Opinion No. (2006)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General DANIEL G. STONE Deputy Attorney General. THE HONORABLE JOE BACA, JR., MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following questions: 1. Do the requirements for a state preliminary credential in speech-language pathology satisfy the federal standards governing Medicaid reimbursement? 2. Do the requirements for a state professional clear credential in speech-language pathology satisfy the federal standards governing Medicaid reimbursement? CONCLUSIONS 1. The requirements for a state preliminary credential in speech-language pathology satisfy the federal standards governing Medicaid reimbursement. 2. The requirements for a state professional clear credential in speech-language pathology satisfy the federal standards governing Medicaid reimbursement. ANALYSIS In 89 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 63 (2006), we concluded that the requirements for a state services credential with specialization in clinical or rehabilitative services issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing ("Commission") did not qualify the holder as a "speech pathologist" under the federal standards governing Medicaid reimbursement. 1 The federal standards ( 42…