MAC in talks with state over counties' delayed Child Care Fund reimbursements
Months-long delays on Child Care Fund reimbursements to a number of counties have prompted an ongoing series of meetings between MAC and top state officials to resolve the problem.
In addition, discrepancies have arisen between which expenses are reimbursable from state, regardless of whether the items were reimbursable expenses in previous years.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) attributes, in part, these issues to a recently released audit by the Office of the Auditor General.
The Child Care Fund provides support programs for neglected, abused and delinquent children. About $400 million is shared each year between the State, 83 counties and participating Native American tribes. For more information regarding the operation of the Child Care Fund, visit its website.
On top of the direct meetings with DHHS leaders, MAC is participating in a larger effort among key stakeholders to address long-term reforms of the reimbursement process. At a bare minimum, counties need to be held harmless for the reimbursements that they anticipated to receive for the current fiscal year and until all policy questions are resolved.
In order to better serve you, MAC's Government Affairs Team is still collecting data on the extent of the problem. If you are aware of issues in your county, or for more information, please contact Elizabeth Gorz, gorz@micounties.org or 517-372-5374.
