1. A. The Committee shall develop and maintain a rate setting methodology for reimbursing specified providers.

2. B. Cost-Based Methodology.

   1. (1) Child placement agencies, educational programs, and nonresidential programs shall receive a rate based on a cost-based methodology.

   2. (2) The cost-based methodology determines a rate based on an individual provider’s budget, including, but not limited to:

      1. (a) Management and general services;
      2. (b) Direct services;
      3. (c) Education services;
      4. (d) Medical services; and
      5. (e) Clinical services.

   3. (3) The rate determination shall be calculated using:

      1. (a) An individual program budget application;
      2. (b) A mean annual rate for a specified program category; and
      3. (c) A direct care cost comparison metric.
   4. (4) The cost-based methodology is contained in the Manual and the Cost Guidelines, which are published on the Maryland State Department of Education website.

3. C. Class-Based Methodology.

   1. (1) Residential child care programs shall receive a rate based on a class-based methodology.
   2. (2) The class-based methodology determines a rate based on the level of services provided by the residential child care program.
   3. (3) The Committee shall determine the level of services the residential child care program must provide to meet the requirements of each class as defined by the Committee.
   4. (4) Each class is assigned a flat rate by the Committee.
   5. (5) The class-based methodology is contained in the Manual and the Class Guidelines, which are published on the Maryland State Department of Education website.

Authority: Education Article, §§2-206 and 8-417; Family Law Article, §§5-506, 5-507, and 5-509; Health-General Article,
§§2-102, 2-104, 2-105, 7-306.1, 10-516, 10-902, 10-1203, and 15-102.1; Human Services Article, §§2-209 and 9-231; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: June 29, 1998 (25:13 Md. R. 992)

Chapter revised effective February 18, 2002 (29:3 Md. R. 216)

COMAR 01.04.05 revised and recodified to 14.31.04 as an emergency provision effective June 30, 2005 (32:15 Md. R. 1314); revised and recodified permanently effective November 24, 2005 (32:23 Md. R. 1828)

Chapter revised effective July 1, 2024 (51:10 Md. R. 528)