P A R T C D E C I S I O N U N D E R A P P E A L T h e d e c i s i o n u n d e r a p p e a l i s t h e M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a l D e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n o f N o v e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 8 w h i c h s h o w e r . T h e m i n i s t r y f o u n d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t m e e t s h e l d s h o w e r a s s h e w a s a p p r o v e d f o r o n e i n A p r i l 2 0 1 f o r r e p l a c e m e n t m a d e b y t h e a p p e l l a n t , w h i c h f a l l s u n r e q u i r e s t h a t 5 y e a r s m u s t p a s s b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t e r c a a p p e l l a n t w a s f u n d e d f o r t h i s i t e m i n A p r i l 2 0 1 7 , t h e m p r o v i d e f u n d s t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s r e q u e s t e d . P A R T D R E L E V A N T L E G I S L A T I O N E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t C , S e c t i o n s 3 a n d 3 . 5v e l o p m e n t a n d S o c i a l I n n o v a t i o n ( t h e " m i n i s t r y " ) d e n i e d t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s r e q u e s t f o r a h a n d h e l d t h e l e g i s l a t i v e r e q u i r e m e n t s t o w a r r a n t a h a n d  7 . H o w e v e r , t h e m i n i s t r y f o u n d t h a t t h e r e q u e s t d e r S c h e d u l e C , S e c t i o n 3 . 5 ( 2 ) o f t h e E A P W D R , n c o n s i d e r f u n d i n g f o r a r e p l a c e m e n t . A s t h e i n i s t r y d o e s n o t h a v e t h e l e g a l a u t h o r i t y t o i e s R e g u l a t i o n ( E A P W D R ) S e c t i o n 6 2 a n d S c h e d u l e
P A R T E S U M M A R Y O F F A C T S S u m m a r y o f k e y d a t e s • O c t o b e r 1 0 , 2 0 1 8 t h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u e s t e d f u n d • N o v e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 8 t h e a b o v e r e q u e s t w a s d e n • N o v e m b e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 8 t h e a p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d a • N o v e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 8 t h e m i n i s t r y c o m p l e t e d i t s a p p e l l a n t w a s d e n i e d . T h e e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t t h e t i m e o f r e c o n • R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d a t e d N o v e m b e r l o n g h a n d l e s h o w e r t o w a s h h e r p r i v a t e p a rt s ; h a s n o t b e e n a b l e t o c l e a n p r o p e r l y s i n c e h e r h a l s o n o t e d s h e r e q u i r e s a d i v e rt e r v a l v e t o a l l o h o l d t h e h a n d h e l d s h o w e r w h i l e w a s h i n g h e r c o n c l u d e d h e r s t a t e m e n t n o t i n g a h a n d h e l d s m a i n t a i n h e r h y g i e n e . • A l e t t e r f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s O c c u p a t i o n a l T h s t a t e s t h e a p p e l l a n t r e c e i v e d a h a n d h e l d s h o w a p a r t a n d w a s n o t r e p a i r a b l e . S i n c e t h e l o s s o f a b l e t o a d e q u a t e l y c l e a n h e r s e l f p a r t i c u l a r l y b e s o r e s d e v e l o p i n g . T h e O T n o t e s a d i v e r t e r v a l v m o r e e a s i l y c l e a n h e r h e a d h a i r a n d b a c k w i t h • A n O c c u p a t i o n a l T h e r a p y A s s e s s m e n t d a t e d O o E q u i p m e n t R e q u e s t e d • H a n d h e l d s h o w e r w i t h d i v e r t e r o H e a l t h S t a t u s • M o r b i d o b e s i t y , a s t h m a , e s o p h a p a i n , a b d o m i n a l p a i n , o b s t r u c t i v o F u n c t i o n a l a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l S t a t u s • T h e a p p e l l a n t m o v e d t o a c o n d o i n s t a l l e d w i t h f u n d i n g f r o m t h e w a s h h e r l o w e r e x t r e m i t y , a x i l l a s h o w e r f e l l a p a r t a b o u t a m o n t h d i ff i c u l t i e s c l e a n i n g r e s u l t i n g i n o E q u i p m e n t R e c o m m e n d e d • T h e a p p e l l a n t w o u l d b e n e f i t f r o c l e a n t h e m e n t i o n e d a r e a s . A d i b e t t e r c l e a n h e r h a i r a n d p a rt s o • A q u o t e d a t e d O c t o b e r 1 0 , 2 0 1 8 f o r a h a n d h e $ 1 4 5 . 