The Michigan Commission for the Blind will pay usual, customary and reasonable fees for a service that is not specifically named on the following list. Usual means a fee regularly charged and received for a given service. The fee determined to be the usual fee shall not exceed the lowest fee that is regularly charged other public agencies or the general public. Customary means a fee within the range of usual fees charged by service providers of similar training and experience for the same service within the same specific and limited geographic area. Reasonable means a fee that meets the above two criteria or is justifiable considering the special circumstances of the particular case in question.

Assistive Technology (Revised July 2006)

Experienced level:  Must have accumulated 250 or more face-to-face contact hours of instruction.  The hourly rate is $80.00.

Beginner level:  The hourly rate is $65.00.

Rehabilitation   Teachers and Orientation and Mobility Instructors (Revised July 2006)

Experienced level:  Must have 250 or more face-to-face contact hours of instruction.  The hourly rate is $65.00.

Beginner level:  The hourly rate is $50.00.

Vendors will be compensated for drive time at the rate of $25.00 an hour. Drive time will be paid based on actual drive time; for example, if a vendor drives 15 minutes to a consumer's appointment, he/she will receive compensation at the rate of one-fourth of the hourly rate.  Vendors will also receive mileage reimbursement at the standard state rate of $ 0.328.

Counselors and teachers must use actual mileage, which can be obtained from www.mapquest.com  or a similar source which gives actual miles and drive time.

Lodging (Revised July 2006)

If lodging is needed in order to complete training, specifically long-distance (e.g., distance from  Southeast Michigan to the Upper Peninsula), it will be supported with documented receipts, preferably at the state rate.

Cancellations (Revised July 2006)

In order to maintain MCB's costs, consumers must be responsible for canceling their appointment with vendors within 12 hours; otherwise, the consumer could be responsible for some of the cost that accrued.   If notification by the consumer is less than 12 hours, and if the vendor is already in route to the set appointment, the vendor will be allowed to invoice MCB for drive time and mileage.

Business Enterprise Program O n-The-Job Training (Revised June 2006)  $30.00 per day plus meals

Child Care    (Revised July 2006)  Child care will be provided based on eligibility from Department of Human Services (DHS). MCB will pay the difference between the amount that DHS pays and what the child care facility charges (up to $135 per week).

College Tuition, Private School or Out-of-State School (Revised June 2006)  Same Rate as the University of Michigan

Community Rehabilitation (Revised June 2006)  Same rate as Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Department of Labor & Economic Growth, unless specifically stated

Interpreter Service (Revised June 2006)  Varies depending on freelance or agency providers (range from $30.00 to $60.00 per hour)

Intervenor Service (Revised June 2006)  $11.00 per hour

Low-Vision Assessment (Revised May 2008)  $80.00 per unit, which consists of one half-hour

Low-Vision Devices  (Revised June 2006)  Two times the provider's invoice cost

Medical Records Requested  (Revised June 2006)  $15.00

Ophthalmological Consultation  (Revised June 2006)  $20.00

Reader Service  (Revised June 2006)  Minimum Wage

Driver Service  (Revised June 2006)  $7.00  If no public transportation is available and driver services are needed, the driver will use his or her own personal car. The driver will be reimbursed at the state's standard mileage, and the driver will be paid $7.00 per hour including wait time. When public transportation is available and the client elects to use a driver, the driver will be reimbursed only the cost of the least expensive public transportation.

Third Party Payment for Services (Revised June 2006)

Occasionally, an individual is eligible for the sponsorship of his/her Vocational Rehabilitation Services through a third party. Usually this is the result of a work-related accident, automobile accident, or long term illness covered by insurance. However, occasionally a foreign government is willing to pay for services to their citizens in our country. In the case of an insurance-related case, our first effort should be to communicate with the insurance carrier to obtain the carrier's approval, in writing, to pay for the costs of any vocational rehabilitation services the Michigan Commission for the Blind might provide. Services arranged by the Michigan Commission for the Blind at the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center and at Detroit Receiving Hospital-University Health Center should be billed at the current rate for services at those two facilities. All other services should be billed at the current rate being paid by the Michigan Commission for the Blind. The bill should be sent to the company in the form of a letter. The company's check should be made payable to the State of Michigan.

In the event a company will not agree to cover the cost of services, assistance should be obtained through the individual's attorney, if he/she has an attorney. Assistance may also be sought through the Bureau of Worker's Disability Compensation. If there will be a significant delay in services, the Michigan Commission for the Blind shall proceed with services and request that the attorney seek reimbursement for the Michigan Commission for the Blind when the case is settled.

The Michigan Commission for the Blind will charge third parties at the following rates:

Services at the MCB Training Center, $2,093.00 per week

Services for Daytime-Only Students at the MCB Training Center, $1,000.00 per week

School District Students at the MCB Training Center, $250.00 per week

Teaching or Counseling Service, $75.00 per hour

Travel and Related Expenses (Revised January 2007)

In-State Travel

Lodging, state rate: $65.00 plus local taxes

Breakfast, $7.25

Lunch, $7.25

Dinner, $16.50

Michigan Select Cities:  (Benton Harbor, Charlevoix, Detroit, Mackinac Island, Petoskey, all of Wayne County, and all of Oakland County)

Lodging, $65.00

Breakfast, $8.75

Lunch, $8.75

Dinner, $21.00

Out-of-State Travel, All Other

Lodging, Actual costs

Breakfast, $ 8.75

Lunch, $ 8.75

Dinner, $ 20.50

Out-of-State, Select Cities (See State of Michigan travel regulations.)

Lodging, Actual Cost

Breakfast, $11.00

Lunch, $11.00

Dinner, $22.00

Mileage Reimbursement, State rate

Premium Rate, State rate