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PROVIDER DETERMINATIONS In accordance with 7 CFR 273.7(c)(18) a State agency must ensure that E&T providers are informed of their authority and responsibility to determine if an individual is ill-suited for a particular E&T component. Describe the process used by E&T providers to communicate provider determinations to the State agency. The CDSS published guidance on Provider Determination processes in ACL 21-48 on April 23, 2021. The CDSS implemented the provider determination process as outlined in ACL 21-48 on October 1, 2021. A “provider determination” is a determination by an E&T provider that an E&T participant is not a good fit (i.e. ill-suited) for a particular E&T component. The provider may make a provider determination from the time a participant is referred to the component until completion of the component. If an individual is determined to be ill-suited for a component, it is then the county’s responsibility to determine if the individual should continue to participate in E&T. If the provider determines that a different component is more suitable for a participant, the county can either require the provider to refer the individual back to the county or allow the provider to enroll the participant in a more suitable component if offered by the provider. E&T providers communicate the “Provider Determination” through established communication protocols and methods with counties. Most commonly the communication will occur from the E&T Provider to the county via email, SharePoint, or secure data exchange. Describe how the State agency notifies clients of a provider determination. Upon receipt of the provider determination, the county is required to determine whether the individual should continue to participate in CalFresh E&T. If the partner entity offers another, more suitable component, the county has the option to either: · Require the partner entity to refer the individual back to the county before switching the individual to the other component; or · Allow the partner entity to shift the individual to the other component without referral back to the county. Once the county receives a provider determination, and the CalFresh E&T participant is not exempt from the work requirement, the county must: · Notify the CalFresh E&T participant of the provider determination within ten (10) days of receipt; · Explain to the participant in writing or verbally what a provider determination is, how to contact the county, and the next steps the county is taking; · Notify the participant that they are not being sanctioned because of the provider's determination; and · Notify the individual if they are an ABAWD, subject to the time limit, that they will begin to accrue countable months the next full benefit month following the month the provider determination is made, unless the ABAWD satisfies the work requirement, has good cause, lives in a waived area, or is otherwise exempt. Once a provider notification has been received, the county must select one of the following four options no later than the participant’s next recertification. 1. Refer the individual to another appropriate component. 2. Refer the individual to an appropriate workforce partnership. 3. Reassess the physical and mental fitness of the individual. 4. Coordinate with other federal, state, or local workforce or assistance programs to identify other work opportunities or assistance. 1/28/26, 11:04 AM State Plan CA FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-cafy26stateplan//index.html 55/286