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OCFS tells oversight committee it is implementing OPAGA recommendations after review of child-care payment timeliness
Summary
Director Bobby Johnson told the committee OCFS processes most child-care payments within 30 days and is working with an operational-excellence team to standardize invoice procedures and provide training, targeting a fall 2026 rollout of a standard invoice and SOP.
Director Bobby Johnson of the Office of Child and Family Services appeared to continue the committee's work session on the OPAGA report about timeliness of child-care payments for children in state custody.
Johnson told members that OPAGA found OCFS processed payments within 30 calendar days over 95% of the time and within seven days roughly 66.8% of the time. He acknowledged the need for improvement and described two OPAGA recommendations OCFS is addressing: documenting a standardized statewide process and clarifying invoice requirements among district offices, providers, and the service center.
Johnson said the department engaged its operational excellence (OPEX) team, with chief operating officer John Feeney leading work sessions in district offices to build a shared understanding of challenges. The planned deliverables include a standard operating procedure, a standardized invoice template for providers, and on-demand training for staff. Johnson set a target to have these activities completed and the training available by late October or November 2026.
Committee members asked whether the specific payment cases reviewed by OPAGA had been resolved and how OCFS would track future late invoices. Johnson replied that the cases included in OPAGA's sample had largely been resolved and that OCFS will improve tracking by recording the date the invoice is received and then tracking its processing through the system, a capability OPAGA said was previously missing. Johnson said OCFS will consider adding unique invoice identifiers as part of the OPEX work list.
Several legislators urged periodic follow-up and quality assurance to ensure the planned changes produce sustained improvements. Johnson said OCFS will perform internal quality assurance and can return to the committee with progress reports if requested.
