2026 SESSION

SENATE SUBSTITUTE

26107861D

SENATE BILL NO. 73

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations

on February 12, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Srinivasan)

A BILL to direct the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services to train staff in Medicaid billing navigation for certain school services.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) shall provide training to local school division staff regarding assisting schools in effectively navigating the laws, policies, rules, regulations, and guidelines governing Medicaid billing for reimbursable services rendered at school sites, including the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (P.L. 117-159), and to ensure that all school divisions are able to fully leverage Medicaid funding opportunities to enhance student health services in the Commonwealth. DMAS shall ensure that such training focuses on (i) understanding and navigating the current federal Medicaid billing and reimbursement processes and procedures; (ii) providing training to school division staff on the billing and reimbursement processes and procedures for Medicaid-reimbursable services provided directly by school personnel or contracted providers at school sites; (iii) identifying new services that are eligible for Medicaid reimbursement under any expansion of eligibility pursuant to state or federal law, policy, rule, regulation, or guidelines; (iv) ensuring compliance with both state and federal Medicaid billing requirements; and (v) developing best practices and documentation templates to streamline a school division's Medicaid billing process. Such training may also include direct support to schools through (a) conducting training sessions and workshops for school administrators and financial officers to familiarize such individuals with any new Medicaid billing opportunities; (b) assisting school divisions in submitting claims for Medicaid-reimbursable services, including mental health services, physical and occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, and other reimbursable health-related services provided to students at school sites; (c) advising school divisions on strategies to expand Medicaid-reimbursable services based on student needs and available resources; and (d) creating and distributing guidance documents, toolkits, and other resources to ensure consistency in Medicaid billing practices in school divisions across the Commonwealth. DMAS shall provide such training virtually and not less than semi-annually. DMAS shall coordinate its training efforts with the Department of Education, which shall provide notice to local school divisions as necessary to help facilitate such training opportunities for local school division staff.