TO FEE OR NOT TO FEE: THAT IS THE QUESTION! February 7, 2005 National OSEP Early Childhood Conference

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TO FEE OR NOT TO FEETHAT IS THE
QUESTION!February 7, 2005National OSEP Early
Childhood Conference

• Susan D. Mackey Andrews, Facilitator
• Ron Benham, MA
• Terry Harrison, NJ
• Kate Numerick, MO

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Introduction

• Family Cost Participation
• Original legislation for Part C established the
  requirement for states to use a variety of
  resources to pay for or provide Part C services,
  including public and private insurance.
• Also provided the opportunity for states to
  implement policies and procedures that require
  the use of family fees for some Part C services,
  under the condition that no services be denied
  based upon the familys inability to pay

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• Family fees may not be charged for ChildFind,
  evaluation and assessment for eligibility, IFSP
  development, for procedural safeguards or service
  coordination.
• However this does not mean that all of the Part C
  services that may be billed to third party
  resources are limited to IFSP services third
  party payments could include all costs related to
  the identification, service planning and delivery
  including service coordination.

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Outcomes for Participants

• Understand some of the impetus behind Family Fees
  for Part C services
• Learn from colleagues what approach or process
  they followed in developing Family Fees for Part
  C services
• Discuss lessons learned

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Agenda

• Each presenter will provide up to a 15 minute
  overview, which complements their handout.
• Question and Answer session will follow the
  presentations

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Overview

• Range of family cost options and issues
• Terminology
• At no cost vs. free services
• Factors for consideration
• State Demographics
• Administrative ease
• Policy and procedures development and
  implementation, and accountability

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Family Fees

• Costs incurred by a family for non-entitled or
  mandated services provided by a states Part C
  system
• Excludes services include ChildFind, service
  coordination, evaluation and assessment, the
  development of the IFSP and procedural safeguards

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Family Cost Participation

• More broad
• includes access to and utilization of private
  insurance,
• other public resources such as Title V/CSHCN,
  SCHIP
• And, payment of co-pays, deductibles as well as
  family fees
• Takes into account the inter-relationship between
  all funding sources, not just Part C

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Financial/Resource Case Management

• A planned activity intentionally conducted with
  families to introduce a variety of resources
  available to families now and potentially over
  their childs lifespan, and provide training and
  support to families to permit the ongoing and
  appropriate access to resources as their child
  ages into other systems.

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Presentations

• Ron Benham, Massachusetts
• Terry Harrison, New Jersey
• Kate Numerick, Missouri

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Summary

• Impetus for fees is largely external
• Stakeholder participation throughout the
  development process is critical
• Family opinion is heard by decision makers
• Is the juice worth the squeeze?
• Management or administrative considerations
• Collection, Reporting, Refusals to Pay

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Where to Get More Information

• www.ideainfanttoddler.org/contact.htm
• Family Cost Participation Survey (see Orientation
  Section)
• or, if not an ITCA member, contact
  IDEAITCA_at_aol.com to purchase the report for
  30.00
• www.mass.gov/dph/fch/ei.htm
• www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/epihome.htm