(1) The department or self-insured employer will pay for appropriately submitted billings from the worker's Option 2 training fund, within the following limits:

(a) The total of all payments for all Option 2 vocational counseling and job placement services will not exceed ten percent of the worker's maximum Option 2 training fund, nor will the payment or payments for Option 2 vocational counseling and job placement services exceed the remaining balance of the worker's maximum Option 2 training fund at the time payment is made; and

(b) Vocational services must be provided within five years following the date of the department's order confirming the worker's Option 2 election.

(2) The training fund is expended in the order of bills received by the department or self-insured employer. For example, if the worker's maximum Option 2 training fund was seventeen thousand five hundred dollars, and if the worker had not used any of those funds, the worker would have one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars to spend on vocational counseling and job placement services. However, if the worker used all but six hundred dollars out of the Option 2 training fund for training expenses before bills were received for vocational services, the amount available for vocational services would be six hundred dollars.

(3) The vocational provider must charge for services as outlined in the department's current vocational services medical aid rules and fee schedules.

(4) In addition to the services listed in WAC 296-19A-340, the department or self-insured employer will not pay for vocational travel or wait time.

(5) Under no circumstance may the vocational provider bill the worker directly for services.