EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO FIND, OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT

Supported Employment Services in Louisiana help individuals with disabilities achieve meaningful employment through personalized job development, on-the-job training, and ongoing support. These services are authorized under various Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers and coordinated with the Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) to ensure participants work in inclusive, community-based settings.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) — Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD)
Role: Defines supported employment service standards for waiver participants and monitors provider compliance

Agency: Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), under the Louisiana Workforce Commission
Role: Provides pre-employment transition services, vocational evaluations, and initial job development before long-term waiver-based employment services begin

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Role: Ensures HCBS waiver-supported employment complies with federal person-centered planning and community integration requirements

Agency: Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) under Bayou Health
Role: May coordinate or reimburse employment supports depending on waiver and participant plan of care

2. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OVERVIEW

Supported Employment includes individualized supports that help people with disabilities:

• Obtain and sustain competitive, integrated employment
• Learn job tasks and workplace expectations
• Build social and workplace communication skills
• Receive long-term follow-along supports as needed

Approved services may include:

• Person-centered career planning
• Job development and employer negotiation
• On-site job coaching and task training
• Transportation coordination to and from work
• Ongoing follow-up, advocacy, and workplace problem-solving
• Documentation of goals, hours worked, and job outcomes

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

• Register business with the Louisiana Secretary of State
• Obtain IRS EIN and Type 2 NPI
• Enroll with Louisiana Medicaid via the Provider Enrollment Portal
• Become an OCDD-approved Supported Employment Provider
• Establish a written agreement or process with LRS for referral collaboration
• Maintain liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage
• Employ qualified Employment Specialists or Job Coaches
• Develop a Supported Employment Policy & Procedure Manual
• Ensure HIPAA-compliant documentation systems

4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Medicaid and Waiver Enrollment

• Apply through https://www.lamedicaid.com as a waiver service provider
• Specify "Supported Employment Services" under HCBS options

Step 2: OCDD Program Approval

• Submit staff qualifications, training plans, and sample service documentation
• Complete provider orientation or training sessions (if required by LDH)

Step 3: Establish LRS Collaboration

• Coordinate with LRS for participant referrals and transition from short-term to waiver-funded services

Step 4: Service Delivery

• Receive referrals from support coordinators
• Provide job search, placement, and follow-along services
• Track employment outcomes and submit documentation for billing

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

• Articles of Incorporation or sole proprietorship filing
• IRS EIN and NPI confirmation
• OCDD or waiver program approval
• Certificates of liability and worker’s comp insurance

Supported Employment Policy & Procedure Manual, including:

• Person-centered employment planning templates
• Job development and employer contact logs
• Daily job coaching notes and follow-up tracking
• Participant rights and informed consent forms
• Critical incident and workplace safety protocols
• Staff training logs and certification records
• Medicaid billing logs and wage documentation

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Employment Specialist / Job Coach
Requirements: High school diploma (minimum), Bachelor's in rehabilitation, education, or social work preferred, at least 1 year of experience in vocational services, background check, CPR/First Aid training (recommended)

Role: Program Manager / Supervisor
Requirements: 2–3 years of employment support experience, responsible for compliance, service quality, and staff supervision

Training Requirements for All Staff:

• HIPAA and confidentiality
• Workplace accommodations and ADA awareness
• Supported employment best practices and documentation
• Positive behavior supports and soft skill training
• Safety, transportation planning, and emergency procedures

7. MEDICAID WAIVER & VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Supported Employment is reimbursed under:

• Residential Options Waiver (ROW)
• Supports Waiver
• New Opportunities Waiver (NOW)
• Children’s Choice Waiver (limited employment supports)
• Money Follows the Person (MFP) for transitional work support

Additional coordination may occur with:

• Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) — short-term job placement and vocational readiness
• Employment First Initiative — promoting integrated work for all waiver-eligible adults

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Registration and Initial Training
Timeline: 1–2 months

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment and OCDD Approval
Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Staff Hiring and Documentation Setup
Timeline: 2–4 weeks

Phase: Participant Referrals and Job Matching
Timeline: Ongoing, based on waiver caseloads and employer availability

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

• Louisiana Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal
  Website: https://www.lamedicaid.com
• ​Louisiana Department of Health — OCDD Supported Employment Services
  Website: https://ldh.la.gov/page/121
• ​Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS)
  Website: https://www.laworks.net/WorkforceDev/LRS/LRS_ProgramInfo.asp
• ​Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
  Website: https://www.medicaid.gov

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10. SCOPE OF WORK

• Business registration, Medicaid, and waiver enrollment
• Supported Employment Policy & Procedure Manual development
• Intake forms, job placement templates, and coaching logs
• Wage documentation, outcome tracking, and audit support
• Staff training modules and supervision trackers
• Employer engagement tools and referral networking with LRS and OCDD

Waiver Consulting Group assists disability service agencies, employment coaches, and community rehab providers in launching Medicaid-compliant Supported Employment programs throughout Louisiana.

To get started, click the link to request portal access