| Are you the parent of a child with autism or dyslexia? | | | | personnel have other priorities, rather than giving |
| Is your child receiving special education related | | | | related services to needed children. |
| services? Have you been asked to give written | | | | Reason 3: The children in the district receiving Medicaid, |
| consent, so that your school district can bill your private | | | | often have their parents give consent for school |
| insurance company? This article will give you 5 | | | | districts to seek reimbursement for related services. |
| reasons not to consent to having your private | | | | This is another funding stream that school districts |
| insurance billed for related services and evaluations. | | | | receive, that they rarely discuss. This could amount to |
| Related services are special education services that | | | | millions of dollars in some school districts, so do not |
| your child needs to benefit from their education. They | | | | worry about your schools pocketbook! |
| can be: transportation, physical therapy (PT), | | | | Reason 4: Many insurance companies have caps on |
| occupational therapy (OT), speech/language therapy. | | | | benefits. If you allow your insurance to be billed, your |
| Private insurance can also be billed for psychological | | | | child may reach their cap, which means they would |
| testing (though many will not pay for this), testing for | | | | have no insurance. Also this may prevent your child |
| OT, PT, and Speech/language. | | | | from getting insurance in the future, if they have major |
| Below are 5 reasons why every parent in the US | | | | bills for related services and evaluations. |
| should refuse to have their private insurance billed for | | | | Reason 5: If you allow your insurance company to be |
| special education services: | | | | billed for psychological testing or other testing, special |
| Reason 1: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act | | | | education personnel may ask for testing that your child |
| states that all children with disabilities have the right to | | | | does not need. Reimbursement should not be the |
| special education and related services to meet their | | | | reason for testing your child; educational needs and |
| educational needs. Most parents have to fight so that | | | | services needed should be the reason. |
| their child can receive appropriate services in the | | | | Form: The form that you may be asked to sign would |
| correct amounts to meet their needs; but special | | | | probably state: Parent consent for reimbursement of |
| education is an entitlement! | | | | health related services. Read this form very carefully. It |
| Reason 2: School districts receive state and federal | | | | should state that this permission is voluntary. Also on |
| funding for related services. While federal funding does | | | | the form should be 2 boxes: 1. I give consent for billing |
| not pay all of the costs, states also chip in. | | | | of my private insurance company for related services |
| Also, every state in the USA has returned money to | | | | and evaluations or 2. I do not give consent for billing of |
| the federal government, for IDEA funds that have | | | | my private insurance company for services and |
| gone unused. Between 2000-2002 state board of | | | | evaluation. |
| educations sent back 1.7 billion dollars of unused IDEA | | | | By understanding these 5 reasons, you will know why |
| funds! Find out how much your school district sent | | | | it is in your child's best interest to not give consent for |
| back by contacting your state board of education! | | | | your private insurance to be billed, for related services |
| There is money, it is just that many special education | | | | and evaluations. |