Arkansas Administrative Code

20 CAR § 385-307. Procedures — Order of selection. (a)(1) When applicable, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services order of selection follows the procedures outlined. (2) Eligibility (Status 10) must be established prior to applying the order of selection. (3)(A) Complete the Assessment…

20 CAR § 835-401. Individualized plan for employment generally. (a)(1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services will conduct a thorough assessment for determining VR needs for each eligible individual. (2) The purpose of this assessment is to determine the: (A) Specific employment outcom…

20 CAR § 835-402. Procedures — Individualized plan for employment (IPE). (a) The counselor will inform the individual of the options for developing the IPE. (b)(1) The counselor will inform the individual of the required components of the IPE if the individual chooses to develop …

20 CAR § 835-403. Informed choice — IPE development. (a) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services will assure that eligible individuals or their representatives are provided information and support services to assist them in exercising informed choice throughout the rehabilitation proces…

20 CAR § 835-404. Procedures — Informed choice — IPE development. (a) The counselor will maintain a regional and statewide list of vendors that provide services that lead to an employment outcome. (b) To the extent available, the counselor will provide or assist the individual in…

20 CAR § 835-501. Economic needs and comparable benefits generally. (a)(1) An individual's economic need is not used to determine eligibility for VR services. (2) An economic needs assessment is used only to determine if the individual can pay any cost of VR services and if so, h…

20 CAR § 835-502. Normal living requirement. Household SizeMonthly Income Limit 1$3,200 2$3,950 3$4,700 ($750 for each additional family member) (a)(1) Special circumstances include: (A) Anything that has changed from one (1) year to the next; and (B) Anything that distinguishes …

20 CAR § 835-503. Procedures — Utilizing financial need. (a) Exempt Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental Security Income recipients from financial need assessment/requirements. (b) The individual must apply for comparable benefits, and documentation of benefits must …

20 CAR § 835-601. Services generally. (a) The highest priority of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services is to provide individualized services to eligible individuals so they can work in competitive integrated employment. (b) Services will be provided in compliance with Title VI and Ti…

20 CAR § 835-602. Substantiality of services. (a) Substantial vocational rehabilitation services are those services that, provided in the context of the counseling relationship, collectively and significantly contribute to the achievement of an employment outcome consistent with …

20 CAR § 835-603. Minimum annual contacts. (a) There must be a minimum of three (3) contacts annually, one (1) of which will include the annual review. (b) The case note should reflect the nature of the contact, i.e., direct face-to-face contact, email conversation, phone convers…

20 CAR § 835-604. Vocational rehabilitation services. (a) As appropriate to the vocational rehabilitation needs of each individual and consistent with each individual’s informed choice, the following vocational rehabilitation services are available: (1) Assessment for determining…

20 CAR § 835-605. Provision and authorization of services. (a)(1) Payment request will not be approved until documentation that the service has been received. (2) Documentation may include: (A) Medical reports; (B) Training progress reports; (C) Attendance forms; (D) Receipts; an…

20 CAR § 835-606. Segregation of duties. (a)(1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services requires segregation of duties to ensure effective internal control in regard to authorizing services. (2) The implementation of the new case management system (CMS), System 7, enables staff to perfo…

20 CAR § 835-607. Vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance. (a)(1) The counselor will include on an IPE services of “vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance, placement, and follow-up”. (2) The program will outline in the criteria for evaluation of progress towa…

20 CAR § 835-608. Employment services (job finding/referral). (a)(1) A job-finding service is rendered when the individual is considered “job-ready” by the VR counselor. (2) A job-finding service is also rendered when Arkansas Rehabilitation Services directly refers or arranges f…

20 CAR § 835-609. Placement services. (a)(1) Placement services are organized and identifiable attempts to establish or improve the linkage of an individual and a work situation. (2) While employment placement is the VR program goal and usually occurs toward the end of the rehabi…

20 CAR § 835-610. Follow-up. (a)(1) The counselor and/or placement specialist will provide follow-up services to each individual placed in employment to determine if all planned for services have been provided and the VR objective achieved. (2) Follow-up services will include con…

20 CAR § 835-611. Assessment services. (a) Assessment services are those services required to determine: (1) An applicant’s eligibility for rehabilitation services and priority for services; and (2) The services needed to achieve an employment outcome. (b) Medical diagnostic serv…

20 CAR § 835-612. Restoration (physical/mental) services. (a)(1) Restoration services mean those medical and medically related services that are necessary to correct or substantially modify within a reasonable period of time, a stable or slowly progressive physical or mental cond…

20 CAR § 835-613. Physical restoration services purchased in-state. (a)(1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services will pay for all physical restoration services that are properly authorized. (2) Payment will be made according to the vendor’s stated fee, up to but not to exceed, the max…

20 CAR § 835-614. Physical restoration services purchased out of state. (a)(1) If Arkansas Rehabilitation Services purchases physical restoration services out of state (in this instance Texarkana, Texas, is considered in the state), the rate paid will not exceed fees paid by the …

20 CAR § 835-615. Medical consultant. (a) In all cases involving medical and surgical treatment, hospitalization, drugs (except for acute medical care), and all medically directed therapies, a written consultation must be obtained from the medical consultant and attached to the E…

20 CAR § 835-616. Medical, surgical, and psychiatric treatment. (a) Medical treatment. (1) After the initial diagnostic medical evaluation, payments may be made to a physician (general practitioner or specialist), clinic, dispensary, or hospital for services provided to the indiv…

20 CAR § 835-617. Breast reduction information/guidelines. Listed below are guidelines for breast reduction surgery for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services: (1) There must be verification of back/neck pain for at least six (6) months by a medical physician (not just the cosmetic sur…

20 CAR § 835-618. Directed therapy for weight loss. (a)(1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services may provide services for structured weight loss programs for twelve (12) months such as Weight Watchers, TOPS, etc., or other medically directed programs. (2) The counselor will maintain m…

20 CAR § 835-619. Supported counseling related to weight. (a) Progress should be monitored monthly. (b) After three (3) months in a weight loss program, at the counselor’s discretion and based on little or no success, the client’s program needs to be modified.

