Statement of Mike Hedden, Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Indianapolis, Indiana

In regard to the Hearing on March 18, 2004, the testimony given does not accurately reflect the situation in Indiana.  Indiana has invested significant resources in its training of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors.  We have held several training seminars explaining the Ticket program as well as developing detailed intake procedures, flow charts and updating our computer system.  We do not use a “stand alone, take it or leave it, one size fits all agreement” with the ENs with whom we have Memorandums of Understanding.  Our agreement with ENs states that “both the IWP and the IPE will be written by the respective party in a manner, consistent with law, to reinforce common goals, policies and procedures for Ticket customers referred by the EN to VRS.”  Our agreements do not necessarily require full and total repayment of all of VR’s costs.  Our reimbursement agreement states that VRS will be reimbursed by the EN for all actual service costs provided through VRS at the rate of 50% of all outcome or milestone payments to the EN until VRS is reimbursed for all actual service costs (these costs do not include the costs associated with VR Counselor time or in support of the VR Counselor).  In other words, once an EN begins to receive payments, VR is entitled to 50% of each payment received until service costs are paid in full or until no further payments are made to the EN.  The EN, in other words, will always receive 50% of the total payments and may receive more than 50% once VR’s costs are reimbursed.  If payments to the EN stop prior to full service costs being reimbursed to VR, VR expects no further reimbursement from the EN.