An Act to Ensure Timely Reimbursement for Providers of Child Care Services for Children in Foster Care
Summary
LD 1191 would require the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse child care providers for services delivered to a family foster home within 15 days after receiving a complete and accurate invoice, so long as the invoice satisfies applicable state procurement and payment requirements. The bill also defines child care by reference to existing law, tying the new reimbursement rule to the current statutory definition.
In addition to the payment deadline, the bill directs DHHS to establish procedures to ensure invoices are processed and paid on time, and to provide guidance to child care providers on how to submit complete invoices and meet any required state payment rules. It also requires the department to report annually to the Governor and Legislature on compliance, including average reimbursement times, the number of delayed reimbursements, and any corrective actions taken.
Impact
The bill would add a new statutory reimbursement requirement for DHHS payments to child care providers serving children in foster care, creating a 15-day payment timeline for qualifying invoices. It would also impose administrative duties on the department to create internal processing procedures, issue provider guidance, and produce annual compliance reports, thereby increasing oversight of foster-care-related child care reimbursements and potentially improving cash flow for providers.
Sentiment
The available record does not include committee testimony or recorded votes, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from the legislative process. Based on the bill’s purpose and structure, it appears aimed at addressing payment delays and improving reliability for providers, suggesting a generally pro-provider and child-welfare-oriented intent.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of debate, if raised, would likely involve whether a 15-day deadline is administratively feasible for DHHS, whether the bill could create compliance burdens for providers submitting invoices, and how strictly the state procurement and payment requirements would be applied to determine whether an invoice is payable.