[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44326-44329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15893]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 142 / Tuesday, July 26, 2022 / 
Notices  

[[Page 44326]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Child and Adult Care Food Program: National Average Payment 
Rates, Day Care Home Food Service Payment Rates, and Administrative 
Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring Organizations of Day Care Homes for 
the Period July 1, 2022 Through June 30, 2023

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national 
average payment rates for meals and snacks served in child care 
centers, outside-school-hours care centers, at-risk afterschool care 
centers, and adult day care centers; the food service payment rates for 
meals and snacks served in day care homes; and the administrative 
reimbursement rates for sponsoring organizations of day care homes, to 
reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Further adjustments are 
made to these rates to reflect the higher costs of providing meals in 
Alaska and Hawaii. The adjustments contained in this notice are made on 
an annual basis each July, as required by the laws and regulations 
governing the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
    Overall, reimbursement rates this year for the Child and Adult Care 
Food Program increased compared to last year.

DATES: These rates are effective from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 
2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Penny Burke, Branch Chief, Program 
Monitoring and Operational Support Division, Child Nutrition Programs, 
Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 
1320 Braddock Place, Suite 401, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, 303-844-
0357.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Temporary Adjustments Authorized Under the Keep Kids Feed Act of 2022

    Child and Adult Care Food Program institutions face continued 
challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To help alleviate some of 
those challenges, Section 3 of the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 (Public 
Law 117-158) provides temporary additional funding for each meal and 
supplement served. This additional reimbursement amount will be 
available beginning July 1, 2022 and ending on June 30, 2023. The law 
temporarily provides an additional reimbursement in the amount of 10 
cents for each meal and supplement served under the program authorized 
by section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Act (42 U.S. C. 
1766). Additionally, the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-158) 
authorized a tier II family or group day care home described in 
subsection (f)(3)(A)(iii) of section 17 of the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766) to be considered a tier I 
family or group day care home for purposes of the program authorized 
under that section for the same period. This temporary measure will 
provide tier II homes with tier I reimbursement rates only for the time 
period beginning July 1, 2022 and ending on June 30, 2023.

Background

    Pursuant to sections 4, 11, and 17 of the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753, 1759a and 1766), section 4 
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) and 7 CFR 226.4, 
226.12 and 226.13 of the Program regulations, notice is hereby given of 
the new payment rates for institutions participating in the Child and 
Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). As provided for under the law, all 
rates in the CACFP must be revised annually, on July 1, to reflect 
changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), published by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, for the most 
recent 12-month period. These rates are in effect during the period 
July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

Adjusted Payments

    The following national average payment factors and food service 
payment rates for meals and snacks are in effect from July 1, 2022 
through June 30, 2023. All amounts are expressed in dollars or 
fractions thereof. Due to a higher cost of living, the reimbursements 
for Alaska and Hawaii are higher than those for all other States. The 
District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam use the 
figures specified for the contiguous States. These rates do not include 
the value of USDA Foods or cash-in-lieu of USDA Foods, which 
institutions receive as additional assistance for each lunch or supper 
served to participants under the Program. A notice announcing the value 
of USDA Foods and cash-in-lieu of USDA Foods is published separately in 
the Federal Register. Adjustments to the national average payment rates 
for all meals served under the Child and Adult Care Food Program are 
rounded down to the nearest whole cent.

National Average Payment Rates for Centers (Including Temporary 
Increases Authorized by the Keep Kid Fed Act Which Expire on June 30, 
2023)

    The changes in the national average payment rates for centers 
reflect a 7.40 percent increase during the 12-month period from May 
2021 to May 2022 (from 303.481 in May 2021, as previously published in 
the Federal Register, to 325.952 in May 2022) in the food away from 
home series of the CPI for All Urban Consumers.
    Payments for breakfasts served are: Contiguous States--paid rate--
45 cents (12 cent increase from 2021-2022 annual level), reduced price 
rate--1 dollar and 91 cents (24 cents increase), free rate--2 dollar 
and 21 cents (24 cents increase); Alaska--paid rate--64 cents (14 cent 
increase), reduced price rate--3 dollars and 18 cents (33 cents 
increase), free rate--3 dollars and 48 cents (33 cents increase); 
Hawaii--paid rate -50 cents (12 cent increase), reduced price rate--2 
dollars and 26 cents (27 cents increase), free rate--2 dollars and 56 
cents (27 cents increase).
    Payments for lunch or supper served are: Contiguous States--paid 
rate--47 cents (12 cents increase from 2021-2022 annual level), reduced 
price rate--3 dollars and 63 cents (37 cents increase), free rate--4 
dollars and 03 cents (37 cents increase); Alaska--paid rate--71 cents 
(14 cents increase), reduced price rate--6 dollars and 07 cents (53 
cents increase), free rate--6 dollars and 47 cents (53 cents increase); 
Hawaii--paid rate--54 cents (13 cents increase), reduced price rate--4 
dollars and 30

[[Page 44327]]

cents (42 cents increase), free rate--4 dollars and 70 cents (42 cents 
increase).
    Payments for snack served are: Contiguous States--paid rate--19 
cents (10 cents increase from 2021-2022 annual level), reduced price 
rate--64 cents (14 cents increase), free rate--1 dollar and 18 cents 
(18 cents increase); Alaska--paid rate--26 cents (12 cents increase), 
reduced price rate--97 cents (16 cents increase), free rate--1 dollar 
and 85 cents (22 cents increase); Hawaii--paid rate--21 cents (11 cent 
increase), reduced price rate--73 cents (15 cents increase), free 
rate--1 dollar and 36 cents (19 cents increase).

