The Payment Integrity Act would amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require states, through their lead agencies, to pay child care providers based on verified attendance rather than enrollment alone. The bill directs states to use attendance records or another reasonable verification method to confirm that children actually attended the program before payment is made.
The measure also clarifies that nothing in the federal child care block grant should be read to require advance payment before services are provided. In effect, it would allow states to reimburse providers after child care services are delivered, reinforcing an attendance-based, post-service payment model for federally supported child care assistance.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would change the payment rules tied to the Child Care and Development Block Grant by adding a federal requirement that state plans include attendance-based billing assurances. This would affect state lead agencies administering child care subsidies and child care providers receiving CCDBG funds, shifting reimbursement practices away from enrollment-based payments and toward verified attendance documentation. It would also codify that pre-service payment is not required under the program.
Sentiment
Based on the available context, the bill appears to have been introduced without recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, so there is no documented bipartisan or partisan sentiment from the transcript record. The bill’s title and structure suggest a policy focus on payment accuracy and program integrity, which likely frames it as an anti-fraud or accountability measure rather than a broad program expansion.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the shift from enrollment-based to attendance-based payments. Supporters would view this as improving payment integrity and ensuring public funds are tied to actual services delivered, while opponents may argue it could create administrative burdens for states and providers, complicate cash flow for child care centers, and reduce predictability of funding for programs that rely on enrollment-based reimbursement. No specific stakeholder objections or endorsements are recorded in the provided materials.