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? 7 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)? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 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)? 1 852.00 34.00 4.00 2430.00 219.00 9.00 2 1152.00 46.00 4.00 3288.00 295.00 9.00 3 1451.00 58.00 4.00 4144.00 373.00 9.00 4 1751.00 70.00 4.00 5000.00 450.00 9.00 5 2051.00 82.00 4.00 5858.00 527.00 9.00 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): http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dss/childcr.html 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? [ ] No. [x] 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: Providers are given the option to participate in the Purchase of Care Plus Program. Through this option providers can charge the family the difference between the state rate and the providers’ private rate. Most of the providers participating in the POC Plus program are providers located in the lower two counties where the prices for childcare and reimbursement rates are typically lower than those in New Castle County. This program was implemented to incentivize providers to participate in the childcare subsidy program. This increased the number of providers thereby promoting access for families. POC Plus slots are optional, families are also able to choose a regular POC slot. 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: Purchase of Care Plus is an option for providers who participate in the childcare subsidy program where they are able to charge families the difference between the state reimbursement rate and their private fee. These providers collect the additional fee in a variety of ways. Some providers charge a flat rate while others charge a percentage of the difference. Therefore, the lead agency does not collect data on the size and frequency of such amounts. Date of Preliminary Notice: 3/27/23 The lead agency will need additional time to comply with this requirement as the state does not currently collect data on the size and frequency to which CCDF providers charge additional amounts to families.