Federally approved BI, CAC, CADI, and DD waiver plans, Minn. Stat. §245D.03

Employment exploration services: Services that help a person gain a better understanding of competitive, integrated employment opportunities in their community. Exploration activities and experiences strengthen a person’s knowledge, interests and preferences so they can make informed decisions about competitive employment. Employment exploration includes:

Competitive, integrated employment: Employment that pays a minimum wage or an industry standard, customary or prevailing wage with comparable benefits (e.g., health insurance, leave time, etc.).

To receive employment exploration services, a person must both:

Requires direct contact

Covered employment exploration services that require direct contact with the person may include:

Does not require direct contact

Covered employment exploration services that do not require direct contact with the person may include:

Reauthorization

Employment exploration services are time-limited and should end after a maximum of 12 months following the initial authorization of the services. In some circumstances, a person might need to receive continued employment exploration services after 12 months. The lead agency can reauthorize employment exploration services when the person:

Group size

Group sizes may not exceed five people for all activities provided under employment exploration services.

Employment exploration services do not cover:

Employment exploration services can be delivered through remote support. Services delivered through remote support must meet all the requirements listed on CBSM – Remote support.

Group instruction

Group instruction, including employment education and support groups of up to five people (e.g., job clubs), are covered and can only make up one small part of the full range of possible employment exploration services.

Connection with other services

Employment exploration is intended to help a person make an informed choice about pursuing competitive, integrated employment. If a person has already decided they would like to work competitively, then employment development services would be the most appropriate option for the person (refer to CBSM – Employment development services).

A person can receive employment exploration services when receiving group (1:6) employment support services, but they cannot receive employment exploration services when receiving individual (1:1) employment support services (refer to CBSM – Employment support services).

Employment exploration is a DHS enrollment-required service. Employment exploration service providers must:

For more information, refer to CBSM – Waiver/AC provider enrollment standards.

All providers of employment services must ensure staff competency. For more information, refer to DHS – Employment specialist competencies.

Background study

To provide employment exploration, providers must have a background study. For more information, refer to CBSM – Waiver/AC service provider overview – Required DHS background studies for direct-contact services.

Reporting

A provider licensed under 245D must report all uses of controlled procedures, emergency use of manual restraint and prohibited procedures according to Minn. Stat. §245D.06, subd. 5 to DHS via the Behavioral Intervention Report Form, DHS-5148.

Employment exploration is a framework service. The lead agency uses the Rate Management System (RMS) to determine rates. For more information, refer to CBSM – RMS.

Employment services include in-service transportation. Transportation services occurring between the person’s place of residence and the site of service are not covered as part of this service and should be billed as waiver transportation (refer to CBSM – Transportation).

Employment exploration services should not be billed as DT&H day services, day support services, prevocational services, structured day services or adult day services.

DT&H day services, day support services, prevocational services, structured day services, group employment support services and adult day services must be authorized and reimbursed on a 15-minute unit basis when provided during the same day as employment exploration services.