CCMTL 125 (Implementation of Am. Sub. HB 483 for Publicly Funded Child Care)
Child Care Manual Transmittal Letter No. 125
September 10, 2014
TO: All Child Care Manual Holders
FROM: Cynthia C. Dungey, Director
SUBJECT: Implementation of Am. Sub. HB 483 for Publicly Funded Child Care

Background:

Amended Substitute House Bill 483 of the 130th General Assembly creates two new requirements for publicly funded child care (PFCC). It requires the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to pay for care provided during the determination of PFCC eligibility, if a completed application with all required documentation is received, even if the application is ultimately denied. The bill also allows a caretaker to continue to receive PFCC services for up to 13 weeks after the loss of a qualifying activity.

The following amended rules and forms are effective September 14, 2014:

Rule 5101:2-16-07 "County agency responsibilities for the administration of publicly funded child care" has been amended to add a requirement that the county agency send a verification checklist to notify an applicant for publicly funded child care of what is needed to complete the eligibility determination.

Rule 5101:2-16-30 "Eligibility requirements for publicly funded child care" has been amended to allow a caretaker to continue to receive publicly funded child care for up to thirteen weeks after losing a qualifying activity.

Rule 5101:2-16-35 "County agency responsibilities for determining eligibility for publicly funded child care benefits" has been amended to require the county agency to notify an identified child care provider when an application for publicly funded child care has been denied. The notification will include whether or not the provider is able to seek payment for services provided to the child(ren) while the county agency determined eligibility.
Rule 5101:2-16-35.1 "Caretaker eligibility requirements to qualify for publicly funded child care benefits" has been amended to include a definition of a complete application as well as the criteria for when care provided to the children during the eligibility determination is eligible for payment.

Rule 5101:2-16-39 "Copayment for publicly funded child care" has been amended to clarify that a family's copayment will be recalculated if the caretaker has lost a qualifying activity and has qualified for up to thirteen weeks of continued benefits.

Rule 5101:2-16-44 "Provider agreement for payment of publicly funded child care" has been amended to notify child care providers of the process to request payment for services provided during the determination of eligibility.

JFS 01261 "Publicly Funded Child Care Manual Claim for Attendance" has been revised to clarify the reasons for a manual claim to request payment for services provided.

JFS 01292 "Publicly Funded Child Care Request for Ohio ECC Payment Adjustment" has been revised to clarify the reasons for requesting adjustment to payments.

The following new forms are effective September 14, 2014:

JFS 01211 "Request for Payment of Publicly Funded Child Care Services Provided for a Denial of Application" has been developed to assist child care providers with requesting payment for services provided during the application process when an application is denied.

JFS 01205 "Provider Appeal for Services Not Eligible for Payment" has been developed to assist child care providers with appealing the denial of a request for payment for an incomplete application for publicly funded child care.

Implementation:

Effective September 14, 2014, child care providers will utilize the revised JFS 01261 and the JFS 01292 for services provided after this date.

A provider may be eligible to request reimbursement for services provided when a caretaker's application has been denied, if the child care application is received by the county agency on or after September 14, 2014.

A caretaker's eligibility for publicly funded child care may continue for up to 13 weeks after the loss of a qualifying activity, when the qualifying activity has ended on or after September 14, 2014.