CCMPL 145 (2021 Update to Publicly Funded Child Care County Categories and Provider Payment Rates)
Child Care Manual Procedure Letter No. 145
July 9, 2021
TO: All Child Care Manual Holders
FROM: Matt Damschroder, Director
SUBJECT: 2021 Update to Publicly Funded Child Care County Categories and Provider Payment Rates

Background:

The Child Care Development Block Grant Act of 2014 requires each state to complete a market rate survey (MRS) to be used in establishing rates for publicly funded child care.  In late 2020, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) conducted the MRS through an electronic survey sent to all licensed providers to capture rate data by age category and time served (i.e. full time, part time, hourly). Cluster analysis identified three cluster groupings of rates indicating three distinct, county-based, market rate structures in Ohio.

Implementation:

ODJFS will implement new rates for publicly funded child care based on the 2020 market rate survey and federal guidance requiring base rates to be at or above the 25th percentile of the market.  The new county categories and provider payment rates will be used for payments for services provided on or after July 4, 2021. Listed below are the counties changing payment categories.  Additionally, the new county categories and payment rates are on the attached appendix.

The new rates will be processed in the Time, Attendance and Payment System on August 1, 2021 for child care services provided the week of July 18, 2021. On August 8, 2021 the system will automatically process an adjustment for the two weeks of child care provided July 4 – 17, 2021.  Payments should appear in provider’s accounts within 7-10 business days after the payments are processed.  Per rule 5101:2-16-10 of the Ohio Administrative Code, programs with private pay rates that are lower than the new payment rates will not be issued an adjustment.  Programs may wish to check the accuracy of their private rates they have entered in OCLQS.

County Current Cluster 2021 Cluster
Athens 2 3
Crawford 1 2
Defiance 1 2
Morrow 2 3
Tuscarawas 1 2
Union 2 3

Appendix A to rule 5101:2-16-10 of the Ohio Administrative Code will be moving through the rule making process to implement these rate change in the publicly funded child care rules. The rule and appendix will be original filed to reflect these changes.

Please contact the Child Care Policy Helpdesk at 1-877-302-2347, option 4, if you have any questions.