20 CAR § 835-620. Treatment for morbid obesity (morbid obesity surgery). (a) Individuals requesting assistance from Arkansas Rehabilitation Services for a surgical procedure as a method of treatment for morbid obesity are to be informed the procedure is a major operation with the…

20 CAR § 835-621. Cochlear implants. (a)(1) Individuals requesting assistance from Arkansas Rehabilitation Services for cochlear implant surgery as a method of treatment to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing must meet the follo…

20 CAR § 835-622. Bone-anchored auditory implant (BAAI). (a)(1) Individuals requesting assistance from Arkansas Rehabilitation Services for a bone-anchored auditory implant (BAAI) as a method of treatment to provide a sense of sound to a person who is hard of hearing must meet th…

20 CAR § 835-623. Surgical and hospital insurance. (a) Insurance benefits must be used first in paying for surgical and medical services. (b) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services will pay a portion of the billed amount after comparable services, similar benefits, and insurance are ap…

20 CAR § 835-624. Consultation. (a) For diagnostic purposes, the attending physician may consult with another specialist. (b) The counselor must have a recommendation for consultation, and prior authorization is required.

20 CAR § 835-625. Post-operative reports. It is the counselor’s responsibility for cochlear implant and bone-anchored auditory implant procedures to obtain a post-operative report or letter prior to processing the final payment.

20 CAR § 835-626. Minor surgery by general practitioners. Arkansas Rehabilitation Services may pay general practicing physicians for minor surgery, such as the opening of a superficial abscess or removal of a superficial tumor or cyst.

20 CAR § 835-627. Medication. (a)(1) Medication can be provided throughout the program and ninety (90) days following placement. (2) The counselor must verify the need for ongoing medication with documentation from either the medical consultant or the individual’s personal care p…

20 CAR § 835-628. Speech and hearing therapeutic services. (a)(1) Individuals with organic or inorganic speech and hearing disorders may be scheduled for evaluation and therapy by an approved therapist. (2) The counselor will furnish the therapist with information needed to provi…

20 CAR § 835-629. Hospitalization, convalescent care, and nursing services. (a)(1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services will pay for inpatient or outpatient hospitalization, including blood, in Arkansas hospitals according to current Medicaid fees or other fees established. (2) Arkan…

20 CAR § 835-630. Training. (a)(1) All training must be designed to achieve the specific employment outcome, which is chosen by the individual consistent with the individual’s: (A) Unique strengths; (B) Resources; (C) Priorities; (D) Concerns; (E) Abilities; (F) Capabilities; (G)…

20 CAR § 835-631. Financial aid. (a)(1) The role of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services is not to act as the primary funding source for training programs. (2) All clients pursuing training programs are required to explore, and when appropriate, apply for funding from sources other t…

20 CAR § 835-632. Colleges and universities. (a)(1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services will assist individuals in pursuing two-year and four-year college and university training programs in only those colleges and universities: (A) Accredited by the appropriate accrediting agency; …

20 CAR § 835-633. Business schools or colleges. (a)(1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services may purchase training for qualified clients in any business school or college capable of providing the training necessary for the client to attain the vocational objective. (2) Satisfactory pe…

20 CAR § 835-634. Vocational school. (a)(1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services may purchase training for qualified individuals in any vocational, trade, or technical school capable of providing the training necessary for the individual to attain the vocational objective. (2) If tra…

20 CAR § 835-635. Cosmetology/barber school. (a)(1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services may purchase training for qualified individuals in cosmetology/barber schools capable of providing training necessary for the individual to attain the vocational objective. (2) Cosmetology/barber…

20 CAR § 835-636. On-the-job training. (a)(1) Vendors used for on-the-job training must be reputable, established firms that can supply the individual training in the selected job. (2) The counselor must choose only those training sites that have: (A) Proper equipment; (B) Suffic…

20 CAR § 835-637. Adjustment training. (a)(1) This is training which will help the individual adjust to a particular situation hindering his or her ability to work. (2) Included would be work conditioning, developing work tolerance, mobility training, remedial training, literacy …

20 CAR § 835-638. Miscellaneous training. (a)(1) This category includes academic and other specialized training that will prepare an individual with a disability to be employed. (2) This training may include correspondence and online study. (b) The correspondence/online method ma…

20 CAR § 835-639. Books and training materials. (a) Books and training materials will be limited to required textbooks, including required math calculators. (b) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services will not furnish office supplies, such as: (1) Paper; (2) Pencils; (3) Pens; (4) Glue;…

20 CAR § 835-640. Transportation. (a)(1) Transportation costs may be reimbursed to the client at the state allowed rate. (2) Transportation costs may be paid to an approved vendor at the rate set forth in the Vendor Transportation Service Agreement. (3) The vendor shall agree to …

20 CAR § 835-641. Maintenance. (a)(1) Maintenance is a supportive vocational rehabilitation service in the form of cash payments which should be made first to a vendor, maintenance payments written directly to clients for basic living expenses such as food, shelter, clothing, or …

20 CAR § 835-642. Supported employment services. (a) “Supported employment” means competitive integrated employment, including customized employment, or employment in an integrated work setting in which an individual with a most significant disability, including a youth with a mo…