Feds revise rules on LEAs seeking medical records
By Tom Chorneau
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
New federal regulations are set to take effect later this month easing requirements school districts and other public agencies must follow when accessing a child’s or parent’s public benefit or insurance information.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, schools are allowed to access medical insurance information for the purpose of billing for services that might be required under a student’s Individual Education Plan.
But existing rules require public agencies to obtain parental consent each time the benefit information is sought – a process that many districts find overly burdensome and complicated.
According to a memo from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, regulations published in the Federal Register last month and set to take effect on March 18 streamline the process.
The final regulations require public agencies to:
• Obtain a one-time written consent from the parent, after providing the written notification described below, before accessing the child’s or the parent’s public benefits or insurance for the first time. This consent must specify (a) the
Assembly budget panel fears funding outlook for special programs
Assembly budget panel fears funding outlook for special programs
Worried about the fate of adult, early childhood and career-technical education programs across the state, members of a legislative panel on education finance said Tuesday they will be taking a hard look over the coming weeks at the impact Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed school funding formula could have on those key offerings.