Vocational rehabilitation plan development services are authorized to obtain the vocational rehabilitation provider's assistance in producing a vocational rehabilitation plan for a worker. The vocational rehabilitation provider will work with the worker in the development of the plan. Covered services include, but are not limited to:

(1) An initial meeting between the assigned vocational rehabilitation provider and the worker.

The assigned vocational rehabilitation provider must meet with the worker in person and fully inform the worker of the return to work priorities set forth in RCW 51.32.095(2) and of his or her rights and responsibilities under the workers' compensation vocational system. The vocational rehabilitation provider must use tools provided by the department in order to document this requirement.

The rights and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

(a) The responsibility of the worker and vocational rehabilitation provider to cooperate with the plan development process and to submit a plan within ninety calendar days;

(b) An explanation of the benefits available to the worker, including the right to choose to participate in retraining or elect option 2 benefits after a plan has been approved; and

(c) An explanation of the possible action the department or self-insured employer may take under RCW 51.32.110 and WAC 296-14-410 should the worker be determined to be noncooperative during the plan development process.

(2) Vocational counseling and occupational exploration;

(3) Identifying a potential job goal and estimating the training needs, resources, and expenses necessary to complete that goal;

(4) Vocational testing; and

(5) Coordinating with medical providers to obtain approval of job analyses and a release to participate in a vocational rehabilitation plan.