10A NCAC 10 .0203         PayMENT RATES FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE

(a)  With the exception of Centers that are certified as developmental day centers by the Division, the payment rates for child care facilities shall be limited to the market rate or the child care facility's private rate, whichever is lower.

(b)  For centers that are certified as developmental day centers by the Division of Child Development and Early Education and that serve children who meet the definition of special needs set forth in 10A NCAC 10 .0910, the following shall apply:

(1)           payment rates for children with special needs served in developmental day centers shall be calculated by deducting the total revenues per child per month from the total costs per child. That rate shall then be multiplied by the current inflation percentage provided by the Office of State Budget and Management;

(2)           payment rates for typically developing children served in developmental day centers shall exclude those costs associated exclusively with serving children with special needs; and

(3)           payment rates for children with special needs and typically developing children served in developmental day centers shall be calculated every two years and shall be implemented as State and federal funding allows.

(c)  A facility approved for participation in the Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program that provides care to children with special needs, as defined in 10A NCAC 10 .0910, that is not a certified developmental day facility shall be paid a supplement to the facility's approved rate, subject to available funding, as follows:

(1)           the facility shall submit a request to the Local Purchasing Agency for approval for a supplemental payment;

(2)           the supplemental payment shall be based on additional documented costs incurred by the facility in serving the child with special needs, such as learning materials, equipment, and additional staff for one-on-one care;

(3)           the costs shall be determined by the Local Purchasing Agency and the facility based on the plan developed to meet the child's individual needs; and

(4)           the Local Purchasing Agency shall submit requests for all one-time supplemental payments in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) and all recurring supplemental payments in excess of three hundred dollars ($300.00) to the Division. The Division shall approve all requests that meet the child's development needs. All other supplemental payments shall be approved by the Local Purchasing Agency.

(d)  Payment rates for part time care shall be prorated according to the number of hours the child is scheduled to attend the child care facility.

(e)  Recipient fees imposed in accordance with the annual appropriations act shall be subtracted from the facility's payment rate to determine the State payment amount for an individual child.

(f)  Subsidized Child Care Assistance funds shall not be used to pay for services provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health or the Department of Public Instruction, Division of Exceptional Children's Services for that portion of the service delivery costs that are reimbursed by the Division of Public Health or Department of Public Instruction.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143B-153(8)a; 143B-153(2a);

Eff. January 1, 1987;

Amended Eff. March 1, 2012; April 1, 2001; February 1, 1996; December 1, 1992; July 1, 1990;

Readopted Eff. March 1, 2019.