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Page 9 designations developed by the National Center for Health & Statistics but that they were open to other ways of determining this. Finally, MDHS explained that this year they would be examining the cost of providing child care with an additional set of questions on the Market Rate Survey, which would allow them to consider the gap between what providers are charging and what actual costs are. Eleven providers spoke in favor of the new cost questions being added to the MRS, emphasizing the need for subsidy rates to be based on the actual cost of operating child care programs rather than on current tuition rates, which are often set at the current subsidy rate and/or based on what parents in their area can afford to pay. One provider elaborated, “Glad this group is studying child care costs as well as prices! It’s always a tradeoff between the amount that can be paid versus the number [of children] that can be served, but it's good that we are at least collecting the data to better understand what it costs providers to offer care.” The Mississippi Department of Human Services bases current subsidy rates on market rates obtained in the 2021 Market Rate Survey (MRS). Table 1 shows the current rate used for licensed providers in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Table 2 shows the rate for registered providers (unlicensed providers who participate in the Child Care Payment Program or Child and Adult Care Food Program). These rates became effective in July 2023 when the enhanced emergency rate enacted in response to COVID-19 expired. Table 1. Current Child Care Payment Program Rates for Licensed Providers Standard Market Rate Full-time Metro Non-metro Infant $152 $125 Toddler $145 $120 Preschool $135 $120 School Age $130 $110 Special Needs (All Ages) $145 $145 Part-time Infant $90 $80 Toddler $90 $75 Preschool $75 $75 School Age $80 $74 Special Needs (All Ages) $87 $87 PREVIOUS RATES BASED ON MRS