Schools can be appropriate locations in which to identify low-income children who are eligible for Medicaid, assist them to enroll, & provide Medicaid-covered services. This report addresses: the extent to which school districts & states claim Medicaid reimbursement for school-based health services & administrative activities; the appropriateness of methods that states use to establish bundled rates for school-based health services & to assess the costs of administrative activities that their schools may claim as reimbursable; states' retention of Federal Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by schools & schools' practice of paying contingency fees to private firms; & HCFA oversight of state practices.

Witnesses: Sally Richardson, Director, Center for Medicaid & State Operations, Health Care Financing Administration, Washington, DC; William J. Scanlon, Ph.D., Director, Public Health & Financing Issues, Education & Human Services Section, General Accounting Office; Vernon K. Smith, Ph.D., principal, Health Management Associates, Lansing, MI; Gregory A. Vadner, director, Division of Medical Services, Missouri Department of Social Services, Jefferson City, MO; & Sue Gamm, chief specialized services officer, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL.

Schools and Health is a readable and well-organized book on comprehensive school health programs (CSHPs) for children in grades K-12. The book explores the needs of today's students and how those needs can be met through CSHP design and development. The committee provides broad recommendations for CSHPs, with suggestions and guidelines for national, state, and local actions. The volume examines how communities can become involved, explores models for CSHPs, and identifies elements of successful programs. Topics include: The history of and precedents for health programs in schools. The state of the art in physical education, health education, health services, mental health and pupil services, and nutrition and food services. Policies, finances, and other elements of CSHP infrastructure. Research and evaluation challenges. Schools and Health will be important to policymakers in health and education, school administrators, school physicians and nurses, health educators, social scientists, child advocates, teachers, and parents.