Some relief for Nebraska’s childcare providers.
At Friday’s gubernatorial coronavirus briefing, Director for Children and Family Services, Stephanie Beasley, said Governor Ricketts has signed an executive order allowing childcare providers to bill the Department of Health and Human Services for subsidies lost due to children being withheld over coronavirus concerns.
Beasley says this only applies to subsidy childcare providers if they have remained open or if they plan to re-open.
“Childcare providers cannot bill for days that the provider closed their program and can only bill absent days up to the authorized hours the child typically attends the program,” said Beasley.
The executive order also temporarily removes some childcare provider regulations, allowing for more families who receive childcare subsidies to opt for a license-exempt, in-home provider if no other options are available.
Beasley says this provides at least two benefits.
“First this provides an alternate childcare option for a family who may have lost their childcare due to their provider or program closing,” said Beasley.
Second, Beasley said the order allows for those temporarily or permanently unemployed during the crisis another option for work.