Children with disabilities left behind in school after healthcare changes

Interest organizations Ieder(in), Vereniging Gehandicapten Nederland (VGN) and parent organization BOSK are concerned about health insurance companies that do not want to pay for supervision in the classroom despite it being their responsibility, NOS reports. Ieder(in), the organization for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, is sending a letter to the Tweede Kamer (lower house of parliament) regarding this today. Because of the changes in healthcare and appropriate education it has in practice become unclear who has to pay for the intensive care or supervision in the classroom. This usually involves children with multiple disabilities who need intensive (medical) care, nursing or supervision in the classroom. There are at least 2 thousand children affected by this, but interest groups think there may be many more. According to the interest group, health insurers mistakenly refer parents to the municipalities. And at the municipalities parents are sent back to the health insurers. "I know dozens of parents who have gone through this." Kees Bouma, policy adviser for Care and Education, told the newspaper. "Municipalities often do not understand that they do have a role to play in the payment." In practice this confusion leads to deadlocks. Everyone wants what is best for the child, but also have to deal with less money. The interest groups want better information about who is responsible for which payments. They also want somewhere for parents to turn to when they get stuck.