1. A. Prevocational services are individualized, person-centered services that assist beneficiaries in establishing their path to obtain individualized community employment. This service is time limited and targeted for people who have an interest in becoming employed in individual jobs in the community but who may need additional skills, information, and experiences to determine their employment goal and to become successfully employed. Beneficiaries receiving prevocational services may choose to leave this service at any time or pursue employment opportunities at any time.

2. B. Prevocational services are the overarching services and may be delivered in a combination of these two service types:

   1. 1. onsite prevocational services also referred to as onsite community career planning (CP);and

   2. 2. CP in a small group

      1. a. prevocational services may be delivered virtually.
3. C. Prevocational services are to be provided in a variety of locations in the community and are not to be limited to a fixed site facility. Activities associated with prevocational services should focus on preparing the beneficiary for integrated individual employment in the community. These services are operated through a provider agency that is licensed by the appropriate state licensing agency.
4. D. Beneficiaries receiving prevocational services must participate in activities designed to establish an employment goal. Prevocational services are designed to help create a path to integrated community-based employment for which a beneficiary is compensated at or above minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by individuals without disabilities. Prevocational services may include assistance with personal care or with activities of daily living.
5. E. The prevocational provider is responsible for all transportation between prevocational sites. Transportation may be provided between the beneficiary’s residence, or other location, as agreed upon by the beneficiary or authorized representative, and the prevocational site. The beneficiary’s transportation needs shall be documented in the plan of care.

6. F. Service Limitations

   1. 1. Service limits shall be based on the person-centered plan and the beneficiary’s ROW budget. Services are delivered in a 15-minute unit of service for up to eight hours per day, one or more days per week. The 15-minute unit of service must be spent at the service site by the beneficiary.

      1. a. Any time less than 15 minutes of service is not billable or payable.
      2. b. No rounding up of units of service is allowed.
   2. 2. Prevocational services are not available to individuals who are eligible to participate in programs funded under section 110 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or sections 602(16) and (17) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [20 U.S.C. 1401(26) and (29)] as amended, and those covered under the state plan, if applicable.

   3. 3. Prevocational services cannot be billed for at the same time on the same day as the following ROW services, except for community life engagement development or MIHC:

      1. a. community living supports;
      2. b. professional services, except when there are direct contacts needed in the development of a support plan;
      3. c. respite–out of home;
      4. d. adult day healthcare;
      5. e. day habilitation services; or
      6. f. supported employment.
      7. 4. Prevocational services may otherwise be billed at the same time on the same day as professional services when there are direct contacts needed in the development of a support plan.

   4. 5. Transportation may be provided on the day that a prevocational service is provided. Transportation is not allowable for virtual delivery of prevocational services.

      1. a. Time spent in transportation between the beneficiary's residence/location and the prevocational site is not to be included in the total number of prevocational service hours per day, except when the transportation is for the purpose of travel training. Travel training must be included in the beneficiary's plan of care.
      2. b. During travel training, providers must not also bill for the transportation component as this is included in the rate for the number of service hours provided.
      3. c. Transportation-community access services shall not be used for transportation to or from any prevocational services.
      4. d. Transportation is billed as a separate service that is billed at a daily rate.

7. G. Restrictions

   1. 1. Beneficiaries receiving prevocational services may also receive day habilitation and/or individualized supported employment services, but these services cannot be provided during the same time period.
8. H. Provider Qualifications. Providers must be licensed by the Department of Health as a home and community-based services provider and meet the module requirements for adult day care or supported employment in LAC 48:I.Chapter 50.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, LR 33:2450 (November 2007), amended by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing and the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, LR 41:2162 (October 2015), amended by the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing and the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, LR 45:1766 (December 2019), LR 47:1516 (October 2021), LR 48:1565 (June 2022), LR 50:1833 (December 2024).