Medicaid in Public Schools is a federally funded reimbursement program that allows school districts to bill Arizona's Medicaid program (AHCCCS) for some of the services provided to Medicaid/AHCCCS eligible special education students at a school. The money for the Direct Service Claiming program comes from the federal Medicaid system and does not take any money from current AHCCCS programs. The money is intended specifically for the schools and will not affect any of the services the child may currently receive through AHCCCS. Also, if the child received services through DDD/DES, those services will not be affected. Some of the covered services include speech, occupational and physical therapy, nursing, specialized transportation, psychological evaluations, counseling, and classroom-based health services such as eating, toileting, wheelchair transferring, and use of assistive devices. This program will not cost the family any time or money. Currently, neither the state nor the federal government provide enough money to cover the entire cost of special education. The extra money needed is taken from the district's general budget. DSC is a way to help the school district pay for some extra costs of providing special education services. The district follows all privacy and confidentiality laws set up by the state and the federal government.

Taunya Compton
ESS DSC/MAC Coordinator
Phone: 480-987-5391
Email Ms. Compton