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 m i n i s t r y ) r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n d a t e d A p r i l 1 a p e d i a t r i c c h a n g e t a b l e u n d e r t h e m e d i c a l e q u E m p l o ym e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e fo r P e r s o n s w i t h D S c h e d u l e C , S e c t i o n s 3 a n d 3 . 5 . 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 fo r P e r s o n s w i t h D a n d S c h e d u l e C , S e c t i o n s 3 a n d 3 . 5 .A P P EA L N U M B E R c i a l D e v e l o p m e n t a n d P o v e r t y R e d u c t i o n ( t h e 5 , 2 0 1 9 w h i c h 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 i p m e n t a n d d e v i c e s p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e i s a b ili ti e s R e g u l a ti o n ( E A P WD R ) S e c t i o n 6 2 a n d i s a b i li t i e s R e g u l a t i o n (EA P W D R ) , S e c t i o n 6 2
I APPEAL NUMBER PART E -SUMMARY OF FACTS The evidence before the ministry at the time of the reconsideration decision included a request dated February 5, 2019 for funding of a pediatric change table supported by a letter from an occupational therapist (OT) and an estimate for the change table which included an amount for installation and taxes totalling $2354.43 The OT noted in her letter that due to the medical diagnoses of the appellant, she is confined to .. . . ... .a wb.e.elchaiLand.thatsheJs .. dependanLon.others.forall aspects of her daily living activities •· •·· including feeding and toileting needs. The OT states that the appellant needs the change table beca u se her be d is no t st a ble for cha n ging an d i t wo.ul d be u sedfor dryin�/dressingfoUo wing .·. . showera:nd for pericare ahd that it wol.lld facilitate safe changing and could be easily wiped f6r hygienic purposes. On March 8, 2019 the ministry denied this request stating that the pediatric change table was not an eligible item listed under Sections 3.1 to 3.11 of Schedule C of the EAPWOR and the ministry therefore does not have the legal authority to approve the request. On April 10, 2019 the appellant submitted a Request for Reconsideration of the ministry's March 8, 2019 decision. The request also included a letter from the appellant's mother describing in detail that a firm surface was needed as well as access to water in order to facilitate the appellant's regular bowel routines which require fleet enemas followed by manual dis-impacting. She also described the requirement for frequent catheter changes which would be mor e pr actical to perform on a change table than on the appellant's bed. She also emphasized that a change table would be more practical to keep things clean, disinfected and sanitary. At the hearing, the appellant's mother spoke on her behalf: • Her mother stated that she has legally adopted 27 children most of who have various disabilities. She adopted the appellant when she was only 4 months old. • The appellant managed with her disabilities fairly well, was intelligent, had a good sense of humour and even sang songs in French. • This all changed when the appellant was four years old and suffered a stroke which meant she was only able to move 1 hand. • She has needed special equipment at home ever since. Now that has daughter has grown her need for special equipment has changed also. • Her catheter doesn't function and frequently gets blocked which leads to other medical complications and she has no bowel control. Her mother described how she has to administer enemas and perform dis-impacting which can be painful for her daughter. • She explained that this cannot be done on her bed and can be messy and unsanitary. • She also stated that the cost of holding a hearing such as this would go a long way to pay for the change table which was needed. • The change table is not the small kind of change table one may see in a bathroom, it is bigger and sturdier and more suited for the purpose.