2 1i n g f o r a h a n d h e l d s h o w e r . i e d . R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . r e v i e w o f t h e R e q u e s t fo r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n ; t h e s i d e r a t i o n : 6 , 2 0 1 8 i n w h i c h t h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e s s h e n e e d s a t h a t s h e h a s d e v e l o p e d s o r e s i n h e r c r o t c h a s s h e a n d h e l d s h o w e r b r o k e t h r e e m o n t h s a g o . S h e w h e r t o w a s h h e r h a i r m o r e e a s i l y a s t r y i n g t o h a i r c o u l d t h r o w h e r o ff b a l a n c e . T h e a p p e l l a n t h o w e r w i t h a d i v e rt e r v a l v e i s a n e c e s s i t y f o r h e r t o e r a p i s t ( O T ) d a t e d N o v e m b e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 8 w h i c h e r f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y 1 . 5 y e a r s a g o a n d t h a t i t f e l l t h e h a n d h e l d s h o w e r , t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s n o t b e e n t w e e n h e r f o l d s a n d p e r i a r e a w i t h t h e r e s u l t o f e w a s a l s o r e q u e s t e d a s i t e n a b l e s t h e a p p e l l a n t t o a f i x e d s h o w e r h e a d . c t o b e r 1 0 , 2 0 1 8 w h i c h s t a t e s : v a l v e . g i t i s , d i v e r t i c u l o s i s , h y p e r t e n s i o n , c h r o n i c b a c k e s l e e p a p n e a , e d e m a , a n d d e p r e s s i o n . A p r i l 2 0 1 7 w h e r e s h e h a d a h a n d h e l d s h o w e r m i n i s t r y . T h e h a n d h e l d s h o w e r e n a b l e s h e r t o , p e r i a n a l a r e a a n d b e t w e e n f o l d s . T h e h a n d h e l d a g o a n d s i n c e t h e n t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s b e e n h a v i n g s i g n s o f d e v e l o p i n g s o r e s . m a h a n d h e l d s h o w e r w i t h a d i v e r t e r v a l v e t o v e rt e r v a l v e w o u l d a l l o w h e r t o r e d i r e c t w a t e r t o f h e r u p p e r e x t r e m i t y . l d s h o w e r , d i v e rt e r v a l v e a n d i n s t a l l a t i o n t o t a l i n g
A d d i t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n I n t h e N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d D e c e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 8 t h e • S h e n e e d s a h a n d h e l d s h o w e r t o m a i n t a i n h e r • T h e h a n d h e l d s h o w e r s h e r e c e i v e d i n A p r i l , 2 0 • S h e h a s b e e n d e v e l o p i n g s o r e s d u e t o h e r p o o r A t t a c h e d t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s N o t i c e o f A p p e a l w e r e : • A l e t t e r f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t d a t e d D e c e m b e r 2 1 a s t h e o n e s h e w a s i s s u e d e x p l o d e d a n d t h e d e • A l e t t e r f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s d o c t o r d a t e d D e c r e q u i r e s a h a n d h e l d s h o w e r t o m a i n t a i n h e r p r e q u i r e d i n d e f i n i t e l y . • A l e t t e r f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s O T d a t e d D e c e m b h a n d h e l d s h o w e r f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y 1 . 5 y e a r s S i n c e t h e l o s s o f t h e h a n d h e l d s h o w e r , t h e a p h e r s e l f p a rt i c u l a r l y b e t w e e n h e r f o l d s a n d p e r i s t a t e s a h a n d h e l d s h o w e r w i t h a d i v e r t e r v a l v m a i n t a i n h e r h y g i e n e . A d m i s s i b i l i t y o f N e w I n f o r m a t i o n T h e m i n i s t r y d i d n o t p r o v i d e a s u b m i s s i o n o n t h e a d m a p p e l l a n t ' s N o t i c e o f A p p e a l . T h e p a n e l h a s a d m i t t e d t h e i n fo r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d i n t t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u p p o r t o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d r e c o r d s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 ) o f t h t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e N o t i c e o f A p p e a l r e a ff i r m s t h e p h y s i c i a n s u p p o rt i n g h e r r e q u e s t f o r t h e r e p l a c e m e n t a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d : h y g i e n e 1 7 b r o k e a n d i s u n a b l e t o b e r e p a i r e d . h y g i e n e . , 2 0 1 8 w h i c h s t a t e s s h e n e e d s a h