Background:

To ensure all Ohio families have equal access to child care services as defined by the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services has stated that Ohio's Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) base provider payment rates must be at the 50^th percentile of its most recent market rate survey (MRS). As Ohio works toward this requirement, PFCC reimbursement rates will be temporarily increased to the 35^th percentile of the 2022 MRS. This increase will be implemented using American Rescue Plan (ARP) discretionary funds. Ohio expects to implement a new PFCC payment structure, with base rates at the 50^th percentile, later in the 2024 calendar year.

Rule 5101:2-16-10 "Payment rates and procedures for providers of publicly funded child care services" has been amended to reflect these new rates in Appendix A to this rule. This rule will be effective February 4, 2024.

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