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. Overall Target Completion Date: 03/30/2026 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 July 1, 2024, Connecticut Public Act No. 24-91 repealed the regulations that governed the Care 4 Kids child care subsidy program. P.A. No. 24-91 further directed the Commissioner of the OEC to implement the provisions of 45 CFR 98 in order to administer the child care program and to develop policies and procedures necessary to implement such program. 09/30/2024 Create a framework for policy manual that aligns with Federal Rules. 2 Apply for ASSIST Technical Assistant support from the National Center for Subsidy Innovation and Accountability to develop and implement C4K policy manual. 10/16/2024 3 Hold three state-wide listening session with parent and providers to identify changes to C4K program. Use feedback to inform policy manual changes. 01/02/2025 4 OEC Policy team with support of ASSIST TA staff will draft C4K Policy Manual. OEC Policy team consults with OEC Leadership for feedback and edits OEC Policy team works with C4K team on the development of business processes related to revised policy. OEC consults with Deloitte IT team for policy changes that would require IT system updates. 10/30/2025 5 Begin phased-in rollout of C4K policy changes including paying provider prospectively. Update IT system based on policy changes. Develop and implement a communication plan with support from communication contractor at OEC. Pay all providers prospectively. 03/30/2026