Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES
Part 17 - Division of Early Childhood Care and Development Child Care Payment Program Policy Manual
Chapter 8 - Procedures After Approval of a Certificate
Rule 18-17-8.2 - Reimbursement Rates

1) The CCPP is a third-party reimbursement model, paying providers a fee for services, based on agency established reimbursement rates. The current rates were established by conducting a Market Rate Survey (MRS) of the state's average child care rates, and multiplying those rates by 75 percent, with variants for age of the child, child's full or part-time status, facility type, and special needs.

2) Reimbursement rates shall be reviewed once during each three (3) year federal state plan cycle to ensure the rate is adequate and to ensure equal access to services for children in the CCPP.

3) The current rates and methodology for the most current MRS are posted on the consumer education website and on the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) website.

4) CCPP providers may charge more than the reimbursement rates established by MDHS, but to do so, they must submit their published tuition rates to the MDHS within CCPS, and publish in all marketing materials. Providers shall not charge a different rate to families in the certificate program than the rate charged to the general public. All rates, fees, and discounts charged to CCPP participants must be offered and equal to those charged to non-participants. This means universal application of advertised tuition rates.

5) The established rates are intended to subsidize child care costs for low-income parents and may not cover the full cost of all centers.