HLS 22RS-4916 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 131
BY REPRESENTATIVE PHELPS
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Urges and requests the Louisiana Workforce
Commission to study and make recommendations concerning the payment model for
vocational rehabilitation services
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana Workforce Commission to study and make
3 recommendations about updating the current fee structure and reimbursement
4 methodology for the Louisiana Rehabilitation Services' Vocational Rehabilitation
5 Program and submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the
6 Legislature of Louisiana not later than thirty days prior to the convening of the 2023
7 Regular Session.
8 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) assists people with
9disabilities in their desire to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment opportunities and
10achieve independence in their communities by providing vocational rehabilitation services
11through partnerships with vendors with employer services and other community resources;
12and
13 WHEREAS, the LRS's Vocational Rehabilitation Program works with vendors in
14order to place and retain people with disabilities in the workforce; and
15 WHEREAS, vendors continue to provide vocational rehabilitation services to people
16with disabilities across the state, often at the expense of the vendor since the LRS is not
17always able to cover one hundred percent of the services' costs; and
18 WHEREAS, vendors routinely supplement LRS fees with alternative revenue
19streams as a result of an outdated fee structure that utilizes an inadequate reimbursement
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HCR NO. 131
1methodology that has not kept pace with inflationary factors, rising staff costs, and direct
2services costs; and
3 WHEREAS, the current fee structure places an extraordinary financial burden on
4vendors, which can no longer be sustained, resulting in the potential to cease service
5provision to people with disabilities, which places undue risks on the statewide vocational
6rehabilitation system and adversely impacts training, support, and employment opportunities
7for people with disabilities; and
8 WHEREAS, equitable reimbursement to vendors for the services they provide is
9necessary to ensure adequate employment support for people with disabilities to enhance
10financial and personal independence, ensure quality of services, and strengthen the
11vocational rehabilitation system statewide; and
12 WHEREAS, vendors of services for people with disabilities are essential components
13of the state vocational rehabilitation system, and the services they deliver are vital to
14employment success.
15 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
16urge and request the Louisiana Workforce Commission to study and make recommendations
17about updating the current fee structure and reimbursement methodology for the Louisiana
18Rehabilitation Services' Vocational Rehabilitation Program and submit a written report of
19its findings and recommendations to the Legislature of Louisiana not later than thirty days
20prior to the convening of the 2023 Regular Session.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the written report shall include but not be limited
22to the following:
23 (1) The current fee structure and reimbursement methodology of this state.
24 (2) A list of vendors with employer services that have partnered with the Louisiana
25Rehabilitation Services and the fees these vendors pay for services and costs incurred to
26train, support, and secure employment.
27 (3) A comparison analysis of other state's payment models.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
29secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
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HCR NO. 131
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 131 Original 2022 Regular Session Phelps
Requests the La. Workforce Commission to study and make recommendations about
updating the current fee structure and reimbursement methodology for the La. Rehabilitation
Services' Vocational Rehabilitation program and submit a written report of its findings and
recommendations to the Legislature of La. not later than 30 days prior to the convening of
the 2023 R.S.
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