BC Social Development & Innovation

Medical equipment and devices for medically essential needs are available to clients who are eligible for general health supplements. Clients who are eligible for general health supplements may request medical equipment and devices. A requested item must meet the following:

• General Requirements for All Medical Equipment and Devices
• Specific Requirements for each Individual Type of Medical Equipment and Device.

General Requirements for All Medical Equipment and Devices

A client requesting medical equipment or devices must meet general requirements that apply to all medical equipment and devices:

• there are no resources available to the family unit to pay the cost of or obtain   the medical equipment or device;
• the item is the least expensive, appropriate medical equipment or device;
• the item must be prescribed by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner;    and/or the medical need must be confirmed by the assessment of a relevant   therapist (occupational, physical, or respiratory therapist)
  Note: a medical need for a positive airway pressure device must be prescribed by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner and the medical need must be confirmed by a respiratory therapist
• the request must be pre-approved by the ministry prior to purchase;
  Note: the ministry will not accept payment responsibility, except in cases of a life-threatening emergency, for medical equipment purchased without prior approval.

Specific Requirements for each Individual Type of Medical Equipment and Device

In addition to meeting the general requirements for all medical equipment and devices, a client must also meet the specific requirements for the requested type of item:

Manual and Power Wheelchairs

the ministry is satisfied that the wheelchair, upgraded component, or attached accessory is medically essential to achieve or maintain basic mobility

Scooters (conventional & bariatric)

• the ministry is satisfied that the scooter, upgraded component, or attached accessory is medically essential to achieve or maintain basic mobility
• the total cost of a conventional scooter and any accessories does not exceed $3,500
• if a bariatric scooter is required, an assessment from an occupational or physical therapist must confirm that the person’s body weight exceeds the weight capacity of a conventional scooter but can be accommodated by a bariatric scooter
• the total cost of a bariatric scooter and any accessories does not exceed $4,500
• an assessment by an occupational therapist or a physical therapist has confirmed that it is unlikely that the person for whom the scooter has been prescribed will have a medical need for a wheelchair during the 5 years following the assessment

When clients no longer require the equipment and it cannot be exchanged or traded to meet a current need, they should be encouraged to donate the item to an agency that would benefit from that item

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