Where do I call with questions about Billing or completing the Invoice forms?
Call DIAL at 651-438-4949 and leave a message for a case aide.
Where is my payment?You can expect a maximum time of 30 business days for payment. Call DIAL at 651-438-4949 to check the status and amount of your payment. DIAL is available 24/7.
I didn't get a billing form, who should I contact?
Call DIAL at 651-438-4949 to leave a message for a case aide.
How much will I be paid?You can be paid the same rate you charge your private pay parents, up to the county's maximum rates.
As a child care provider, can I get a guarantee that a parent will be eligible before I start caring for their children?The financial worker cannot guarantee that child care help will be approved until all verifications are turned in by the parent. Parents may wish to pay the provider on their own in order to ensure their slot at the home or center prior to being approved for child care assistance.
What can I do, as a child care provider, if a parent switches to another provider and still owes me their co-pays (parent fees)?
Report this to their financial worker. Providers must also report a two-week notice to the financial worker.
What are Absent Days/hours? – These are days/hours when the child is not in care for a full day, but provider is requesting payment. There is a limit on the number of absent days per child. Your contract must state that you charge for absent days/hours. We cannot pay for more than 10 consecutive absence days at one time. If you have questions, call the financial worker. Examples:
- Child is ill and unable to be at the provider.
- Parent is ill and unable to work or attend school.
- Parent's school is on holiday/break and provider is open.
- Parent is on approved vacation from work.
What If I Change Providers? - Parents are expected to give providers a 15 day notice before changing providers. This does not apply to cases of suspected neglect or abuse. Parents are expected to contact the county two weeks before changing providers
Parents may not start using a new provider until approval is received from the county. Providers are asked to give parents a two week notice if they stop providing care.
What Holidays are Paid? Providers may be reimbursed for up to ten State/Federal Holidays, when the provider is not open and charges all families for these days. Vacations for providers are not paid.
The 10 recognized state and federal holidays are:
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King's Birthday (3rd Monday in January)
- Washington and Lincoln's Birthdays (3rd Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Christopher Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)*
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
*The day after Thanksgiving may be substituted for Christopher Columbus Day.
Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and Good Friday are some of the days that may be considered cultural or religious holidays and may be substituted for a federal or state recognized holiday. These days are not the only days that may be substituted for the recognized holidays.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding day shall be a holiday. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day shall be a holiday.
Families may switch other cultural or religious holidays for the 10 recognized state and federal holidays if they let their financial worker know before or within 10 days after the substitution.
The family must request the substitution of an alternate holiday, let parents know your holidays if they are different than the 10 recognized state and federal holidays so they may request a substitution.
If the provider's service is not available on the holiday the provider bills for, but the family needs care from another provider on that day, only one provider may be paid.
CCAP cannot pay for provider vacation days, provider sick days, or any other days that child care is not available, other than for holidays.
What is a Parent Co-pay? - Some parents may have to pay part of their child care costs, called the co-payment, to the provider. This co-payment is based on the parent's income and is set by a state standard. This amount is per family, per month, not per child. The provider should give the parent a receipt for all co-payments paid in cash.
Providers who falsely declare receipt of the family's co-payment on the billing statement may have their payment stopped by the county, or the county may refuse to pay a bill submitted by the provider, according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.13 subdivision 6 (d).
When a family is unable to pay their co-payment, a payment arrangement can be established between the provider and the parent according to Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0040, subpart 6a. In May, 2006, legislation was passed to allow third party payments of the co-payment. Providers must maintain family specific documentation of payment source, amount, and time period covered by the payment.
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