a n d h e l d s h o w e r v i c e i s r e q u i r e d t o p r o p e r l y c l e a n h e r l o w e r a r e a . e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 8 w h i c h s t a t e s t h e a p p e l l a n t e r s o n a l h y g i e n e o n a d a i l y b a s i s a n d t h a t i t w i l l b e e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 8 w h i c h s t a t e s t h e a p p e l l a n t r e c e i v e d a a g o a n d t h a t i t f e l l a p a r t a n d w a s n o t r e p a i r a b l e . p e l l a n t h a s n o t b e e n a b l e t o a d e q u a t e l y c l e a n a r e a w i t h t h e r e s u l t o f s o r e s d e v e l o p i n g . T h e O T e i s r e q u i r e d t o a l l o w t h e a p p e l l a n t t o a d e q u a t e l y i s s i b i l i t y o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a t t a c h e d t o t h e h e a p p e l l a n t ' s N o t i c e o f A p p e a l i n t o e v i d e n c e a s t h a t w e r e b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t t h e t i m e o f e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e A c t . I n p a r t i c u l a r , i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s O T a n d h e r o f h e r h a n d h e l d s h o w e r d e v i c e .
PART F -REASONS FOR PANEL DECISION The issue on this appeal is whether the ministry's decision to deny the appellant funding for the replacement of a hand-held shower with a diverter was reasonably supported by the evidence or was a reasonable application of the applicable enactment in the circumstances of the appellant. In particular, was the ministry reasonable in determining that the appellant was not eligible for a hand-held shower and diverter as the appellant had not met the required time stipulation noted in the EAPWDR Schedule C Section 3.5(2)? The relevant legislation is as follows: Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation section 62 General health supplements 62 The minister may provide any health supplement set out in section 2 [general health supplements] or 3 [medical equipment and devices] of Schedule C to or for (a)a family unit in receipt of disability assistance, (b) a family unit in receipt of hardship assistance, if the health supplement is provided to or for a person in the family unit who is under 19 years of age, or (c)a family unit, if the health supplement is provided to or for a person in the family unit who is a continued person. [en. B.C. Reg. 145/2015, Sch. 2, s. 4; am. B.C. Reg. 161/2017, App. 2, s. 2.] Schedule C Medical equipment and devices 3 {l) Subject to subsections (2) to (5) of this section, the medical equipment and devices described in sections 3.1 to 3.12 of this Schedule are the health supplements that may be provided by the minister if (a)the supplements are provided to a family unit that is eligible under section 62 [general health supplements] of this regulation, and (b)all of the following requirements are met: (i)the family unit has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the medical equipment or device requested; (ii)there are no resources available to the family unit to pay the cost of or obtain the medical equipment or device; (iii)the medical equipment or device is the least expensive appropriate medical equipment or device. (2)For medical equipment or devices referred to in sections 3.1 to 3.8 or section 3.12, in addition to the requirements in those sections and subsection(!) of this section, the family unit must provide to the minister one or both of the following, as requested by the minister: (a)a prescription of a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner for the medical equipment or device; (b) an assessment by an occupational therapist or physical therapist confirming the medical need for the medical equipment or device. (2.1) For medical equipment or devices referred to in section 3.9 (I) (b) to (g), in addition to the requirements in that section and subsection (I) of this section, the family unit must provide to the minister one or both of the following, as requested by the minister: (a)a prescription of a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner for the medical equipment or device; (b)an assessment by a respiratory therapist, occupational therapist or physical therapist confrrming the medical need for the medical equipment or device. (3)Subject to subsection (6), the minister may provide as a health supplement a replacement of medical equipment or a medical device, previously provided by the minister under this section, that is damaged, worn out or not functioning if (a)it is more economical to replace than to repair the medical equipment or device previously provided by the minister, and (b)the period of time, if any, set out in sections 3.1 to 3.12 of this Schedule, as applicable, for the purposes of this paragraph, has passed. (4)Subject to subsection (6), the minister may provide as a health supplement repairs of medical equipment or a medical device that was previously provided by the minister if it is more economical to repair the medical equipment or device than to replace it. (5)Subject to subsection (6), the minister may provide as a health supplement repairs of medical equipment or a medical device that was not oreviouslv orovided bv the minister if
( a ) a t t h e t i m e o f t h e r e p a i r s t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s i n t h i s s e c t i o n a n d s r e s p e c t o f t h e m e d i c a l e q u i p m e n t o r d e v i c e b e i n g r e p a i r e d , a n d ( b ) i t i s m o r e e c o n o m i c a l t o r e p a i r t h e m e d i c a l e q u i p m e n t o r d e v i ( 6 ) T h e m i n i s t e r m a y n o t p r o v i d e a r e p l a c e m e n t o f m e d i c a l e q u i p m e d i c a l e q u i p m e n t o r a m e d i c a l d e v i c e u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 4 ) o r ( 5 d e v i c e w a s d a m a g e d t h r o u g h m i s u s e . M e d i c a l e q u i p m e n t a n d d e v i c e s t o i l e t i n g , t r a n s f e r s a n d p o s 3 . 5 ( 0 . 1 ) I n t h i s s e c t i o n : " p o s i t i o n i n g c h a i r " d o e s n o t i n c l u d e a l i ft c h a i r ; _ " t r a n s f e r a i d " m e a n s a tr a n s fe r b o a r d , tr a n s fe r b e l t o r s l i d e r s h e e ( ] ) T h e fo U o w i n g i t e m s a r e h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n t s fo r t h e p u r p o s e s o i t e m i s m e d i c a l l y e s s e n t i a l t o fa c i l i t a t e t o i l e t i n g o r tr a n s fe r s o f a p ( a ) a g r a b b a r i n a b a t h r o o m ; ( b ) a b a t h o r s h o w e r s e a t ; ( c ) a b a t h t r a n s fe r b e n c h w i t h h a n d h e l d s h o w e r ; ( d ) a t u b s l i d e ; ( e ) a b a t h l i ft ; ( f) a b e d p a n o r u r i n a l ; ( g ) a r a i s e d t o i l e t s e a t ; ( h ) a t o i l e t s a fe t y f r a m e ; ( i ) a f l o o r t o c e i l i n g p o l e i n a b a t h r o o m o r b e d r o o m ; G ) a p o r t a b l e c o m m o d e c h a i r ; ( k ) a s t a n d i n g fr a m e fo r a p e r s o n fo r w h o m a w h e e l c h a i r i s m e d i c ( I ) a p o s i t i o n i n g c h a i r fo r a p e r s o n fo r w h o m a w h e e l c h a i r i s m e d ( m ) a t r a n s fe r a i d fo r a p e r s o n fo r w h o m t h e t r a n s fe r a i d i s m e d i c a ( 2 ) T h e p e r i o d o f t i m e r e fe r r e d t o i n s e c t i o n 3 ( 3 ) ( b ) o f t h i s S c h e d s u b s e c t i o n ( ] ) o f t h i s s e c t i o n i s 5 y e a r s fr o m t h e d a t e o n w h i c h t h E l i g i b i l i t y fo r a h a n d h e l d s h o w e r r e p l a c e m e n t S c h e T h e m i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n i n t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s t o w a r r a n t a h a n d h e l d s h o w e r a s s h e w m i n i s t r y s t a t e s t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t m e e t t h e l e g i s l a E A P W D R , S c h e d u l e C S e c t i o n 3 . 5 ( 2 ) w h i c h r e q u i r e s t h c o n s i d e r f u n d i n g f o r a r e p l a c e m e n t . A s t h e a p p e l l a n t w t h e m i n i s t e r d o e s n o t h a v e t h e l e g i s l a t i v e a u t h o r i t y t o T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t t h e h a n d h e l d s h o w e r u n r e p a i r a b l e . W i t h o u t t h e h a n d h e l d s h o w e r , t h e a p p r e s u l t i n f e c t i o n i s o c c u r r i n g . P a n e l D e c i s i o n T h e E A P W D R , S c h e d u l e C . S e c t i o n 3 . 5 ( 2 ) s t a t e s t h a t t h i t e m d e s c r i b e d i n s u b s e c t i o n ( 1 ) o f t h i s s e c t i o n i s 5 y e a t h e i t e m b e i n g r e p l a c e d . T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y w a s r e a s o n a b l e i n d e e c t i o n s 3 . 