Information on medical equipment, supplies and therapies for services providers supporting income or disability assistance clients

Essential medical equipment, devices, supplies and/or therapies are available for:

• Clients receiving disability assistance
• Clients receiving income assistance who have a life-threatening health need (LTHN)
• Eligible non-ministry clients who have a LTHN

On this page:

• Medical equipment and devices
• Medical orthosis and bracing
• Medical supplies
• Extended medical therapies
• CPAP devices
• Other breathing devices
• Payment/invoice process

---

We have contracts with certain service providers throughout the province. Where possible, your client should use them to purchase medical equipment and devices. Non-contracted service providers may be considered if:

• An item is not available
• There aren’t any contracted service providers in the client’s area

If your non-ministry client has a LTHN, they may also be eligible for assistance. They must apply for assistance first. If they’re eligible, the least expensive, appropriate item or service may be available.

With all requests for medical equipment and supplies:

• Pre-approval is a legal requirement
• We are unable to reimburse clients directly

Delays may result for requests submitted with:

• Incorrect documents
• Documents completed by a non-approved health professional

---

Medical equipment and devices

To qualify for support, your client must have:

1. An essential medical need
2. No other resources available to them

Contracted medical equipment suppliers may cover these services for medical equipment and devices:

• Fitting and trial (which may lead to a purchase)
• Delivery, in-home set up and training on use
• Repair and service
• Administration of applicable warranties
• Device loans during repair or service

Application process and required documents

You’ll need to:

• Ensure your client or their occupational therapist asks for a quote from their service provider
  • The quote must include the:
    • Company name, address, branch (if multiple locations), phone, fax numbers
    • Equipment being requested or repaired (make, model, type)
    • Ministry discount applied to each item
    • Repair details, with the date of purchase and warranty expiry date (if known)
• Fax the items to 1-855-771-8785, including the:
  • Quote
  • HR2138 form (if required)
  • Therapist assessment

If approved, we will send a purchase authorization to your client.

---

Medical orthoses and bracing

To qualify for support, your client must have a medically essential need for orthoses or bracing to achieve or maintain basic functionality. If eligible, we may provide the least expensive and most appropriate option. There are funding maximums for some orthoses.

Application process and required documents

You’ll need to:

• Complete sections 1 to 3 on the HR2894 form
  • Section 3 is only required for items over $250 or for custom-fit/custom-made items
  • Requests for repairs to items we previously funded do not require an HR2894 form
• Provide a quote on company letterhead, including:
  • Taxes (if applicable)
  • A description
    • This may include product codes from the Prosthetics and Orthotics Association of British Columbia
• Fax the completed HR2894 form (if required) and supporting documents to 1-855-771-8785

---

Medical supplies

To qualify for support, your client must:

• Need medical or surgical supplies to avoid an imminent and substantial danger to their health
• Be eligible for general health supplements

If eligible, the least expensive, appropriate medical or surgical supplies may be available. Approved supplies can be ordered through the Product Distribution Centre. 

Application process and required documents

Your client will need to submit a written prescription and diagnosis. It must include:

• A detailed medical justification from a medical or nurse practitioner 
• The quantity
• The length of time it will be necessary

If approved, an approval letter or purchase authorization will be sent to your client.

If eligible, the supplies may be approved for the time specified on the prescription. Supplies approved for ongoing need are renewed each year on your client’s birthday, unless their eligibility or list of supplies change. An updated prescription will be required If your client requests a:

• New item
• Significant change in quantity

It will need to include the medical justification for these changes.

---

Extended medical therapies

The Medical Services Plan (MSP) supplementary benefits cover up to 10 visits for medical therapy per calendar year. This includes:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Massage therapy
• Naturopathy
• Non-surgical podiatry
• Physical therapy

Receiving income or disability assistance (and/or hardship) includes access to MSP supplementary benefits under Plan C MSP coverage.

Extended medical therapies (more than 10 visits) may be covered, for clients eligible for general health supplements, if:

1. They have exhausted their 10 visits a year under the MSP supplementary benefits
2. A medical or nurse practitioner has confirmed an acute (severe and immediate) need, not a chronic (ongoing) condition
3. They have no other resources available (including local hospital outpatient facilities)

Application process and required documents

Your client must submit a written request that includes the:

• Name and address of the therapist
• Diagnosis (specifying if it’s acute or chronic) from a medical or nurse practitioner
• Number of visits needed to complete each type of therapy (including frequency)
• Medical justification for further treatment
• Date of last MSP-covered visit

If approved, we will send a purchase authorization to the therapist and your client.

---

CPAP devices

Coverage may be available for:

• Device trial and mask fitting
• Device purchase (if eligible)
• Yearly coverage of supplies
• Repair and service
• Administration of applicable warranties
• Device loans during repair or service

Required documents for CPAP devices

Depending on your client's needs, different documents may have to be completed. Pre-approval is a legal requirement for CPAP devices.

All requests require a quote. It must include the:

• Company name, address, branch (if multiple locations), phone, fax numbers
• Device being requested or repaired (make, model, type)
• Repair details including the date of purchase and warranty expiry date (if known)

For new requests and device trials

• Complete sections 1 to 3 of the HR3727 form
  • This document is available at an assistance office
• Get a quote for the device
• Provide any relevant documentation (like diagnostic testing from a supplier)
  • Current baseline overnight testing (completed within the past six months)
  • A polysomnogram, completed without a CPAP or Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BIPAP) device

For device purchases

• Get a quote for the device
• Provide a 30-day compliance report (confirming it was used at least 80% of the time a minimum of four hours per night)
• Include overnight oximetry on requested devices

For supplies and repairs

• Get a quote for the supplies
• Get an estimate from the repair facility

You must submit all your client’s required documents by fax at 1-855-771-8785.

If approved, we will send a purchase authorization to you and your client.

---

Other breathing devices

Your client may be eligible for funding for other breathing devices, such as:

• Percussors
• Nebulizers
• Medical humidifiers
• Inhaler and accessory devices
• Suction units

Required documents for other breathing devices

If your client needs one of these devices:

• Complete sections 1 and 2 of the HR3727 form
  • This document is available at an assistance office
• Alternatively, you can use a written prescription from a medical practitioner
  • Prescriptions must include diagnosis and medical justification
  • For percussors, you can use a written assessment from an occupational or physical therapist
• For percussors and humidifiers, provide a supplier quote

---

Payment/invoice process

Once you have all the client’s documentation prepared:

• Your client must sign the last page of the purchase authorization
  • Confirm receipt of the item and/or completion of the therapy session(s)
• You’ll submit the full purchase authorization and invoice:
  • Online with the Service Provider Portal
  • By fax at 1-866-399-9350

Once received, payment will be sent for the equipment/device/supplies/therapies by:

• Cheque
• Electronic funds transfer

Payment method depends on the company’s profile in our Corporate Accounting System.