Food Service Payment Rates for Day Care Homes (Including Temporary 
Increases Authorized by the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 Which Expires on 
June 30, 2023)

    The changes in the food service payment rates for day care homes 
reflect a 11.91 percent increase during the 12-month period from May 
2021 to May 2022 (from 255.516 in May 2021, as previously published in 
the Federal Register, to 285.953 in May 2022) in the food at home 
series of the CPI for All Urban Consumers.
    Payments \1\ for breakfast served are: Contiguous States--Tier I--1 
dollar and 66 cents (26 cents increase from 2021-2022 annual level) and 
Tier II--1 dollar and 66 cents (1 dollar and 15 cent increase); 
Alaska--Tier I--2 dollars and 59 cents (36 cent increase) and Tier II--
2 dollars and 59 cents (1 dollar and 80 cent increase); Hawaii--Tier 
I--1 dollar and 91 cents (28 cent increase) and Tier II--1 dollar and 
91 cents (1 dollar 33 cent increase).
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    \1\ The Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-158) authorized 
an additional 10 cent reimbursement per meal or supplement served 
under the program for the school year beginning July 1, 2022 and 
ending June 30, 2023. Additionally, all Tier II family daycare homes 
shall be reimbursed at the Tier I rate for the school year beginning 
July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023.
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    Payments for lunch and supper served are: Contiguous States--Tier 
I--3 dollars and 04 cents (41 cents increase from 2021-2022 annual 
level) and Tier II--3 dollars and 04 cents (1 dollar and 45 cent 
increase); Alaska--Tier I--4 dollars and 87 cents (61 cents increase) 
and Tier II--4 dollars and 87 cents (2 dollar and 30 cent increase); 
Hawaii--Tier I--3 dollars and 55 cents (47 cents increase) and Tier 
II--3 dollars and 55 cents (1 dollar 69 cent increase).
    Payments for snack served are: Contiguous States--Tier I--97 cents 
(19 cents increase from 2021--2022 annual level) and Tier II--97 cents 
(76 cents increase); Alaska--Tier I--1 dollar and 52 cents (25 cent 
increase) and Tier II--Tier I--1 dollar and 52 cents (1 dollar 17 cent 
increase); Hawaii--Tier I--1 dollar and 12 cents (21 cents increase) 
and Tier II--1 dollar and 12 cents (87 cents increase).

Administrative Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring Organizations of Day 
Care Homes

    The changes in the administrative reimbursement rates for 
sponsoring organizations of day care homes reflect an 8.58 percent 
increase during the 12-month period, May 2021 to May 2022 (from 269.195 
in May 2021, as previously published in the Federal Register, to 
292.296 in May 2022) in the series for all items of the CPI for All 
Urban Consumers.
    Monthly administrative payments to sponsors for each sponsored day 
care home are: Contiguous States--Initial 50 homes--137 dollars (11 
dollars increase from 2021--2022 annual level), next 150 homes--104 
dollars (8 dollars increase), next 800 homes--81 dollars (6 dollars 
increase), each additional home--72 dollars (6 dollars increase); 
Alaska--Initial 50 homes--221 dollars (17 dollars increase), next 150 
homes--169 dollars (14 dollars increase), next 800 homes--132 dollars 
(11 dollars increase), each additional home--116 dollars (9 dollars 
increase); Hawaii--Initial 50 homes--160 dollars (13 dollars increase), 
next 150 homes--122 dollars (10 dollars increase), next 800 homes--95 
dollars (7 dollars increase), each additional home--84 dollars (7 
dollars increase).

Payment Chart Including Additional Temporary Reimbursement From the 
Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022

    The following chart illustrates the national average payment 
factors and food service payment rates for meals and snacks in effect 
for the school year beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2022 and 
includes the additional reimbursement authorized by the Keep Kids Fed 
Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-158).
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

[[Page 44328]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26JY22.163

Base Payment Chart (Excludes the Temporary Increases Authorized by Keep 
Kids Fed Act of 2022)

    The following chart shows the national average payment factors and 
food service payment rates for meals and snacks in effect from July 1, 
2022 through June 30, 2023. These rates reflect the annual adjustments 
as required by the laws and regulations governing the Child and Adult 
Care Food Program and do not include the temporary increases authorized 
by Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-158).

[[Page 44329]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26JY22.164

    This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of that 
Act. This notice has been determined to be exempt under Executive Order 
12866.
    CACFP is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 
No. 10.558 and is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, 
which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local 
officials. (See 2 CFR 415.3-415.6).
    This notice imposes no new reporting or recordkeeping provisions 
that are subject to OMB review in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3518).
    Authority: Sections 4(b)(2), 11a, 17(c) and 17(f)(3)(B) of the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(2), 
1759a, 1766(f)(3)(B)) and section 4(b)(1)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act 
of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(1)(B)).

Cynthia Long,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-15893 Filed 7-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C