1 t o 3 . 1 2 o f t h i s S c h e d u l e , a s a p p l i c a b l e , a r e m e t i n c e t h a n t o r e p l a c e i t . m e n t o r a m e d i c a l d e v i c e u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 3 ) o r r e p a i r s o f ) i f t h e m i n i s t e r c o n s i d e r s t h a t t h e m e d i c a l e q u i p m e n t o r i t i o n i n g a i d s t . f s e c t i o n 3 o f t h i s S c h e d u l e i f t h e m i n i s t e r i s s a t i s fi e d t h a t t h e e r s o n o r t o a c h i e v e o r m a i n t a i n a p e r s o n ' s p o s i t i o n i n g : a l l y e s s e n t i a l t o a c h i e v e o r m a i n t a i n b a s i c m o b i l i t y ; i c a l l y e s s e n t i a l t o a c h i e v e o r m a i n t a i n b a s i c m o b i l i t y ; l l y e s s e n t i a l t o t r a n s f e r fr o m o n e p o s i t i o n t o a n o t h e r . u l e w i t h r e s p e c t t o r e p l a c e m e n t o f a n i t e m d e s c r i b e d i n e m i n i s t e r p r o v i d e d t h e i t e m b e i n g r e p l a c e d . d u l e C , s e c t i o n 3 . 5 ( 2 ) i s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t m e e t s t h e l e g i s l a t i v e a s a p p r o v e d f o r o n e A p r i l 2 0 1 7 . A s w e l l , t h e t i v e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r r e p l a c e m e n t s e t o u t i n t h e a t 5 y e a r s m u s t p a s s b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t e r c a n a s f u n d e d f o r t h e h a n d h e l d s h o w e r i n A p r i l 2 0 1 7 , f u n d t h e a p p e l l a n t s r e q u e s t . s h e p u r c h a s e d a n d h a d i n s t a l l e d i s b r o k e n a n d i s e l l a n t i s u n a b l e t o m a i n t a i n h e r h y g i e n e a n d a s a e p e r i o d o f t i m e w i t h r e s p e c t t o r e p l a c e m e n t o f a n r s f r o m t h e d a t e o n w h i c h t h e m i n i s t e r p r o v i d e d t e r m i n i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s e l i g i b l e t o
receive a hand-held shower as she was given the funding to purchase the device in April, 2017. The panel also finds that the ministry was reasonable in determining that the appellant had not met the legislative requirement for replacement of her hand-held shower as set out in Section 3.5{2) of Schedule C as five years has not passed since the purchase of the device in April, 2017. Conclusion The panel acknowledges that a hand-held shower for the appellant would be very beneficial in assisting her with her personal hygiene. However, having reviewed and considered all the evidence and the relevant legislation, the panel finds that the ministry's reconsideration decision, which found that the appellant is not eligible for funding for the replacement of the hand-held shower, was reasonably supported by the evidence and a reasonable application of the legislation in the circumstances of the appellant. The panel therefore confirms the ministry's decision.
P A R T G O R D E R T H E P A N E L D E C I S I O N I S : ( C h e c k o n e ) � U N A N I M O U S O B Y M A J O R I T Y T H E P A N E L � C O N F I R M S T H E M I N I S T R Y D E C I S I O N □ R E S C I N D S T H E M I N I S T R Y D E C I S I O N I f t h e m i n i s t ry d e c i s i o n i s r e s c i n d e d , i s t h e p a n e l d e c i s i o n r e f e r r e d b a c k t o t h e M i n i s t e r f o r a d e c i s i o n a s t o a m o u n t ? □ Y e s □ N o L E G I S L A T I V E A U T H O R I T Y F O R T H E D E C I S I O N : E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e A c t S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 1 ) ( a ) 0 o r S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 1 ) ( b ) � a n d S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 2 ) ( a ) � o r S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 2 ) ( b ) 0 P A R T H S I G N A T U R E S P R J N T N A M E C h a r l e s S c h e l l i n c k S I G N A TU R E O F C H A I R O A T E ( Y E A R I M O N TH/ D A Y ) 2 0 1 9 / 0 1 / 2 2 / / . ) P R I N T N A M E R o b e r t F e n s k e S I G N A T U R E O F M E M B E R D A T E ( Y EA R / M O N T H / D A Y ) 2 0 1 9 / 0 1 / 2 2 P R J N T N A M E M e l i s s a M c L e a n S I G N A T U R E O F M E M B E R D A T E { Y E A R/ M O N T H/ D A Y ) 2 0 1 9 / 0 1 / 2 2
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.