(a) Reimbursement for foster care claims requires the completion and approval of a foster home assessment, pre-service training, and a signed foster care contract.  Reimbursement may not precede the date of the contract signatures. 

(b) Foster parents are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of claims upon receipt.  When errors occur, the procedures for adjustments listed in (1) through (4) must be completed.

(1) The foster parent immediately notifies the resource specialist upon discovery of an error in reimbursement.

(2) Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) authorizes reimbursements upon discovery for previously unclaimed services, underpayments.  When an overpayment coincides with the underpayment, the overpayment is recouped before payment of the underpayment. 

(3) OKDHS authorizes repayment schedules when foster parents are paid for services not rendered or at an amount greater than authorized.  The county office and foster family establish an agreed upon repayment plan.

(A) Foster parents are responsible for reimbursing OKDHS for any overpayment, regardless of the party responsible for the initial error, per OAC 340:75-1-27.  Each monthly payment toward resolving the overpayment must equal at least ten percent of the overpayment.

(B) The resource specialist authorizes overpayment reimbursement schedules.  The foster parent is sent a notice of overpayment by the county of service. 

(C) Payments must be made by check or money order with payment assigned to OKDHS.  Cash is not accepted from the foster family. • 1

(D) When the foster family chooses to reduce the foster family claim by an agreed upon amount until the overpayment no longer exists, a signed and notarized statement from the foster family authorizing the reduction of the claim in reimbursement is sent to OKDHS.

(i) Payments are made by the day fixed by the repayment schedule each month.

(ii) Payments may be deducted from claims for current services, or the foster parent may make payments to the Finance Division by check or money order.  Reference to the payment purpose is listed in the memo section of the check or transmittal letter to ensure proper credit.

(4) OKDHS may authorize the issuance of a warrant when the foster care reimbursement is late or lost.

(A) The contract for services affords OKDHS 20 days to process each claim.  Late claim adjustments are not made during this interval.  • 2

(B) OKDHS cancels the reimbursement warrant per Oklahoma statutes when a foster parent reports the warrant lost after 90 days.  • 3