I APPEAL NUMBER The ministry relied on the reconsideration decision as summarized at the hearing. At the hearing, the ministry stated: • It takes a special person to provide the type of care that the appellant's mother was providing to her children. • That they agreed the appellant is eligible to receive health supplements and medical devices provided under the EAPWDR and the adjudicator who made the reconsideration ..d.e.cision . is . . bo.und.to .. follow.th.eJaw.which.lists.what.the.specific.eligible.items.are . . .. lnthe ... . case at hand the item that is being requested is not listed as an eligible item and the legislatio n d o es n o t allo w t he adjudicato r to vary t he items i n the list. ······ • Th·e ofilyway tnaltne item c6uld have beEfn approved is if the regulations were amended· to include the requested change table. The panel considered that there was no additional information for which a determination of admissibility was required under Section 22(4)(b) of the Employment and Assistance Act. s
P A R T F R E A S O N S F O R P A N E L D E C I S I O N T h e i s s u e o n a p p e a l i s w h e t h e r t h e m i n i s t ry ' s r a p p e l l a n t ' s r e q u e s t f o r a p e d i a t r i c c h a n g e t a b l e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e E A P WD R , S e c t i o n 6 2 a n d S c s u p p o rt e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e o r w a s a r e a s o n a b l e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t . T h e m i n i s t ry fo u n d t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s e l i g i b l e fo E A P W D R h o w e v e r , t h e i t e m b e i n g r e q u e s t e d w r e i m b u r s e m e n t : · · · · · · · · T h e e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i a f o r h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n t s a r s p e c i f i c 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 w h i c h S c h e d u l e C s e c t i o n 3 a n d 3 . 5 . S e c t i o n 3 . 5 i s 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 i t i o n i n g . T h e r e l e v a n G e n e r a l h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n t s 6 2 T h e m i n i s t e r m a y p r o v i d e [ g e n e ra l h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n ts] S c h e d u l e C t o o r f o r ( a ) a f a m i l y u n i t i n r e ( b ) a f a m i l y u n i t i n r e s u p p l e m e n t i s p r o v i d u n d e r 1 9 y e a r s o f a g ( c ) a f a m i l y u n i t , i f t h p e r s o n i n t h e f a m i l y [ e n . B . C . R e 2 , s . 2 . J 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 3 ( 1 ) S u b j e c t t o s u b s e c t i o n s e q u i p m e n t a n d d e v i c e s d e s c r i b t h e h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n t s t h a t m ( a ) t h e s u p p l e m e n t s t o a f a m i l y u n i t t h a t u n d e r s e c t i o n 6 2 [ g e a n d b a l l o f t h e f o l l o w i n A P P E A L N U M B E R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n , w h i c h d e n i e d t h e u n d e r t h 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 h e d u l e C , S e c t i o n s 3 a n d 3 . 5 , w a s r e a s o n a b l y a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a b l e e n a c t m e n t i n t h e r h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n t s u n d e r s e c t i o n 6 2 o f t h e a s n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h e l i s t o f e l i g i b l e i t e m s fo r e d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 6 2 o f t h e E A P W D R a n d t h e a r e e l i g i b l e f o r r e i m b u r s e m e n t a r e l i s t e d i n p e c i f i c t o e q u i p m e n t a n d d e v i c e s r e l a t e d t o t s e c t i o n s o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n a r e : a n y h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n t s e t o u t i n s e c t i o n 2 o r 3 [ m e d i c a l e q u i p m e n t a n d d e v ic e s ] o f c e i p t o f d i s a b i l i t y a s s i s t a n c e , c e i p t o f h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e , i f t h e h e a l t h e d t o o r f o r a p e r s o n i n t h e f a m i l y u n i t w h o i s e , o r e h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n t i s p r o v i d e d t o o r f o r a u n i t w h o i s a c o n t i n u e d p e r s o n . g . 1 4 5 / 2 0 1 5 , S c h . 2 , s . 4 ; a m . B . C . R e g . 1 6 1 / 2 0 1 7 , A p p . ( 2 ) t o ( 5 ) o f t h i s s e c t i o n , t h e m e d i c a l e d i n s 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 r e a y b e p r o v i d e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r i f a r e p r o v i d e d i s e l i g i b l e n e r a l h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n t s ] o f t h i s r e g u l a t i o n , r e u i r e m e n t s a r e m e t :
