State Survey Analysis Report
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V. GENERAL OVERVIEW – POLICIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Definition of Improper Payments
1. How does the CCDF Lead Agency define improper payments?
As a point of reference, under the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002, the term, “Improper Payment”
(a) means any payment that should not have been made or that was made in an incorrect amount (including overpayments and underpayments) under statutory, contractual, administrative, or other legally applicable requirements: and
(b) includes any payment to an ineligible recipient, any payment for an ineligible service, any duplicate payment, payments for services not received, and any payment that does not account for applicable discounts.
All States designate a Lead Agency to oversee administration of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Twenty-four States agencies, with the exception of Puerto Rico, provide a definition of improper payments set by the CCDF Lead Agency. Fifteen State agencies use all or part of the Federal definition of improper payments, including terms such as overpayment, underpayment, ineligible, eligible, or payments made in an incorrect amount according to statutory, contractual, administrative or other legally applicable requirement (AZ, CA(DSS), CT, DC, GA, KS, KY, MA, NE, NC, OH, UT, WA, WV, WI).
Eight State agencies include a definition of fraud (AL, CT, KY, MN, MO, NH, OH, WI). Seven State agencies include a definition of intentional or unintentional error (AL, AZ, CA(DE), CT, GA, MO, WI). Ten State agencies reference provider, agency, or client caused error (AL, AZ, CA(DSS), CT, GA, MN, MO, NC, OH, WI). (See Appendix 1 for each State’s descriptive response.
State Organizational Structure that Handles Improper Payments in the Child Care Program >>