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. Overall Target Completion Date: 08/01/2026 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Child care staff will submit a White Paper requesting process and automation updates in the Idaho Benefits Eligibility System (IBES) and associated automated financial systems to pay Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) child care providers prospectively after the first month of eligibility or the first month when services begin, automation updates are not necessary to pay based on enrollment, or the provider's preferred billing practices. These updates will not require policy changes or rule promulgation. 06/30/2025 2 Child care staff will coordinate meetings and seek feedback from child care providers related to prospective payments and enrollment based billing/payments and the best policies and processes to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. 12/31/2025 3 Child care staff will work with Process Engineers and Automation Liaisons to develop updates to the IBES rules engine and benefit process manual and coordinate the timeline for automation development, testing, and implementation of prospective ICCP after the first month of eligibility or the first month when services begin. System updates do not appear to be necessary to pay based on enrollment, or the provider's preferred payment practices. 08/01/2026 4 Child care staff will coordinate with Child Care Resource Centers and training staff to develop updated information and tools to assist providers with accurate record keeping and timely reporting of ICCP overpayments associate to prospective payments, or payments made based on enrollment after attendance has failed to begin or permanently ceased. 08/01/2026 5 Child care staff will coordinate with the IDWH Central Revenue Unit staff to identify process improvements for reporting and collecting ICCP overpayments associated with prospective payments, or payments made based on 08/01/2026 enrollment after attendance has failed to begin or permanently ceased. 6 Child care staff will work with partners at IdahoSTARS and IDHW Communications Teams to develop a communication plan for child care providers, Child Care Resource Center staff, community partners, and subsidy participating families providing resources and education regarding billing ICCP based on enrollment, allowable charges, temporary and interim ICCP payments, and reporting requirements for providers and families. The ICCP Provider Orientation will also be updated to reflect allowable billing based on enrollment or the provider's preferred billing practices. At this time, these process changes do not appear to require any policy or automation changes as most ICCP participating providers are billing and receiving payments based on enrollment. 08/01/2026