3.1 Family Co-payments

Lead Agencies must establish and periodically revise a sliding-fee scale for families receiving CCDF services that varies based on income and the size of the family to determine each family’s contribution (i.e., co-payment) and does not create a barrier to receiving CCDF assistance. In addition to income and the size of the family, the Lead Agency may use other factors as appropriate when determining family contributions/co-payments. Lead Agencies may not use price of care or amount of subsidy payment in determining co-payments. Lead Agencies must ensure that the total payment to a child care provider is not reduced because of family’s lowered or waived co-payment. 3.1.1 Family co-payment Lead Agencies may not charge any family more than 7% of a family’s gross income, regardless of the number of children participating in CCDF. a. What is the maximum percent of a family’s gross income any family could be charged as a co-payment? Copays (parent fees) are currently capped at 10% of a family's income. Colorado will be adjusting our parent fee formula to ensure that the fee does not exceed 7% of the family's income by April 1, 2026, which will allow time for the appropriate technology changes to be completed to meet full implementation by August 1, 2026. b. Does the Lead Agency certify that their sliding fee scales are always based on income and family size (regardless of how many different scales they may use)? [ ] Yes. [x] No. If no, describe: Currently, copays (parent fees) are assessed based upon a marginal rate increase of fourteen percent (14%) for every dollar of gross countable household income above one hundred percent (100%) of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG). Eligible households with countable income that is at or below the one hundred percent (100%) of the FPG have a copay assessed at one percent (1%) of their income. Eligible households with countable income that is above one hundred percent (100%) of the FPG have a copay assessed at one percent (1%) of their income plus a marginal rate increase of fourteen percent (14%) for every dollar of gross countable household income above one hundred percent (100%) of the FPG. An additional fifteen dollar ($15) fee shall be added to the copay for each additional child when households are requesting care for more than one child and have income above one hundred percent (100%) of the FPG. If care is only requested for one (1) child, the additional fifteen dollar ($15) fee does not apply. Additionally, if the child attends a high-quality provider (a provider at a level 3, 4, or 5 of the QRIS) the household receives a 20% decrease in their parent fee. Colorado will be adjusting our parent fee formula to ensure that the fee does not exceed 7% of the family's income, regardless of the number of children in care, by April 1, 2026, which will allow time for the appropriate technology changes to be completed to meet full implementation by August 1, 2026. 3.1.2 Sliding fee scale Provide the CCDF co-payments for eligible families in the table(s) below according to family size for one child in care. a. Is the sliding fee scale set statewide? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe how the sliding fee scale is set: b. Complete the table below. If the sliding fee scale is not set statewide, complete the table for the most populous locality: -- A B C D E F Family Size Lowest monthly income at initial eligibility where the family is first charged a co-pay (greater than $0). What is the monthly co-payment for a family of this size based on the income level in (A)? What percentage of income is the co- payment in (B)? Highest monthly income at initial eligibility where a family is charged a co-pay before a family is no longer eligible. What is the monthly co- payment for a family of this size based on the income level in (D)? What percentage of income is this co- payment in (E)? 1 2 100.00 1.00 1.00 3286.67 262.00 7.97 3 100.00 1.00 1.00 4143.33 391.00 9.43 4 100.00 1.00 1.00 5000.00 519.00 10.38 5 100.00 1.00 1.00 5856.67 648.00 11.00 c. What is the effective date of the sliding-fee scale(s)? October 1, 2023 d. Provide the link(s) to the sliding-fee scale(s): https://www.coloradoofficeofearlychildhood.com/oec/OEC_Families?p=Family&s=Colora do-Child-Care-Assistance-Program&lang=en e. Does the Lead Agency allow providers to charge families additional amounts above the required co-payment in instances where the provider’s price exceeds the subsidy payment? [x] No. [ ] Yes. If yes: i. Provide the rationale for the Lead Agency’s policy to allow providers to charge families additional amounts above the required co-payment, including a demonstration of how the policy does not provide a barrier and promotes affordability and access for families: ii. Provide data (including data on the size and frequency of such amounts) on the extent to which CCDF providers charge additional amounts to families: