(1) Reimbursement for Foster Care Services. Department foster/pre-adoptive parents shall receive reimbursement for providing foster care at rates the Department establishes. The Department shall reimburse all foster/pre-adoptive parents a basic minimum rate for each child in their home based on the age of the child. In addition, the Department may reimburse foster/pre-adoptive parents using a tiered system based on:

1. (a) the special medical, psychological and/or social needs of the child(ren) and the additional expectations on a foster/pre-adoptive family who have such child(ren) placed with them, and
2. (b) specialized training and certification requirements as the Department determines are needed to meet the child’s special behavioral, cognitive, emotional, physical and medical needs.

(3) Foster/Pre-adoptive Parent Extraordinary Out-of-pocket Expenses: The Department shall administer a program of reimbursement to foster/pre-adoptive parents for extraordinary out of pocket expenses incurred by foster/pre-adoptive parents as a result of providing foster/pre- adoptive care, except those reimbursed by MassHealth if such expenses are:

1. (a) necessary to enable foster/pre-adoptive parents to provide appropriate foster/pre- adoptive care services (for example, specialized medical or educational training to enable foster/pre-adoptive parents to care for special needs children; or specialized handicap accommodations for handicapped foster children; or transportation and child care stipend to enable foster/pre-adoptive parents to attend skill specific training; or to purchase specialized medical or other equipment such as intercoms, bars and handles, specialized toys, mattresses, etc. meeting the special needs of the foster child; or for participation in special activities necessary for provision of foster care to a special needs foster child, etc); and
2. (b) agreed upon in writing in advance of the expenditure.