麻州提高托兒照顧服務商的報銷費率

Massachusetts Increases Reimbursement Rates for Child Care Providers 

New rates continue state’s progress on better covering the true cost of providing care, including for infants and toddlers 

BOSTON — Today the Board of Early Education and Care unanimously approved the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s proposed changes to the reimbursement rates for early education and care providers who accept state child care financial assistance, known as rates. Child care providers across Massachusetts will start to receive the increase to their daily per child reimbursement rate as soon as possible, as well as a one-time retroactive payment to account for the increased rates back to July 1, 2024.  

The approved new rates continue the state’s progress on moving toward a rate structure and payment levels informed by the cost of providing care, with a particular focus on adjusting rates farthest from the true cost of care. This includes infant and toddler rates for center-based programs. The approved rates also address increased operational costs for all providers.  

“Our administration, in partnership with the Legislature and Board, have increased rates by $90 million over the last two years for our hard-working child care providers. That has allowed them to invest in their educators and programming and reduce costs for families,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I look forward to seeing the ongoing impact of these significant increases over time. Team Massachusetts is continuing to prioritize making child care more affordable and accessible for all families.” 

“Governor Healey and I had heard from child care providers that rates in certain parts of the state were disproportionately low and that infant and toddler rates had been too low for too long. Last year, with support from the Legislature and Board, we made transformational changes to rectify that. Today’s approved rates continue that progress,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.   

EEC reimburses providers of center-based and family child care and out-of-school time programs that serve families receiving child care financial assistance with a daily per-child reimbursement rate. These rates provide direct needs-based financial assistance to increase families’ purchasing power in the market and help pay for the cost of care.  

Under this administration, child care financial assistance rates have increased by almost $90 million and in 2024, Massachusetts became the sixth state in the country federally approved to move forward with a cost-based alternative methodology when setting rates for child care financial assistance. This has allowed the state to use the cost of care when setting rates for the last two fiscal years and bring all rates closer to the true cost of providing care while addressing long-standing inequities by geographic region and age group of children served. In Western and Southern Massachusetts, rates for center-based infant care have increased by 45% and over 20% for center-based toddler care. 

“When the administration started, we declared that we didn’t just want to get ‘back’ to how things were before the pandemic. We were focused on transforming our early education and care system forward, towards access and equity for all families. I want to thank the Board, Legislature, and Commissioner Kershaw and her team – together, we have made remarkable progress over the last two years,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I know the sector will feel the impact of these transformational improvements for years to come.” 

“We have been focused on making our child care financial assistance programs family focused, accessible, dignified and equitable,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “These increases will continue our progress to have our rates better reflect the cost of care, with an intentional focus on equity by targeting increases towards closing the biggest gaps between our rates and the cost of care.”  

"The board remains committed to advancing the Commonwealth's rate structure to reflect the true cost of care for providers. Today, we deepen that commitment with gratitude to the Governor and Legislature for their partnership in securing the necessary resources for this critical work. Moving forward, we will continue refining our approach to prioritize the needs of children and providers at the heart of our decision-making," said Paul Belsito, Chair of the Board of Early Education and Care.  

“I am pleased to support this increase in the reimbursement rate for FY25. We know that investing in early childhood care and education helps to set children up for success in school and strengthens our economy by ensuring parents can work. For too long, reimbursement rates have not fully covered the cost of caring for children in all child care settings. This FY25 rate takes into account the true cost of caring for and educating young children, no matter their address or age. This targeted rate increase will continue leveling the playing field to ensure that all child care providers receive enough funding to cover their costs,” said Maria Moeller, Vice Chair of the Board of Early Education and Care and Chief Executive Officer of The Community Group in Lawrence.  

“Child care reimbursements make early education and care attainable for families who need it most and give our children the leg up that they deserve," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I’m proud of the Senate’s steadfast commitment to early education and care, and applaud the administration for increasing the reimbursement rate, which will help working families and kids around the Commonwealth.” 

"The House has long championed child care rate increases that reflect the true cost of care, and I’m proud of the work we've done with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to ensure EEC programming in Massachusetts can thrive," said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). "I applaud Commissioner Kershaw and her team for their efforts, which align with the House's commitment to supporting the EEC workforce and providing more affordable and equitable access to high-quality early education and care.”

Examples of rate increases by region and age group of children served in center-based settings over the last two fiscal years: 

	Infant		Toddler
Per Day/ Per Child	FY2023 Rate	New Rate	FY2023 Rate	New Rate
Western	$72.37	$105.00  (45% increase)	$66.36	$82.50  (24% increase)
Central	$75.95	$105.00  (38% increase)	$68.36	$82.50  (21% increase)
Northeast	$89.51	$110.25  (23% increase)	$78.12	$85.97  (10% increase)
Metro	$110.24	$121.31  (10% increase)	$100.04	$110.09  (10% increase)
Southeast	$72.37	$105.00  (45% increase)	$67.89	$82.50  (22% increase)
Metro Boston	$105.25	$121.31  (15% increase)	$93.20	$110.09  (18% increase)