equal-access-payment-rates

Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency payment rates for preschoolers in center-based care and preschoolers in family child care homes are not sufficient to ensure equal access, as required by 98.45(a). (Plan Question 4.3.2a) Overall Target Completion Date: 03/31/2025 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Receive federal approval for alternative methodology for rate setting 01/05/2024 2 Contract with external research partner to carry out pre-approved alternative methodology to set payment rates 05/01/2024 3 Finalize workplan and develop research protocol 06/30/2024 4 Data collection and analyses for alternative methodology cost modeling 09/30/2024 5 Conduct stakeholder engagement 12/18/2024 6 Recommend rate increases using cost of care based on pre-approved alternative methodology 12/18/2024 7 Receive EEC Board approval for rate increases based on pre-approved alternative methodology 01/15/2025 8 Release policy advisory regarding rate change to the field 01/30/2025 9 Implement rate increases based on pre-approved alternative methodology 03/01/2025 10 Prepare and post summary report 03/31/2025