What are the Rules for Rehabilitation Services in North Dakota?

Compliance Corner

How do rehabilitation services work in North Dakota? Simply Research subscribers have that information at their fingertips, but we take a look here.

New Employment

If an employment opportunity suited to an employee's education, experience, and marketable skills is identified within 35 miles from the employee's home, the appropriate priority option must be identified as return to related occupation in the local job pool under subdivision e of subsection 4 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05.1-01, and relocation expense under subsection 3 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05.1-06.1 may not be paid.

Relocation Assistance

The organization may award services to move an employee's household where the employee has actually located work under subdivision f of subsection 2 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05.1-06.1 or under subsection 3 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05.1-06.1 if the employee identifies the job the employee will perform, the employee's employer, and the employee's destination. A relocation award must be the actual cost of moving the household to the location where work has been obtained. A minimum of two bids detailing the costs of relocation must be submitted to the organization for approval prior to incurring the cost. The organization shall pay per diem expenses, as set forth under subsection 2 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05-28, for the employee only. Reimbursement for mileage expenses may not be paid for more than one motor vehicle.

Retraining Expenses

If the rehabilitation award is for retraining, the organization shall pay the actual cost of books, tuition, and school supplies required by the school. The school shall provide documentation of the costs necessary for completion of the program in which the employee is enrolled. Reimbursable school costs may not exceed those charged to other students participating in the same program. The award for school supplies may not exceed $25 per quarter or fifty dollars per semester unless the employee obtains prior approval of the organization by showing that the expenses are reasonable and necessary. A rehabilitation award for retraining may include tutoring assistance to employees who require tutoring to maintain a passing grade. Payment of tutoring services will be authorized when these services are not available as part of the training program. The award for tutoring services may not exceed the usual and customary rate established by the school. Expenses such as association dues or subscriptions may be reimbursed only if that expense is a course requirement.

Rehabilitation Allowance

An award for retraining which includes an additional rehabilitation allowance as provided in subdivision b of subsection 2 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05.1-06.1 may continue while the employee is actually enrolled or participating in the training program.

Timeframes

An award of a specified number of weeks of training means training must be completed during the specified period of weeks, and rehabilitation benefits may be paid for the specified number of weeks of training.

Travel Expenses

The organization may reimburse an employee's travel and personal expenses for attendance at an adult learning center or skill enhancement program at the request of the employee and upon the approval of the organization. All claims for reimbursement must be supported by the original vendor receipt, when appropriate, and must be submitted within one year of the date the expense was incurred. The organization shall reimburse these expenses at the rates in effect on the date of travel or the date the expense was incurred at which state employees are paid per diem and mileage, or reimburse the actual cost of meals and lodging plus mileage, whichever is less. The calculation for reimbursement for travel by motor vehicle must be calculated using miles actually and necessarily traveled. The number of miles actually traveled is rebuttably presumed to be the least number of miles listed by Google Maps between the start and end points of travel. The organization may not reimburse mileage or travel expenses if the distance traveled is less than fifty miles [80.47 kilometers] one way, unless the total mileage in a calendar month equals or exceeds two hundred miles [321.87 kilometers].

Equipment Expenses

The organization may pay for retraining equipment required by an institution of higher education, an institution of technical education, or an adult learning center institution specializing in a skill enhancement program on behalf of a student attending that institution. The organization may pay for equipment to enhance the employability skills of an injured employee absent a determination of a retraining program. The organization will award an injured employee one thousand two hundred dollars for the purchase of computer, warranty, software, maintenance, and internet access. Securing and maintaining these items are the injured employee's responsibility. Failure to maintain or secure these items does not constitute good cause for noncompliance with vocational rehabilitation. Improper maintenance of the equipment does not constitute good cause for noncompliance with vocational rehabilitation.

Therapy

The organization may provide certain selected services to assist an injured employee and the injured employee's family with coping and financial strategies while in the recovery process. The recovery process includes the medical recovery, the ability to return to gainful employment, and the need for financial stability. The services may include up to six sessions with a contracted behavioral health professional, and up to four sessions with a contracted financial services professional. Injured employee participation in these sessions is voluntary. The granting or denial of contemplated services is not appealable, and costs of the program will be made against the general fund.

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