For Those With State-Paid DCKs

[Josiegirl]

Do you charge out-of-pocket paying dcps the same that the state pays you for subsidized dcks?
I know some local dcproviders who would rather not take any children who need the financial assistance. But financially I wish all of mine were. The state pays much more than I feel I can charge parents. And when I earn the 3rd STAR, it'll be even a little bit more.

[Leigh]

I am required to charge ALL of my clients the same rate (and I have to declare that rate to the state yearly). I charge $.55-$.65 more/hr than the state will reimburse (they pay $.10 more for 3 & under). The parents pay the difference.

[nanglgrl]

I charge about 10 more per week than they state pays for preschoolers and school agers and about $45 more a week than the state pays for infants. We aren't allowed to charge the state pay families the difference. I don't take state pay infants but do take state pay per-schoolers (over 18 months) since its not that big of a difference.

[Cradle2crayons]

My state pays about $45 a week per child. I have to charge he parents the remainder or else I'd be paying them to watch their kids.

Centers here get $80 a week per child but in home providers get half that.

In addition, parents have to pay a copay oer child unless they are on tanf.

Edited to add.... We also have to charge he same amount to all, regardless of state pay. If all of my parents pay $200 a week... And state pays $40,'then hose parents still have to pay the remaining $160 a week.

[Meeko]

I'm in Utah and we have to charge the same to everyone by law.

[Blackcat31]

I'm in MN and we are not allowed to charge state pay families more than cash paying families.

I charge about $15 more per week ($2-5 per day) than the state will pay out.

The families using assistance pays the difference.

Families on assistance usually have a co-pay as well so they pay that AND the difference between the reimbursable rate and what I charge.

HTH

[Childminder]

I have a standard rate that I charge to all families. State subsidy will general pay $90 per week and parents are responsible for the rest. It is stated that I can only charge holidays and sick days if I charge the regular public for them but other than that the state doesn't interfere.

I charge everyone the same amount, I feel to be fair to all. I would be pissed as a parent if I found out my provider charged someone less because they get handouts from the state. I give the same care to all, I should get paid for it.

[Cradle2crayons]

I have a standard rate that I charge to all families. State subsidy will general pay $90 per week and parents are responsible for the rest. It is stated that I can only charge holidays and sick days if I charge the regular public for them but other than that the state doesn't interfere.

I charge everyone the same amount, I feel to be fair to all. I would be pissed as a parent if I found out my provider charged someone less because they get handouts from the state. I give the same care to all, I should get paid for it.

Wow if ms paid $90 a week per kid it would be so awesome here!! Instead we get $45 a week so parents still have to come out of pocket quite a bit.

[Leigh]

Wow if ms paid $90 a week per kid it would be so awesome here!! Instead we get $45 a week so parents still have to come out of pocket quite a bit.

I can't believe they'll only pay $45/wk! My state will pay up to $133 per week!

[Cradle2crayons]

I can't believe they'll only pay $45/wk! My state will pay up to $133 per week!

Yes and even special needs children they only pay me $59.00 a week.

[Leigh]

Yes and even special needs children they only pay me $59.00 a week.

So very sad...I'm sure that it is VERY hard to be a provider there with state paid kids! My state reimburses for special needs kids at $4.10 per hour! about $199/week! I know it seems hopeless, but you and other providers should gather some data, and try to force a change there-those reimbursement rates are ridiculous.:hug:

[Childminder]

We get a little more for infants from the state but not for special needs. That is great that you get more.

I just read an article from NAEYC about the costs of daycare and how it has gone up for parents. I have a lot of issues with the article but my point is that they compare almost every cost to Mississippi being the lowest and Mass or NY being the highest.

http://usa.childcareaware.org/sites/default/files/cost_of_care_2013_103113_0.pdf

[Meeko]

We are not allowed to charge state parents more than self-pay parents. But we can charge whatever we want and a state parent has to make up any difference. If they fail to pay their provider, all their state benefits (cash, food stamps, housing etc) are put on hold until they do.

[Cradle2crayons]

We get a little more for infants from the state but not for special needs. That is great that you get more.

I just read an article from NAEYC about the costs of daycare and how it has gone up for parents. I have a lot of issues with the article but my point is that they compare almost every cost to Mississippi being the lowest and Mass or NY being the highest.

http://usa.childcareaware.org/sites/...3_103113_0.pdf

Centers here charge about $125.00 to $150 a week for infants. But centers get more money from the state too.

Very very few in home providers accept vouchers because they don't pay us crap. In homes charge anywhere from $80 a week up to $100 a week, even for infants.

But the 49 ranking for us is based on a married couple. And to be honest, there is much more single incomes here than married incomes. So that's not going to be accurate.

And let's not mention, in my area, these single moms are bringing home a lot less than $18k a year.

[blandino]

In OK, the stet reimbursement rate starts at 67.50 a week for home daycares. Typical rates are 130ish in my area. So that is a VERY large difference.

We also are not allowed to charge the parent the difference between DHS reimbursement and our normal rate. So as you can imagine, there is a very big shortage of providers willing to take subsidy payments. I think in my zip code, there are only 2 who do.

There are ways to reach higher levels of reimbursement, but you have to accept state subsidy to begin with and then you can earn more stars and higher rates - but you have to take 50% pay when you start.