Child care providers who accept child care subsidies must do the following:
(1) Licensed or certified child care providers who accept child care subsidies must comply with all child care licensing or certification requirements contained in this chapter, chapter
43.216 RCW and chapters
110-06, 110-300, 110-300D, 110-300E, and
110-301 WAC.
(2) In-home/relative child care providers must comply with the requirements contained in this chapter, chapter
43.216 RCW, and chapters
110-06 and
110-16 WAC.
(3) In-home/relative child care providers must not submit an invoice for more than six children for the same hours of care.
(4) All child care providers must use DCYF's electronic attendance recordkeeping system or a DCYF-approved electronic attendance recordkeeping system as required by WAC
110-15-0126. Providers must limit attendance system access to authorized individuals and for authorized purposes, and maintain physical and environmental security controls.
(a) Providers using DCYF's electronic recordkeeping system must submit monthly attendance records prior to claiming payment. Providers using a DCYF-approved electronic recordkeeping system must finalize attendance records prior to claiming payment.
(b) Providers must not edit attendance records after making a claim for payment.
(5) All child care providers must complete and maintain accurate daily attendance records. If requested by DCYF or the state auditor, the provider must provide to the requesting agency the following records:
(a) Attendance records must be provided to DCYF within 45 calendar days of the date of a written request from either department; and
(b) Attendance records must be provided to the state auditor's office within 30 calendar days from the date of a written request.
(6) Pursuant to WAC
110-15-0268, the attendance records delivered to DCYF may be used to determine whether a provider overpayment has been made and may result in the establishment of an overpayment and in an immediate suspension of the provider's subsidy payment.
(7) All child care providers must maintain and provide receipts for billed field trip/quality enhancement fees as follows. If requested by DCYF, the provider must provide the following receipts for billed field trip/quality enhancement fees:
(a) Receipts from the previous 12 months must be available immediately for review upon request by DCYF;
(b) Receipts from one to five years old must be provided within 28 days of the date of a written request from either department.
(8) All child care providers must:
(a) Retain all records required by this chapter for a minimum of five years;
(b) Provide to the department records from the previous 12 months immediately upon the department's written request; and
(c) Provide to the department any records between 12 months and five years old within two weeks of the department's written request.
(9) All child care providers must collect copayments directly from the consumer or the consumer's third-party payor, and report to DCYF if the consumer has not paid a copayment to the provider within the previous 60 days.
(10) All child care providers must follow the billing procedures required by DCYF.
(11) Child care providers who accept child care subsidies must not:
(a) Claim a payment in any month a child has not attended at least one day within the authorization period in that month; however, in the event a 10-day notice terminating a provider's authorization extends into the following month, the provider may claim a payment for any remaining days of the 10 calendar day notice in that following month; or
(b) Claim an invoice for payment later than three months after the month of service, or the date of the invoice, whichever is later.
(12) Licensed and certified providers must not charge consumers for:
(a) Registration fees in excess of what is paid by subsidy program rules;
(b) Days for which the child is scheduled and authorized for care but absent;
(c) Handling fees to process consumer copayments, child care services payments, or paperwork;
(d) Fees for materials, supplies, or equipment required to meet licensing rules and regulations; or
(e) Child care or fees related to subsidy billing invoices that are in dispute between the provider and the state.
(13) Providers who care for children in states bordering Washington state must verify they are in compliance with their state's licensing regulations and notify DCYF within 10 days of any suspension, revocation, or changes to their license.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
43.216.055 and
43.216.065. WSR 22-05-007, § 110-15-0034, filed 2/3/22, effective 3/6/22; WSR 19-12-058, § 110-15-0034, filed 5/31/19, effective 7/1/19. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.216.055,
43.216.065, chapter
43.216 RCW and 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.; 45 C.F.R. Part 98. WSR 19-01-111, § 110-15-0034, filed 12/18/18, effective 1/18/19. WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-15-0034, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.215.060,
43.215.070, and chapter
43.215 RCW. WSR 17-12-035, § 170-290-0034, filed 5/31/17, effective 7/1/17. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.215.070, chapter
43.215 RCW. WSR 16-19-107, § 170-290-0034, filed 9/21/16, effective 10/22/16. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.215.060,
43.215.070, and chapter
43.215 RCW. WSR 16-09-059, § 170-290-0034, filed 4/15/16, effective 5/16/16; WSR 12-11-025, § 170-290-0034, filed 5/8/12, effective 6/8/12.]