MANUAL TRANSMITTAL
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Division of County Operations
Policy Directive Issuance Number: TEA PD 04-03
Transitional Employment Assistance Manual Issuance Date: 06/29/2004
From: Joni Jones, Director Expiration Date: Until Superseded
Subj: MRT Referrals for TEA Clients
The contract with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) for assessing TEA clients who allege a long-term disability ends June 30,2004. Referral of these TEA clients to ARS will continue to be made through June 25. ARS will assess and provide a decision to the county on all TEA clients who have been referred.
Beginning June 28, 2004, the Medical Review Team (MRT) in the Office of Program Planning and Development in DCO Central Office will determine disability for TEA clients who allege a long-term disability.
MRT Referral Process
When a TEA client alleges a long-term disability, the Case Manager will complete Section I of a form DCO-107, Confidential Report of Medical Examination of Patient, and give the form and a BRM envelope to the client to take his or her medical practicioner. In addition, forms CDO-108, Social Report and DHS-4000, Authorization to Disclose Health Information will be completed. Category 20 must be indicated in Section I of form DCO-108, and TEA Recipient written across the top of the form.
Upon reciept of the completed form DCO-107 from the client's medical practicioner, the following packet will be sent to MRT, Slot S334:
The client's Work Participation Characteristic will be TEA Deferred Rehab Disability (1R).
If form DCO-107 is not returned to the county, the client will be contacted. If it is determined that the client failed to take the form to his or her medical practitioner without good cause, an Employment Plan will be completed and an appropriate work activity will be assigned. Failure to comply with the assigned work activity without good cause will result in the progressive sanction being imposed, following the appropriate notice period.
MRT will notify the county of the disability determination via form DCO-109T. One of the following decisions will be indicated:
1. too severely disabled to participate; or
2. not totally disabled, may benefit from ARS services; or
3. not disabled.
Upon receipt of form DCO-109T from MRT, the Case Manager will take the appropriate action. If the client is determined not disabled, the Case Manager will contact the client and an Employment Plan will be developed and an appropriate work activity assigned. If MRT indicates the client is too severely disabled to participate in a work activity, the client will be deferred using the Incapacitated/Disabled (1D) Work Participation Characteristic. If MRT indicates that the client may benefit from ARS services, the Case Manager will contact the client and discuss the option of an ARS referral.
If MRT indicates that the client is not totally disabled and may benefit from ARS services, the Case Manager will discuss this with the client and refer the client to ARS via DHS-3350, if the client agrees to the referral. ARS will work with the TEA client as they would any other individual who applies for their services. When a client is referred to ARS, it is the Case Manager’s responsibility to contact ARS to determine what services, if any, ARS is providing and to monitor the client’s ARS activities. If the client is accepted by ARS and assigned to the Employment or Education track, the appropriate Work Participation Characteristic, i.e., TEA Rehab Education Track (1G) or TEA Rehab Employment Track (1L), will be selected on ANSWER.
If ARS verifies that the client failed to apply for their services or has refused services, the Case Manager will contact the client to complete an Employment Plan. The client will be assigned to an appropriate work activity. If the client fails to participate in the assigned work activity without good cause, the progressive sanction will be imposed following the appropriate notice period.
If the client chooses not to be referred to ARS, a work activity will be assigned based on the information MRT has provided on form DCO-109T regarding the type of activity or work the client may be able to perform.
If you have any questions, please contact your Program Support Specialist.
Inquiries to: Gerry Reed, TEA Unit, 682-8253
Renee Green, TEA Unit, 682-8266
Paula Gentry, TEA Unit, 682-8182
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