Section DCF 57.62 - Rate methodology(1) COST AND SERVICE INFORMATION. Each year by July 1, a licensee shall submit the following information to the department: (a) A cost and service report in which the licensee reports the group home's costs, types of services provided, and number of children served in the previous year. The report shall be submitted on a department-prescribed form. Note: The cost and service report form is available at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/ratereg.
(b) The group home's most recent audit report under s. DCF 57.07(1).(2) MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RATE. Each year no later than September 1, the department shall notify licensees of the per client rate that no group home may exceed for services provided in the following calendar year.(3) PROPOSED RATES. (a) Each year no later than October 1, a licensee shall submit to the department a proposed rate for the following calendar year for each group home that the licensee operates. The licensee shall submit the proposed rate on a department-prescribed form.(b) A licensee may request an exception to the department's maximum rate under sub. (2) if the licensee provides a specialized service or specialized programming to a specific population of children. The exception request shall explain the benefits of the service or programming and why the licensee cannot provide the service or programming within the maximum rate. The exception request shall be made on the rate request form. Note: The rate request form is available at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/ratereg.
(4) REVIEW OF A PROPOSED RATE. In reviewing a proposed rate submitted by a licensee under sub. (3), the department shall consider all of the following: (a) Whether the proposed rate exceeds the maximum rate determined by the department under sub. (2).(b) The group home's most recent cost and service report under sub. (1) (a). (c) The group home's most recent audit report under sub. (1) (b). (d) Whether the group home's reported costs are within a range of similar costs reported by other group homes for similar items and services.(e) The group home's per client rate in previous years.(f) Changes in the consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, as determined by the U.S. department of labor, for the 12 months ending on June 30 of the year in which the proposed rate is submitted.(g) Changes in the consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, for the medical care group, as determined by the U.S. department of labor, for the 12 months ending on June 30 of the year in which the proposed rate is submitted.(h) Changes in the allowable costs of group homes based on current actual cost data or documented projections of costs.(i) Changes in program utilization that affect the per client rate.(j) Changes in the department's expectations relating to service delivery.(k) Changes in service delivery proposed by a group home and agreed to by the department.(L) The loss of any source of revenue that had been used to pay expenses, resulting in a lower per client rate for services.(m) Whether the group home is accredited by a national accrediting body that has developed child welfare standards.(n) Changes in any state or federal laws, rules, or regulations that result in any change in the cost of providing services, including any changes in the minimum wage, as defined in s. 49.141(1) (g), Stats.(p) The availability of funding to pay for the services to be provided under the proposed rate.(5) RATE APPROVAL. (a) Each year no later than November 1, the department shall notify each licensee that submitted the information as required under subs. (1) and (3) of the maximum approved per client rate for the group home for the following year. Note: The notification will be sent to the electronic mail address that the licensee has provided to the department.
(b) If the department determines that a proposed rate submitted under sub. (3) is appropriate based on the factors in sub. (4), the department shall approve the proposed rate.(c) If the department determines that a proposed rate submitted under sub. (3) is not appropriate based on the factors in sub. (4), the department shall negotiate with a licensee to determine an agreed to rate. The department's approved rate under par. (a) shall be based on the factors in sub. (4) and additional relevant information presented during negotiations. (d) The department may grant a licensee's request for an exception to the department's maximum rate under sub. (3) (b) if the department determines that the licensee has shown by clear and convincing evidence that the licensee's costs are reasonable and necessary given the costs and benefits of the licensee's specialized service or specialized programming.(6) NONCOMPLIANCE. If a licensee does not submit all information as required under subs. (1) and (3), the department may impose sanctions and penalties under s. DCF 57.56 and s. 48.715, Stats., including license revocation.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Children and Families DCF 57.62
EmR1106: emerg. cr., eff. 9-16-11; CR 11-026: cr. Register December 2011 No. 672, eff. 1-1-12.Amended by, correction in (1) (a) (Note), (3) (b) (Note) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register January 2017 No. 733, eff. 2/1/2017