equal-access-payment-practices

Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency does not pay all providers in a timely manner. In addition, 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. • The Lead Agency does not pay for reasonable mandatory registration fees that the provider charges to private-paying parents, as required by 98.45(m)(4). (Plan Question 4.4.2b) Overall Target Completion Date: 09/30/2026 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Determine fiscal impact for paying providers prospectively, paying on enrollment, and paying mandatory registration fees. 03/31/2025 2 Stakeholder engagement 01/30/2026 3 Create policies on paying providers prospectively, paying on enrollment, and paying registration fees to be effective August 1, 2026 01/30/2026 4 Updates to Child Care Data System (CCDS) based on new policies 06/30/2026 5 Train staff and providers on new policy and CCDS updates 06/30/2026 6 Message to stakeholders 06/30/2026 7 Public comment period for amendment 07/31/2026 8 Plan amendment to 4.4.1a., 4.4.1b., and 4.4.2. 09/30/2026