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Employment First Discovery Tool Official Release

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HHSC publishes a newly, updated Employment First Discovery Tool (Form 8401) and accompanying instructions based on the rule implementation related to Senate Bill 50, 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021. Effective November 14, 2023, use of the tool is required to ensure that individuals who want to work receive employment services from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) or through the Medicaid waiver program in which the individual is enrolled.

Impacted programs:

  • Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS)
  • Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) programs
  • Home and Community-Based Services (HCS)
  • Texas Home Living (TxHmL)
  • STAR+PLUS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)

HHSC has published IL 2023-41 Employment First Discovery Tool. Beginning on November 14, 2023, service coordinators and case managers in the CLASS, DBMD, HCS, TxHmL waiver programs, and STAR+PLUS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) must use the Employment First Discovery Tool as part of the service planning process to explore an individual’s desire to work.

The tool with instructions is located under the Forms section on the respective program areas HHSC webpage.