3304-2-53. Qualifications and standards for service providers and vendors

(A) Except for service providers who provide only interpreting, rehabilitation technology, or transportation services, vocational rehabilitation service providers must be preliminarily accredited or certified by at least one of the following entities:

(1) The commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities (CARF) so long as the accreditation is for any one of the following categories of VR service:

(a) Community employment services (CES);

(b) Comprehensive vocational evaluation (CVE);

(c) Community integration (COI);

(d) Employee development services (EDS);

(e) Employment skills training (EST);

(f) Employment planning services (EPS);

(g) Organizational employment services (OES);

(h) Vision rehabilitation services (VRS); or

(i) Vocational services (VS).

(2) The joint commission (JC) for accreditation in behavioral health care.

(3) The association for education and rehabilitation of the blind and visually impaired, institutions of higher education or organizations (schools or agencies) serving individuals who are blind or with low vision.

(4) The national orientation and mobility certification (NOMC) for cane travel and non-visual instruction and the national certification in rehabilitation teaching for the blind (NCRTB) for non-visual instruction. Certification through the governing board with oversight of these two certifications, the national blindness certification board (NBPCB) is an allowable credential.

(a) Providers with NBPCB certification are required to provide proof of liability insurance policy to OOD in amount not less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars per incident.

(5) The Aaademy for certification of vision rehabilitation and education professionals (ACVREP) serving individuals who are blind or with low vision receiving vision rehabilitation and education services.

Providers with ACVREP Certification are required to provide proof of liability insurance to OOD in amount not less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars per incident.

(6) Providers certified by the Ohio department of developmental disabilities in the areas of career planning and individual employment supports with at least one year of experience in providing career planning service and individual employment supports. The scope of services for these providers is limited to individuals who meet eligibility requirements for county boards of developmental disabilities.

(B) In addition to the requirements listed above, additional credentialing shall be required as specified for the following services:

(1) Vocational rehabilitation service providers who conduct work incentives planning or coordination shall be certified as a community work incentives coordinator (CWIC) and/or work incentives practitioner (WIP).

(2) Vocational rehabilitation service providers who provide supported employment job development services under the VR fee schedule, must pass the certified employment support professional (CESP) exam offered by the association of people supporting employment first (APSE).

Vocational rehabilitation service providers that offer supported employment job development services to individuals with severe persistent mental illness (SPMI), which includes individuals with diagnosis of mental health/substance use disorder (MH/SUD), and are certified and meet the fidelity requirements as a program in accordance with rule 5122-29-11 of the Administrative Code are exempt from the CESP requirement.

(3) If a vocational rehabilitation service provider subcontracts any of its VR services through other providers, it must obtain certification, preliminary accreditation, or accreditation in all VR services in which it subcontracts unless a credentialing body identified in paragraph (A)(1) of this rule routinely surveys all services, including subcontracted services, in the course of the certification or accreditation process.

(C) The following requirements regarding licensure, accreditation, or certification also apply to vocational rehabilitation service providers:

(1) Vocational rehabilitation service providers must maintain and renew certification or accreditation according to the entity by which the provider was initially certified;

(2) Vocational rehabilitation service providers shall submit documentation from the appropriate body verifying certification, accreditation, or preliminary accreditation to OOD before requesting any payment from OOD according to its fee schedule; and

(3) Vocational rehabilitation service provider shall immediately notify OOD in writing if accreditation or certification lapses, is revoked, or suspended.

(D) OOD shall not purchase or reimburse for any services from any community rehabilitation program that does not obtain accreditation following preliminary accreditation and/or maintain appropriate accreditation or certification status.

(E) Prior to utilization and when requested by OOD, the community rehabilitation program shall complete a provider acknowledgement and submit to OOD.

(F) The executive director of OOD may waive any paragraph or paragraphs of this rule, if necessary, to appropriately serve individuals with disabilities.

(G) Nothing in this rule creates an obligation for OOD to purchase services from a provider, and OOD retains sole discretion over the expenditure of vocational rehabilitation funds.

(H) This rule is designed to implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 32, and resulting regulations.

Replaces: 3304-2-53

Effective: 11/23/2019
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 11/23/2024
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3304.16, 3304.15
Rule Amplifies: 125.09(C), 3304.16, 3304.15
Prior Effective Dates: 09/30/1985, 04/04/1988, 01/11/1999, 09/01/1999, 05/14/2001, 05/01/2003, 07/30/2007, 07/11/2013