Children’s Services Provider Relief Program

In late June 2020, Governor Raimondo approved financial relief payments to Children’s Services provider agencies. These one-time grant payments are meant to support system resiliency and respond to public health concerns brought on by COVID-19 related disruptions in service delivery as well as to offset costs of business interruption and expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Rhode Island Children’s Service provider agencies offer a range of home and community based therapeutic services that serve over three thousand (3000) Rhode Island children on an annual basis.  Services include, Home Based Therapeutic Services (HBTS), Personal Assistance Services and Supports (PASS), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cedar Family Centers, Child and Adolescent Intensive Treatment Services (CAITS) and social groups for children with Autism.  Children eligible for these services have moderate to severe special health care needs often as a result of a diagnosed chronic developmental, cognitive, physical, medical, neurological, behavioral and/or emotional condition, many of which are long-term disabilities or include complex medical needs.  These home and community based services assist children with special health care needs from infancy through the transition to adulthood to avoid hospitalization and institutionalization by offering a range of behavioral and developmental interventions, clinical treatments, and parent education all designed to improve the developmental outcomes for Rhode Island children.  

Despite innovative efforts by provider agencies to operationalize the service delivery of their service plans virtually (telehealth) during the COVID-19 pandemic, many families were forced to temporarily suspend service due to overall safety concerns related to COVID-19, the inability of their child to engage virtually or due to their lack of possession of the needed technology for virtual treatment.  COVID-19 has caused a significant disturbance to families who depend on these critical Medicaid services. 

Recognizing that many of these services are unable to be delivered exclusively via telehealth, provider agencies will need funding to restore the lost revenue associated with COVID-19 and identify the resources needed to resume in-person service delivery for families who need them most.  Payments shall not exceed the sum of the (1) documented lost revenue and (2) COVID-related increased costs, minus (3) the amount of federal assistance received. 

Program Timeline:

Please complete the application in its entirety  here .

Applications are due Friday 7/24/20 by 5pm EST .  

The state projects to make initial disbursements to approved provider agencies on 8/14/2020.  The state then projects to disburse the second half of payment to providers following an evaluation of the execution of reopening plans and evidence of effort to increase services in person, in the home, through September 30, 2020. 

Program Documents:

·           Program Guidance

·           Financial Agreement (embedded in application)

·           Provider Questions and Answers

Please email ohhs.childrens_provider_relief@ohhs.ri.gov if you have additional questions that are not addressed in the program’s guidance or questions and answers.