Definitions

As used in 101 CMR 425.00, unless the context requires otherwise, terms have the meanings in 101 CMR 425.02. Client. An individual that receives young parent support services purchased by a governmental unit. Cost Report. The document used to report costs and other financial and statistical data. The Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report (UFR) is used when required. Enrollment Completion. An enrollment payment occurs when a YPP enrollee has been accepted into the Young Parent Program by the contractor and has participated in program activities for a minimum of 40 hours. The official enrollment date reflects the date of the start of participation, at a minimum 100% attendance. EOHHS. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services, established under M.G.L. c. 6A. Governmental Unit. The Commonwealth, any board, commission, department, division, or agency of the Commonwealth and any political subdivision of the Commonwealth. Outcome Completion. Achievement of a high school diploma or HiSET™. At a minimum, eight weeks at 100% attendance is required prior to completion. An outcome can also be defined as a job placement, acceptance into skills training, acceptance into a community college, transitioning to a college program, a progress payment with two grade levels of improvement, work program placement, full employment program placement, or high school placement. Outcome completions are further defined by the purchasing agency in the scope of services and contracts. Placement Completion. The start date of the placement must occur while the participant is actively participating in YPP or within 90 days of a reimbursable completion (HiSET™). A placement is counted as a completion only after 30 days of employment. Placement completions are further defined by the purchasing agency in the scope of services and contracts. Provider. Any individual, group, partnership, trust, corporation, or other legal entity that offers services for purchase by a governmental unit and that meets the conditions of purchase or licensure that have been adopted by a purchasing governmental unit. Reporting Year. The provider's fiscal year for which costs incurred are reported to the Operational Services Division on the Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report (UFR). Young Parent Program. The Young Parent Program (YPP) is a part of the Department of Transitional Assistance’s Employment Services Program (ESP). These services are provided for Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) participants. The YPP is directed toward reducing welfare dependency among young parents, 14 through 24 years of age, who have not achieved a high school diploma or its equivalent. (1) Services Included in the Rate. The approved rate includes payment for all care and services that are part of the program of services of an eligible provider, as explicitly set forth in the terms of the purchase agreement between the eligible provider and the purchasing governmental unit(s). (2) Reimbursement as Full Payment. Each eligible provider must, as a condition of acceptance of payment made by any purchasing governmental units for services rendered, accept the approved program rate as full payment and discharge of all obligations for the services rendered. Payment from any other source will be used to offset the amount of the purchasing governmental unit's obligation for services rendered to the publicly assisted client. (3) Payment Limitations. No purchasing governmental unit may pay less than or more than the approved program rate. (4) Administrative Adjustment for Extraordinary Circumstances. A provider may petition the purchasing governmental unit for an administrative adjustment to reflect increases in operating costs due to unusual and unforeseen circumstances or extraordinary client service requirements not considered in the development of the current rates. Unusual and unforeseen circumstances are events of catastrophic nature (e.g., fire, flood, or earthquake) that are not covered by insurance that the prudent provider would carry. The provider must demonstrate that such cost increases gravely threaten the stability of service provision such that client or consumer access to necessary services is at risk. The purchasing governmental unit will evaluate the need for the administrative adjustment, determine whether funding is available, and convey that information to EOHHS for review to determine the amount of any adjustment. (5) Approved Rates. The approved rate is the lower of the provider’s charge or amount accepted as payment from another payer or the rate listed in 101 CMR 425.03(5). (1) General Provisions. (a) Accurate Data. All reports, schedules, additional information, books, and records that are filed or made available to EOHHS must be certified under pains and penalties of perjury as true, correct, and accurate by the executive director or chief financial officer of the provider. (b) Examination of Records. Each provider must make available to EOHHS or purchasing governmental unit upon request all records relating to its reported costs, including costs of any entity related by common ownership or control. (2) Required Reports. Each provider must file (a) an annual Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report completed in accordance with the filing requirements of 808 CMR 1.00: Compliance, Reporting and Auditing for Human and Social Services; (b) any cost report supplemental schedule as issued by EOHHS; and (c) any additional information requested by EOHHS within 21 days of a written request. (3) Penalty for Noncompliance. The purchasing governmental unit may impose a penalty in the amount of up to 15% of its payments to any provider that fails to submit required information. The purchasing governmental unit will notify the provider in advance of its intention to impose a penalty under 101 CMR 425.04(3). The provisions of 101 CMR 425.00 are severable. If any provision of 101 CMR 425.00 or application of any provision to an applicable individual, entity, or circumstance is held invalid or unconstitutional, that holding will not be construed to affect the validity or constitutionality of any remaining provisions of 101 CMR 425.00 or application of those provisions to applicable individuals, entities, or circumstances. Service Rate Enrollment Completion Outcome/Placement Completion