equal-access-payment-rates
Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency’s payment rates for infants in center-based care, infants in family child care homes, 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: 07/01/2025 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Legislature appropriates funds according to DCYF’s budget request to support base rates at 85th percentile of the market rate according to the 2024 Market Rate Survey 05/16/2025 2 DCYF files emergency rules to amend WACs to increase rates. (DCYF will file permanent rules concurrently to take effect when emergency rules sunset.) 06/01/2025 3 DCYF updates base rates in Social Services Payment System effective for month of service July 2025 06/30/2025 4 Emergency rules go into effect 07/01/2025