Child services providers agree on rate hike
November 27, 2012 2:52PM
Updated: November 27, 2012 11:34PM
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Department of Child Services will pay an extra $15 million to child service providers next year under an agreement resolving a three-year dispute over how it reimburses residential and foster care for abused and neglected children.
The agency announced a legal settlement with IARCCA, a group of about 100 care providers. It deals with the rates paid to cover additional staffing costs and cost-of-living expenses to residential facilities and foster-care agencies.
DCS spokeswoman Stephanie McFarland says the cost of the agreement beyond 2013 isn’t determined yet.
The dispute stems from DCS’s efforts since 2008 to create consistent rates after it took over payments to providers previously handled by counties.
IARCCA Executive Director Cathleen Graham says more work is needed and the two sides will continue to meet.
