you.

Please take the survey by February 6. This survey should take about 5-10 minutes to complete. The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Hmong.

In addition, please share this email with other professionals who work with children with special needs, and encourage them to take the survey andsignup for email subscriptions.

Who are children with special needs?

Children with special needs have physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions and require health and related services beyond what’s typically required by children.

Who should take the survey?

Take our survey if you work in any capacity with children with special needs. Medical and mental health providers, faith-based organizations, individuals working in education, advocates, child care providers, and others working with children with special needs are encouraged to take the survey. We want to hear from you!

Take the survey now

About this work

This work is supported by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. To learn more about this and other ARPA projects, visit our website!

The latest edition of the ForwardHealth Update is available here.

DHS Seeks Applicants for State Long-Term Care Advisory Councils
Deadline to Apply: February 3

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is seeking qualified applicants to fill vacancies on two state long-term care advisory councils. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 3, 2023. Information regarding both opportunities is below.

Long-Term Care Advisory Council (LTCAC)

The LTCAC serves as an advisory body to DHS on existing and emerging aging, disability, and long-term care systems issues. Members provide advice and make recommendations to the DHS Secretary regarding long-term care policy, programs, and services. Learn more about LTCAC.

IRIS Advisory Committee (IAC)

The IAC is a workgroup established to provide recommendations to the DHS program staff on issues related to administration of the IRIS program. IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) is a self-directed program for adults with disabilities and elderly people. IAC members are individuals who have relevant knowledge, experience, expertise, and community relationships that allow them to present ideas, opinions, or facts for the betterment of the IRIS program. Learn more about the IAC.

How to Apply

Applications of interest to serve on these two councils can be found on the DHS website:

• Application for the LTCAC
• Application for the IAC

If you would like to request a paper application or need an accommodation or assistance with completing your application, please contact DHS Long-Term Care at 608-267-7286 or DHSDMSLTC@dhs.wisconsin.gov. Please include the name of the council to which you are applying.

Congratulations to the exceptional students who are the 2022 Recipients of the WSHA Foundation, Inc. Scholarships!

The WSHA Foundation, Inc. Board received a record number of applicants for scholarships and are proud to offer the following students some public recognition for their accomplishments and for receiving these awards!

Please acknowledge the accomplishments of these students to the faculty and students in your programs!

We look forward to seeing all that they accomplish in their field of study and practice!

The Judith H. and David J. Ward Scholarship - $1,000
Joyce Dong, Marquette University

Nancy McKinley Scholarship - $1,000
Mia Angione, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Friends of WSHA Foundation Scholarship - $1,500
Breanna Wolter, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Heart of Healthcare Scholarship - $1,500
Julia Mordarski, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jack Kile Scholarship - $1,000
Athara Ibrahim, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Finally, the Otto Family chose to award three scholarships in honor of their beloved Risa Mari Otto!

Risa Mari Otto Scholarship - $2,000 each award
Ailyn Vargas, Marquette University
Kylie Dube, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Yalzell Noriega, Marquette University

The WSHA Board of Directors is honored to be able to continue supporting speech-language and audiology professionals by offering an early bird discount for members who join or renew by October 31, 2022.With this discount, regular members pay only $99 for WSHA membership! For your convenience, we have updated invoices to reflect the early bird discount.

We’re also pleased to extend an additional year of complimentary membership to our Recent Graduates . This means all early career professionals in their first year following graduation receive all the benefits of WSHA membership at no charge. Recent Graduates in their second- or third-year following graduation can take advantage of the reduced member rate of $75.If you’re new to WSHA, register via the WSHA website and indicate you are a Recent Graduate.

We’re making plans for in-person Workshops, Virtual Town Hall Meetings, and Virtual Happy Hours to share important updates and resources as they become available. Visit the WSHA website for more information on the WSHA You Knew Webinar Series! These webinars are complimentary for WSHA members so join today to take advantage of this excellent opportunity!

If you haven’t been a member of WSHA in the past, don’t wait JOIN TODAY!! Visit www.wisha.org or email WSHA@badgerbay.co (not .com) for more information. If you have any questions, please email WSHA@badgerbay.co (not .com) – we’re here to help!

WSHA Virtual Business Meeting
August 24, 2022
12:00 - 1:00 PM

Join leaders within the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology professions to learn more about the benefits of WSHA membership, WSHA advocacy efforts and activities that influence your practice, the rewards of being a WSHA volunteer and the skills you could gain through volunteer leadership. An update on the state of the association will be provided. (This meeting is in place of the business meeting that takes place during the in-person convention).

The DSPS is currently experiencing delays with licensing certain professionals within the State of Wisconsin. WSHA can assist. If you're experiencing delays in application processing, please complete this form. WSHA will compile and submit to DSPS on a weekly basis. WSHA will work with DSPS to expediate and troubleshoot application delays.

We're currently seeking nominations for the WSHA Awards. This is a great opportunity to recognize your colleagues for the great work they're doing. Please review the awards here and submit your nomination today!

The Wisconsin Speech Language Pathology and Hearing Association (WSHA) concurs with the sentiment of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and sends its most sincere condolences to those involved in and affected by the senseless tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. We stand with our school-based members, education professionals, children, and their families and continue to monitor local, state, and national legislation which aims to support the safety of those learning and working within our schools.