101 CMR 451.00 — Rates for Certain Youth and Children Services

Final Adoption Date Published in the Mass. Register: November 8, 2024

101 CMR: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

101 CMR 451.00: RATES FOR CERTAIN YOUTH AND CHILDREN SERVICES

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Section

451.01: General Provisions 451.02: Definitions 451.03: Rate Provisions 451.04: Filing and Reporting Requirements 451.05: Severability

101 CMR 451.00 Rates for Certain Youth and Children Services

451.01 General Provisions

451.01: General Provisions

(1) Scope. 101 CMR 451.00 governs the payment rates for certain youth and children services purchased by a governmental unit including, but not limited to, the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

(2) Applicable Dates of Service. Rates contained in 101 CMR 451.00 are effective for dates of service provided on or after January 1, 2025.

(3) Disclaimer of Authorization of Services. 101 CMR 451.00 is neither authorization for nor approval of the services for which rates are determined pursuant to 101 CMR 451.00. Governmental units that purchase the services described in 101 CMR 451.00 are responsible for the definition, authorization, and approval of services provided to clients.

(4) Administrative Bulletins. EOHHS may issue administrative bulletins to clarify its policy on substantive provisions of 101 CMR 451.00.

451.02 Definitions

451.02: Definitions

As used in 101 CMR 451.00, unless the context requires otherwise, terms have the meanings in 101 CMR 451.02.

Assessment Services for Child Welfare. Services that evaluate caregivers’ and/or children’s strengths and needs to assist with decisions for case direction and/or the development of action plans designed to strengthen caregiving capacity and/or children’s safety, stability, permanency, and/or well-being.

Client. A child, adolescent, or young adult receiving certain youth and children’s services purchased by a governmental unit.

Comprehensive Services for Child Welfare. Services delivered by a team on a planned schedule to build caregiving capacity and meet children’s needs on a 24/7 schedule to respond to families’ emergency needs.

Cost Report. The document used to report costs and other financial and statistical data. The Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report (UFR) are used when required.

EOHHS. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services established under M.G.L. c. 6A.

Final Adoption Date Published in the Mass. Register: November 8, 2024

101 CMR: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

101 CMR 451.00: RATES FOR CERTAIN YOUTH AND CHILDREN SERVICES

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Evidence-based Practices for Child Welfare. Services that support children and caregivers through evidence-based practices.

Family Crisis/Trauma Intervention. Services that support children and caregivers during times of crisis or trauma when medical or behavioral health intervention/treatment is not indicated, but there is a need for supporting and strengthening caregiving capacity.

Governmental Unit. The Commonwealth, any board, commission, department, division, or agency of the Commonwealth and any political subdivision of the Commonwealth.

Groups for Child Welfare. Services delivered to groups of children or caregivers to provide emotional support, training in skills development, or another service best provided in a group setting.

Mediation for Child Welfare. Services designed to apply the problem-solving approach of negotiation to reaching agreements and resolving conflicts that occur in child welfare cases.

Preparation Support for Child Welfare. Services that prepare families (e.g., families of origin, kinship caregivers, and/or foster caregivers) prior to children being returned to or placed in their care.

Provider. Any individual, group, partnership, trust, corporation, or other legal entity that offers services for purchase by a governmental unit and that meets the conditions of purchase or licensure that have been adopted by a purchasing governmental unit.

Respite for Child Welfare. Services that support caregivers and children by providing caregivers with temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities and children with developmentally appropriate care and supervision.

Reporting Year. The provider's fiscal year for which costs incurred are reported to the Operational Services Division on the Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report (UFR).

Safe and Stable Family Services. Services that support caregivers to ensure child safety and stability in a family setting.

Substance Use Interventions for Child Welfare. Interventions for children or caregivers that promote safety and prevent child maltreatment/neglect related to substance use.

Therapeutic Family/Child Support for Child Welfare. Services that provide clinical mental and/or behavioral health treatments for children and/or caregivers and include a focus on improving family functioning, attachments, and caregiving skills.

Youth Support and Stabilization. Services that support any child, wherever they are, in their safety, permanency, and well-being.

Final Adoption Date Published in the Mass. Register: November 8, 2024

101 CMR: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

101 CMR 451.00: RATES FOR CERTAIN YOUTH AND CHILDREN SERVICES

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451.03 Rate Provisions

451.03: Rate Provisions

(1) Services Included in the Rate. The approved rate includes payment for all care and services that are part of the program of services of an eligible provider, as explicitly set forth in the terms of the purchase agreement between the eligible provider and the purchasing governmental unit(s).

