We have reached an agreement with the DOE on Medicaid billing for speech services that also addresses the challenging working conditions that you have faced when doing your SESIS work.

As we all know, SESIS is integral to the claiming process. The union’s goal has always been to make sure that you are treated fairly and to get SESIS fixed. To that end, the agreement provides additional compensation and protections for speech teachers whose speech-language pathology licenses will be attached to Medicaid claims and addresses longstanding concerns regarding the SESIS system, time to complete encounter attendance documentation and access to technology. Lastly, the agreement resolves all outstanding issues in the SESIS arbitration and litigation.

Here are highlights of the agreement:

• Differential: All speech teachers and speech evaluators with speech-language pathology licenses will receive a $5,000 salary differential. This differential will be pro-rated for part-time F-status speech teachers with SLP licenses. The DOE will reimburse speech teachers and evaluators with SLPs for their triennial fee for renewing their license.
• Duties and responsibilities: All speech teachers and evaluators with speech-language pathology licenses will be required to obtain a National Provider Identification Number and a Medicaid Identification Number. To be eligible for the differential, these speech teachers and evaluators must maintain their SLP license in good standing. Speech teachers and evaluators with SLPs will complete referrals for speech services.
• IEP-mandated services:The DOE may not assign any speech teacher to other duties that would prevent them from providing IEP-mandated services such as providing coverages, scoring exams or proctoring, except in extraordinary circumstances.
• SESIS improvements: The DOE will implement a SESIS system upgrade no later than Nov. 1, 2017. Failure to do so will result in the DOE having to provide additional per session time for speech teachers. The system upgrade will include many changes we have identified as priorities. For example, the system will recognize the provider, prepopulate the service type, prepopulate a number of items of student information and simplify the cumbersome process for documenting provider absences. 
• Documentation time: All speech teachers will continue to have at least 155 minutes per week — during regular work hours — for SESIS work. In addition, speech teachers will receive per session time, based on their caseload, to complete their SESIS work. Attendance per session can be done at home, if that is more convenient. Supervisor approval is required, but may not be unreasonably denied.
• Technology: All full-time speech teachers will receive a laptop computer or tablet with internet access within 90 days.
• Labor management committee: This committee, which will include representatives of the UFT, the DOE and the city Commissioner of Labor, will work to address issues such as space, testing materials, the configuration of the 155 minutes and standardizing reevaluation forms and session notes.
• License protections: The current obligation to represent and indemnify employees for work performed as part of their usual duties and responsibilities will be extended to ensure speech teachers are adequately protected for Medicaid-related actions. In addition, the agreement provides that compliance concerns can be reported anonymously and employees who report their concerns in accordance with the DOE’s Medicaid Compliance Plan will be protected from retaliation, administrative disciplinary proceedings, a letter to file or discontinuance.
• SESIS arbitration settlement:The DOE will pay $33 million to settle all claims related to the SESIS arbitration.

We’ve created an FAQ for you on this important settlement.

Read the FAQ »