Section 130. IFSP approval and selection of service providers

A. The service coordinator shall explain the contents of the IFSP to the parent, and informed written consent shall be obtained as indicated by the parent's signature and date of signature on the IFSP prior to the provision of early intervention services.

B. The service coordinator shall assist the family in selecting a service provider for each early intervention service listed on the IFSP from among those provider agencies, including independent providers, that are qualified to provide the services identified on the IFSP, that are in the parent's payor network, and that practice in the area where the child and family live. The parent's choice of service providers shall be documented on the IFSP addendum page, which shall be signed and dated by the parent prior to service delivery.

1. If no early intervention service provider that can support and assist the family in accomplishing the IFSP outcomes is available within the family's Medicaid or private insurance network, then the parent shall be able to choose an early intervention service provider from outside the parent's third party payor network.

2. If there is only one provider agency for the service needed by the child and family, then the parent shall be offered a choice of early intervention service providers from within that one provider agency for services other than service coordination. If the parent elects not to receive services from the one provider agency, then the local lead agency shall work to identify an alternative early intervention service provider.

3. The parent shall be offered the opportunity to select a provider agency any time a new service is added or when a change in provider agency is needed.

4. If the selected provider agency is unable to provide the service due to full provider caseloads or the requested early intervention service provider within that provider agency is unavailable, then the service coordinator shall explain to the parent the option to begin services right away with an available provider or to wait for his chosen provider to become available. If the parent chooses to wait, the service coordinator shall document the parent's decision in a contact note, the parent's consent to the IFSP service shall begin once the parent's specific provider is available, and services shall be provided in a timely manner following parental consent.

5. The service coordinator shall inform the parent that he may request to change his service provider at any time by contacting the service coordinator.

C. The service coordinator shall retain a signed copy of the IFSP and, as soon as possible following development of the IFSP, shall provide a copy to the parent at no cost to the family and to all service providers that participated in assessment or development of the IFSP or will be implementing the IFSP.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 32, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 2.2-5304 of the Code of Virginia.