equal-access-payment-practices

Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency does not pay all provider types prospectively or alternatively does not demonstrate that it is not a generally-accepted practice for all provider types, as required by 98.45(m)(1). (Plan Question 4.4.1a). Please note the Lead Agency has an approved waiver for this requirement through August 1, 2026. • The Lead Agency does not pay based on enrollment or alternatively does not provide justification that this is impracticable or is not a generally-accepted practice, as required by 98.45(m)(2). (Plan Question 4.4.1b). Please note the Lead Agency has an approved waiver for this requirement through August 1, 2026. • The Lead Agency does not pay for reasonable mandatory registration fees that the provider charges to private-paying parents, as required by 98.45(m)(4). (Plan Question 4.4.2b) Overall Target Completion Date: 08/31/2026 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Develop plan with timelines for implementation of enrollment and prospective based payment, addressing all equal access plans and implementation, to include technology implementation as well as fiscal, program, policy 06/30/2025 2 Conduct Stakeholder engagement, including internal partners, child care providers, family and community advocates, state agency partners 07/31/2025 3 Align with DES Financial Services Administration 09/30/2025 4 Submit agency request for State Fiscal Year 2027 Budget 09/30/2025 5 Conduct SFY 2027 State Budget Process 06/30/2026 6 Finalize implementation plan, including new Provider Registration Agreement for all CCDF contracted child care providers (effective October 2026) 07/31/2026 7 Submit State Plan amendment 08/31/2026