WAC 296-19A-090
What are vocational rehabilitation plan
development services? Vocational rehabilitation plan
development services are authorized to obtain the vocational
rehabilitation provider's assistance in producing a vocational
rehabilitation plan for a worker. The vocational
rehabilitation provider will work with the worker in the
development of the plan. Covered services include, but are
not limited to:
(1) An initial meeting between the assigned vocational
rehabilitation provider and the worker.
The assigned vocational rehabilitation provider must meet
with the worker in person and fully inform the worker of the
return to work priorities set forth in RCW 51.32.095(2) and of
his or her rights and responsibilities under the workers'
compensation vocational system. The vocational rehabilitation
provider must use tools provided by the department in order to
document this requirement.
Exception:
For out-of-state referrals, the counselor providing direct services to the worker may be considered the assigned
vocational rehabilitation provider for purposes of this meeting.
The rights and responsibilities include but are not
limited to:
(a) The responsibility of the worker and vocational
rehabilitation provider to cooperate with the plan development
process and to submit a plan within ninety calendar days;
(b) An explanation of the benefits available to the
worker, including the right to choose to participate in
retraining or elect option 2 benefits after a plan has been
approved; and
(c) An explanation of the possible action the department
or self-insured employer may take under RCW 51.32.110 and WAC 296-14-410 should the worker be determined to be
noncooperative during the plan development process.
(2) Vocational counseling and occupational exploration;
(3) Identifying a potential job goal and estimating the
training needs, resources, and expenses necessary to complete
that goal;
(4) Vocational testing; and
(5) Coordinating with medical providers to obtain
approval of job analyses and a release to participate in a
vocational rehabilitation plan.