I APPEAL NUMBER (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 . ....... . . clJJpr o p r . i cJ.t e . . rn.�. d . ica .1 .. .E!C!Llip nt 0 111�. CJ.r . cl evic � . . . -,--1,-.s,,., (2) For medical equipment or devices referred to in sections 3.1 to 3.8 or secti9n_3.J2, .. in _a dditi9n_to t.b.E=.r�q µ i rE: mE:nt.s . .in.tbCJsE: si=ctiCJn s. and su bse. ction 1 ..· .•• (1) 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. Medical equipment and devices -toileting, transfers and positioning aids 3.5 (0.1) In this section: "positioning chair" does not include a lift chair; "transfer aid" means a transfer board, transfer belt or slider sheet. (1) The following items are health supplements for the purposes of section 3 of this Schedule if the minister is satisfied that the item is medically essential to facilitate toileting or transfers of a person or to achieve or maintain a person's positioning: (a) a grab bar in a bathroom; (b) a bath or shower seat; (c) a bath transfer bench with hand held shower; (d) a tub slide; (e) a bath lift; (f) a bed pan or urinal; (g) a raised toilet seat; (h) a toilet safety frame; (il a floor-to-ceilinq oole in a bathroom or bedroom:
( j ) a p o rt a b l e c o m m o ( k ) a s t a n d i n g f r a m e m e d i c a l l y e s s e n t i a l t o ( I ) a p o s i t i o n i n g c h a i r m e d i c a l l y e s s e n t i a l t o . " ' ( r11 L a _ t r a � s f !'! � _ a i cl ! o � m e d i c a l l y e s s e n t i a l t o P a n e l A n a l ys i s T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h e s i g n i f i c a n t i s s u e s t h a t t h e a r e g a r d i n g h e r d a i l y c a r e a n d n o t e s t h a t t h e m i n f o r m e d i c a l d e v i c e s a n d e q u i p m e n t . T h e s i t u a t a p p e l l a n t a n d t h e m i n i s t r y n o t e d t h e a p p l i c a b l e a l l o w t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s r e q u e s t . T h e m i n i s t r y i s b o u n d t o f o l l o w t h e r e g u l a t i o n s a t h a t h a v e b e e n p r o m u l g a t e d b y t h e l e g i s l a t u r e e a p p e l l a n t ' s p l i g h t . S i n c e a s t h e m i n i s t r y n o t e d , l i s t o f e l i g i b l e " d e v i c e s a n d e q u i p m e n t " s p e c i f i e d e c i s i o n t o d e n y t h e r e q u e s t w a s a r e a s o n a b l e r e a s o n a b l e t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m o t h e r , a n d t h e m m o t h e r , e v e n a b r o a d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e e q u i p n o t r e a s o n a b l y i n c l u d e t h e e q u i p m e n t t h a t i s b e C o n c l u s i o n 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 ' s r e c o n s i d e r a t i w a s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r r e i m b u r s e m e n t o f a p e d i a t r i E A P WD R , w a s a r e a s o n a b l e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n . T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a p p e a l , t h e A P P E A L N U M B E R d e c h a i r ; f o r a p e r s o n f o r w h o m a w h e e l c h a i r i s 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 ; f o r a p e r s o n f o r w h o m a w h e e l c h a i r i s 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 ; � -p e r s o 11 f o r w h 1J r11 _ t h e t r a n s f e r a i d i s t r a n s f e r f r o m o n e p o s i t i o n t o a n o t h e r . p p e l l a n t a n d h e r m o t h e r a r e d e a l i n g w i t h i s t r y i s n o t a r g u i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n e l i g i b l e i o n i s u n i q u e t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n d o e s n o t p r o v i d e f o r a n y d i s c r e t i o n t o n d d o e s n o t h a v e t h e p o w e r t o c h a n g e t h e l a w s v e n i n s i t u a t i o n s w h e r e t h e y e m p a t h i z e w i t h t h e t h e r e q u e s t e d e q u i p m e n t i s n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h e d i n t h e E A P W D R , t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h e m i n i s t ry ' s a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l a w . W h i l e t h e r e q u e s t s e e m s i n i s t r y e m p a t h i z e s w i t h t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d h e r m e n t t h a t i s e l i g i b l e fo r r e i m b u r s e m e n t w o u l d i n g r e q u e s t e d . o n d e c i s i o n , w h i c h d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t c c h a n g e t a b l e p u r s u a n t t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e a p p l i c a b l e e n a c t m e n t . T h e p a n e l c o n f i r m s t h e r e f o r e , i s n o t s u c c e s s f u l .
I APPEAL NUMBER PART G -ORDER THE PANEL DECISION IS: (Check one) !SJ UNANIMOUS □BY MAJORITY THE PANEL IS]CONFIRMS THE MINISTRY DECISION □RESCINDS THE MINISTRY DECISION If the ministry decision is rescinded, is the panel decision referred back to the Minister ..... "'"""··�·····-�--, . ··�·------·----foradecision-asto-amount?"-------------E]Yes-E]No-•e """••�•"••••�·•• ....." ""'" ·•---------�--· LEGISLA ,. T --IVE AUTHORITY FOR THE DECISION: ---: I .:: . ·~· -. .- -----...: ... ....... -------------Employment and Assistance Act Section 24(1)(a) D or Section 24(1)(b) IS] and Section 24(2)(a) !SJ or Section 24(2)(b) D PART H -SIGNATURES PRINT NAME Fazal Bhimji SIGNATURE OF CHAIR DATE(YEAR/MONTH/DAY) 2019-05-17 PRINT NAME Kulwant Bal SIGNATURE OF MEMBER DATE (YEAR/MONTH/DAY) 2019-05-17 PRINT NAME Susan Johnston SIGNATURE. OF MEMBER DATE (YEAR/MONTH/DAY) 2019-05-17
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.