(2) Reimbursement as Full Payment. Each eligible provider must, as a condition of acceptance of payment made by any purchasing governmental units for services rendered, accept the approved program rate as full payment and discharge of all obligations for the services rendered. Payment from any other source will be used to offset the amount of the purchasing governmental unit’s obligation for services rendered to the publicly assisted client.

(3) Payment Limitations. No purchasing governmental unit may pay less than or more than the approved program rate.

(4) Approved Rates. The approved rate is the lower of the provider’s charge or amount accepted as payment from another payer or the rate listed in 101 CMR 451.03(4).

Service Unit Rate Safe and Stable Family Services Safe and Stable Hourly $81.93 Safe and Stable – Peer Support Specialist Hourly $82.39 Safe and Stable – Social Connections and Permanency Support Daily $73.61 Preparation Support for Child Welfare Preparation Support Hourly $89.30 Preparation Support – Supervised Family Time Hourly $110.85 Preparation Support – Peer Support Specialist Hourly $85.43 Therapeutic Family/Child Support for Child Welfare Therapeutic – Family Hourly $125.20 Therapeutic – Youth Hourly $125.20 Substance Use Interventions for Child Welfare Substance Use Interventions for Child Welfare – Parent/Caregiver Substance Use Daily $95.10 Substance Use Interventions for Child Welfare – Youth Substance Use Daily $95.10 Substance Use Interventions for Child Welfare – Peer Support Specialist, Substance Use Daily $71.20 Youth Support and Stabilization Youth Support – Enrichment Hourly $57.32 Youth Support – Educational and Vocational Daily $79.17 Youth Support – Non-school Hours for Children with Disabilities Hourly $87.17 Youth Support – Transition-aged Youth Daily $96.70

Final Adoption Date Published in the Mass. Register: November 8, 2024

101 CMR: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

101 CMR 451.00: RATES FOR CERTAIN YOUTH AND CHILDREN SERVICES

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Evidence-based Practices for Child Welfare Evidence-based – Multi-systemic Therapy Daily $151.08 Evidence-based – Multi-systemic Therapy Ongoing Supervision/Fidelity Monitoring/Report N/A IC Evidence-based – Brief Strategic Family Therapy Hourly $173.38 Evidence-based – Intercept Daily $172.04 Evidence-based – Intercept Ongoing Supervision/Fidelity Monitoring/Report N/A IC Family Crisis/Trauma Intervention Family Crisis/Trauma Intervention Daily $165.77

Respite for Child Welfare Caregiver Respite – Hourly Hourly $83.09 Caregiver Respite – Daily Daily $400.66 Assessment Services for Child Welfare Assessment Hourly $114.17

Mediation for Child Welfare Mediation Hourly $103.35

Comprehensive Services for Child Welfare Comprehensive Services – Family Daily $91.35 Comprehensive Services – Intensive Family Daily $135.35 Comprehensive Services – Therapeutic Daily $184.28 Comprehensive Services – Family Member with a Disability Daily $166.68 Groups for Child Welfare Child Welfare – Groups Group Rate $2,547 Child Welfare – Specialty Groups Group Rate $3,335

451.04 Filing and Reporting Requirements

451.04: Filing and Reporting Requirements

(1) General Provisions. (a) Accurate Data. All reports, schedules, additional information, books, and records that are filed or made available to EOHHS must be certified under pains and penalties of perjury as true, correct, and accurate by the executive director or chief financial officer of the provider. (b) Examination of Records. Each provider must make available to EOHHS or the purchasing governmental unit upon request all records relating to its reported costs, including costs of any entity related by common ownership or control.

(2) Required Reports. Each provider must file (a) an annual Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report completed in accordance with the filing requirements of 808 CMR 1.00: Compliance, Reporting and Auditing for Human and Social Services; (b) any cost report supplemental schedule as issued by EOHHS; and

Final Adoption Date Published in the Mass. Register: November 8, 2024

101 CMR: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

101 CMR 451.00: RATES FOR CERTAIN YOUTH AND CHILDREN SERVICES

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(c) any additional information requested by EOHHS within 21 days of a written request.

(3) Penalty for Noncompliance. The purchasing governmental unit may impose a penalty in the amount of up to 15% of its payments to any provider that fails to submit required information. The purchasing governmental unit will notify the provider in advance of its intention to impose a penalty under 101 CMR 451.04(3).

451.05 Severability

451.05: Severability

The provisions of 101 CMR 451.00 are severable. If any provision of 101 CMR 451.00 or application of any provision to an applicable individual, entity, or circumstance is held invalid or unconstitutional, that holding will not be construed to affect the validity or constitutionality of any remaining provisions of 101 CMR 451.00 or application of those provisions to applicable individuals, entities, or circumstances.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

101 CMR 451.00: M.G.L. c. 118E.