Current Status of State Policies That Support School-Based Health Centers

Objectives. This study explored the current status of the role of state school-based health center (SBHC) initiatives, their evolution over the last two decades, and their expected impact on SBHCs' long-term sustainability. Methods. A national survey of states was conducted to determine (1) the amount and source of funding dedicated by the state directly for SBHCs, (2) criteria for funding distribution, (3) designation of staff/office to administer the program, (4) provision of technical assistance by the state program office, (5) types of performance data collected by the program office, (6) state perspective on future outlook for long-term sustainability, and (7) Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) policies for reimbursement to SBHCs. Results. Nineteen states reported allocating a total of $55.7 million to 612 SBHCs in school year 2004-2005. The two most common sources of state-directed funding for SBHCs were state general revenue ($27 million) and Title V of the Social Security Act ($7 million). All but one of the 19 states have a program office dedicated to administering and overseeing the grants, and all mandate data reporting by their SBHCs. Sixteen states have established operating standards for SBHCs. Eleven states define SBHCs as a unique provider type for Medicaid; only six do so for SCHIP. Conclusions. In 20 years, the number of state SBHC initiatives has increased from five to 19. Over time, these initiatives have played a significant role in the expansion of SBHCs by earmarking state and federal public health funding for SBHCS, setting program standards, collecting evaluation data to demonstrate impact, and advocating for long-term sustainable resources.