Those Who Accept DHS Payments

[midaycare]

I had my first call for a DHS payment parent.

I am in the process of signing up ... does DHS usually cover only part of the daycare costs, all of the costs, or does it depend?

[LysesKids]

Depends on the state… some let you ask the difference between what you charge & what they will pay ( minus parent copay), some you have to accept whatever they offer plus parent copay and you "eat" the difference (2 I know of that don't allow you to ask for difference are WV & AR). I was licensed in both & stopped taking it because I was loosing too much $

[melilley]

I know here we can make the parents pay a copay if your rate is more than the state's. I'm pretty sure you can look up what our pay rate is.

[Annalee]

Depends on the state… some let you ask the difference between what you charge & what they will pay ( minus parent copay), some you have to accept whatever they offer plus parent copay and you "eat" the difference (2 I know of that don't allow you to ask for difference are WV & AR). I was licensed in both & stopped taking it because I was loosing too much $

I am in TN like you. I do not have certificate children right now, but I have always charged the difference when I did have them.. I do think it varies by state, though!

[melilley]

I found the link!

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/CDC_Reimbursement_Rates_444617_7.pdf?20140604143836

[Blackcat31]

I accept DHS payments through the state.

My parents are required to pay the difference between what the state pays and what I charge. How much depends on enrollment and allotted hours.

I receive payments AFTER services but since it is guaranteed by the state, I accept that but I do make the parents pay their co-payments PRIOR to services.

I am paid electronically. I submit billings that way too. My money is direct deposited on Wednesdays and I submit billings on Mondays so very little wait time here for me.

[Childminder]

In MI they cover up to $2.90 per hour for infants and up to $2.40 per 2.5 and older. You will get an approval letter from DHS up to 45 days after the parent applies that will tell you how many hours, per two week pay period, up to 8o hours that the child is approved for. It will also tell you what percentage of the $2.90 and/or $2.40 they are approved for and the date of when you may start billing, usually the date the caseworker got the application.

I charge a weekly rate of $160. Let's say the letter shows that the 3 year old child is approved for 95% of 80 hours. I then take that 95% of 2.40 which is $2.28 and multiply it times the hours that the parent was ACTUALLY AT WORK(not drive time) for a total of $182.40 that I then subtract from my biweekly rate of $320. The parents copay is 137.60 or $68.8 per week.

Some providers do it differently and some even accept what the state pays in full. If you are a center the rates are different.

I do recommend that you have the parent pay IN FULL until the State approves and you can start billing. Then you can credit their account and they won't have to pay copay for a few weeks until it evens out. You will get screwed by the parents if you don't. They might not get approved. The parent won't be able to pay and go BuhBye! It happens.

[midaycare]

I found the link!

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/md...20140604143836

Thank you!

[midaycare]

Am I understanding right that I don't actually sign up to accept DHS payments, rather they need to send me a letter stating that the child is accepted under their program and it will contain all the information I need?

[melilley]

Here's a link that may help you. I'm pretty sure that's how it works, but not sure. I'm sure someone else knows for sure, but here's something that may help.

http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-63533_63534_63538---,00.html

Here's another link. I know that you have to register.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/MainVRI_403029_7.pdf?20140604145531

[midaycare]

I do recommend that you have the parent pay IN FULL until the State approves and you can start billing. Then you can credit their account and they won't have to pay copay for a few weeks until it evens out. You will get screwed by the parents if you don't. They might not get approved. The parent won't be able to pay and go BuhBye! It happens.

Wow, yikes

[midaycare]

Here's a link that may help you. I'm pretty sure that's how it works, but not sure. I'm sure someone else knows for sure, but here's something that may help.

http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-63533_63534_63538---,00.html

Here's another link. I know that you have to register.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dh...20140604145531

I am now registered. Thank you! This forum rocks :hug:

[LysesKids]

I am in TN like you. I do not have certificate children right now, but I have always charged the difference when I did have them.. I do think it varies by state, though!

I just moved here 6 months ago from AR; I am license exempt in Blount which is the higher rate like Knox ( they stopped letting License exempt become registered a few years ago), but even for LE, they only pay 70 at most minus copay ( then I would ask difference)… been trying to find out how to accept them here because of my location, but DHS keeps transferring me to different offices and I still can't get answers. I don't think the market rates the certificate is based off of have changed in 4-5 years

[Annalee]

I just moved here 6 months ago from AR; I am license exempt in Blount which is the higher rate like Knox ( they stopped letting License exempt become registered a few years ago), but even for LE, they only pay 70 at most minus copay ( then I would ask difference)… been trying to find out how to accept them here because of my location, but DHS keeps transferring me to different offices and I still can't get answers. I don't think the market rates the certificate is based off of have changed in 4-5 years

Sounds like you got TN figured out real well! You are right......same ole' rates for forever....I don't think registered daycares even happen now....there are persons who keep only 4 still on the food program but they aren't governed by any other agency-I don't think! TN is sure full of QRIS/Assessment, though!

[LysesKids]

Sounds like you got TN figured out real well! You are right......same ole' rates for forever....I don't think registered daycares even happen now....there are persons who keep only 4 still on the food program but they aren't governed by any other agency-I don't think! TN is sure full of QRIS/Assessment, though!

I moved here originally planning on getting licensed, and there is one thing stopping me… even though my home is BRAND NEW (Sept 2013 Energystar manufactured), it's only single wide and they want double wide… personally I want only 4 kids anyway and licensing already told me they don't do registration, but that my home sounded nice (infants/tweenies 1-18 months) - they just can't seem to get me to the one person who issues certificates though and it's pissing me off because I have had calls for them. Now whether the parents are willing to pay me the difference on what I charge could be a hitch due to low fee the state will pay.