Maine Child Care Payments: 95.5% Paid Within 30 Days, OPEGA Review Finds

A recent review by the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) indicates that the vast majority of child care invoices for children in state custody are being paid promptly by the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS). The report, released on Friday, found that 95.5% of invoices were paid within the state’s standard of 30 days.

Consistent Adherence to Payment Standards

The OPEGA review analyzed a sample of 2,198 fully paid, emailed invoices from March to May 2025. The findings demonstrate strong adherence to statewide payment standards, with 90.1% of invoices paid within 14 days, and 66.8% within one week.

Importance of Timely Payments to Providers

The Department of Health and Human Services recognizes the critical role child care providers play in the state’s child welfare system. These providers enable kinship and resource parents to work or pursue education. Reliable and timely payments are essential to maintaining a strong and sustainable network of care.

Addressing Identified Challenges

While the overall performance is positive, OPEGA identified some areas for improvement. The review highlighted inconsistencies in processes and communication that could potentially lead to delays. Specifically, data from one OCFS district showed challenges in ensuring timely payments due to staffing vacancies between March and May 2025.

OCFS Initiatives for Continuous Improvement

OCFS is taking proactive steps to address these challenges and further strengthen payment practices. These initiatives include:

• On-Demand Training: Developing an on-demand training program for all current and future staff involved in receiving and processing invoices. This will ensure consistent application of procedures, even during staff absences or vacancies.
• Standardization with OpEx: Partnering with the DHHS’ Operational Excellence (OpEx) team to enhance and standardize processing procedures, aiming to achieve 100% of payments within 30 days.
• Invoice Updates: Updating the standardized invoice form and establishing a process for regular updates.
• Improved Communication: Strengthening communication between child welfare staff and child care providers regarding rates, invoicing, payment procedures, and child placement details.

Commitment to Accountability and Stewardship

The Department remains committed to accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds. Clear expectations and standardized processes will help minimize delays caused by incomplete or missing information, while ensuring payments are only issued for valid invoices.

OPEGA’s Role in Government Oversight

The Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) plays a vital role in supporting the Maine Legislature by conducting independent, objective reviews of state programs. OPEGA focuses on effectiveness, efficiency, and economical use of resources, as well as compliance with laws and regulations.

The Department remains focused on maintaining strong performance while improving the systems that support providers and, most importantly, the children they serve.