No. 29852 (Amendment): R986-700. Child Care Assistance

DAR File No.: 29852
Filed: 04/20/2007, 03:14
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to clarify language and reflect practice.

Summary of the rule or change:

Child care subsidy payments are made through the Horizon Card. Some child care providers require that clients provide the Horizon Card PIN (personal identification number) to obtain child care services. This practice led to repeated allegations of provider fraud which led the Department to pass a rule stating the child care provider cannot require the client provide the PIN. The provision has been ignored and is impossible to enforce so in April the Department went to a new system to curb alleged abuse. With this new rule, Section R986-700-718 which became effective 04/01/2007, the need for the prohibition against requiring the PIN is no longer necessary. The Division continues to tell our clients that it is in their best interest to refuse to give their PIN to anyone. This proposed amendment also provides that provider overpayments be repaid within six months to avoid further action to insure overpayments are paid as quickly as possible.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Section 35A-1-104 and Subsections 35A-1-104(4) and 35A-3-310(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no anticipated costs of savings to the state budget as these proposed changes are nonsubstantive in nature and will not affect current funding levels.

local governments:

There are no local government funds used for this program so there will be no costs or savings to local government.

other persons:

There are no costs or savings to any other persons as there are no fees associated with this program and it is primarily federally funded.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no costs or savings to any affected persons as there are no fees associated with this program and it is primarily federally funded. These changes will not cost child care providers any sum.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

There are no compliance costs associated with this change. There are no fees associated with this change. There will be no cost to anyone to comply with these changes. There will be no fiscal impact on any business. Kristen Cox, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Workforce Services
Employment Development
140 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84111-2333

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Suzan Pixton at the above address, by phone at 801-526-9645, by FAX at 801-526-9211, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

06/14/2007

This rule may become effective on:

06/22/2007

Authorized by:

Kristen Cox, Executive Director

RULE TEXT

R986. Workforce Services, Employment Development.

R986-700. Child Care Assistance.

R986-700-706. Provider Rights and Responsibilities.

(1) Providers assume the responsibility to collect payment for child care services rendered. Neither the Department nor the state of Utah assumes responsibility for payment to providers.

(2) A provider may not charge clients receiving a CC subsidy a higher rate than their customers who do not receive a CC subsidy.

(3) Providers must keep accurate records of subsidized child care payments, time and attendance. The Department has the right to investigate child care providers and audit their records. Time and attendance records for all subsidized clients must be kept for at least one year. If a provider fails to cooperate with a Department investigation or audit, or fails to keep records for one year, the provider will no longer be an approved provider.

(4) If a provider accepts payment from funds provided by the Department for services which were not provided, the provider may be referred for criminal prosecution and will no longer be an approved provider.[ A provider cannot require that a client give the provider the client's Horizon card and/or the client's PIN or otherwise obtain the card and/or PIN.]

(5) If an overpayment is established and it is determined that the provider was at fault in the creation of the overpayment, the provider is responsible for repayment of the overpayment.

(6) Records will be kept by the Department for individuals who are not approved providers and against whom a referral or complaint is received.

 

R986-700-718. Provider Disqualification.

(1) A child care provider removing child care subsidy funds from a client's account by way of electronic benefit transfer (EBT), which includes the Horizon card and interactive voice response (IVR), can only remove those funds from a client's account that are authorized by the Department for that provider. All providers receiving payment for child care services through an EBT may learn the exact amount authorized for that provider for each client by accessing the Department's Provider Payment Authorization website. Providers who remove more funds than authorized will be required to reimburse the Department for the excess funds and will be disqualified from receipt of further CC subsidy funds as follows;

(a) if the provider has never removed unauthorized CC subsidy funds before, the Department will send a demand letter to the provider's last known address informing the provider of the unauthorized access and establishing an overpayment in the amount of the excess funds. If the provider repays the overpayment within six months, no further action will be taken on that overpayment,

(b) if the provider removes funds in excess of those authorized by the Department a second time, and the provider repaid the previous overpayment or is making a good faith effort to repay the overpayment, a second demand letter will be sent to the provider's last known address. The second letter will establish an overpayment in the amount of the excess funds removed and inform the provider that any further unauthorized access will result in disqualification. If the provider removes unauthorized funds and has not repaid the first overpayment, or is not making a good faith effort to repay the first overpayment to the Department, no second demand letter will be sent and the provider will be disqualified for a period of one year from the date the Department issues its letter, or in the case of an appeal, from the date the ALJ issues his or her determination. A good faith effort to repay the overpayment means the provider is repaying at least 10% of the overpayment due each month,

(c) if a child care provider removes unauthorized funds a third time, or a second time without repayment of the first overpayment as provided in paragraph (1)(b) of this subsection, the provider will be disqualified and is ineligible for receipt of further CC subsidy funds for a period of one year from the date the Department issues its letter, or in the case of an appeal, from the date the ALJ issues his or her determination,

(d) a CC provider previously disqualified for one year from receipt of CC subsidy funds due to unauthorized removal of funds in paragraph (1)(c) of this subsection, will be disqualified for a period of two years if the provider removes unauthorized funds again. Warning letters under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection will not be sent if a provider was previously disqualified for receipt of CC subsidy funds,

(e) a CC provider previously disqualified for a two year period due to unauthorized removal of funds in paragraph (1)(d) of this subsection will be permanently disqualified if the provider removes unauthorized funds again. Warning letters under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection will not be sent if a provider was previously disqualified for receipt of CC subsidy funds.

(2) CC providers disqualified under subsection (1) of this section will be ineligible for receipt of quality grants awarded by the Department during the period of disqualification.

(3) A CC provider overpayment not paid in full within six months will be referred to collection and will be collected in the same manner as all public assistance overpayments. Payment of provider overpayments must be made to the Department and not to the client.

(4) A CC provider may appeal an overpayment or disqualification as provided for public assistance appeals in rule R986-100. Any appeal must be filed in writing within 30 days of the date of letter establishing the overpayment or disqualification. A provider who has been found ineligible may continue to receive CC subsidy funds pending appeal until a decision is issued by the ALJ. The disqualification period will take effect even if the provider files an appeal of the decision issued by the ALJ.

 

KEY: child care

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [April 1, ] 2007

Notice of Continuation: September 14, 2005

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 35A-3-310