465 IAC 2-18-15 Establishment and adjustment of the maintenance payment and enhanced supervision payment

Sec. 15. (a) The department shall commission an independent contractor to conduct a study, using primary and secondary data, to assist the department with the determination of the reasonable costs of caring for a foster child in Indiana in accordance with requirements and guidelines as set forth in Title IV-E. (b) The study will consider the age of a child and the relevant costs associated with the care of children, including children in foster care. (c) From this study, the independent contractor will construct a model of maintenance payments. The study will provide information to the department so that the department can establish appropriate maintenance payment rates and enhanced supervision payment rates. The completed study will provide the methodology for calculating future adjustments to maintenance payments, if any, as underlying costs change. (d) The department will determine the maintenance payment rate that will be paid to all foster parents. (e) The department will determine the enhanced supervision payment rates, which shall correspond to the categories of supervision established by the approved assessment tool as defined in section 3(a) of this rule. (f) The maintenance payment rates and enhanced supervision rates will be reviewed annually and adjusted in accordance with subsection (c). (g) The department will publish the current maintenance payment and enhanced supervision rates in the foster family home provider manual maintained by the department on the department's website. (h) The department may, at its discretion, develop and implement pilot programs by written agreement with a foster home or group of foster homes, that may include payment amounts or procedures during a specified time period that differ from the amounts or procedures determined under this section.