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Volume 45, No. 12

B.C. Reg. 163/2002

The British Columbia Gazette,

Part II

July 2, 2002

B.C. Reg. 163/2002, deposited June 28, 2002, pursuant to the

BC BENEFITS (INCOME ASSISTANCE) ACT [section 24], the BC BENEFITS (YOUTH WORKS) ACT [section 15], and the DISABILITY BENEFITS PROGRAM ACT [section 13]. Order in Council 526/2002, approved and ordered June 27, 2002.

On the recommendation of the undersigned, the Lieutenant Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, orders that effective July 1, 2002, the Disability Benefits Program Regulation, B.C. Reg.

79/97, the Income Assistance Regulation, B.C. Reg. 75/97, and the Youth Works Regulation, B.C. Reg.

77/97, are as amended as set out in the attached Schedule. — M. R. COELL,

Minister of Human Resources ; C. CLARK, Presiding Member of the Executive Council.

Schedule

DISABILITY BENEFITS PROGRAM REGULATION

section 32 of the Disability Benefits Program Regulation, B.C. Reg. 79/97, is amended

(

a) in subsection (1) by striking out "Subject to

section 32.1, the minister" and substituting "The minister",

(

b) in subsection (1) by repealing paragraph (

b) and substituting the following:

(

b) a person with disabilities who has not reached 65 years of age and who has ceased to qualify for a disability allowance because of

(

i) employment income earned by the person or the person's spouse, or

(ii) a pension or other payment under the Canada Pension Plan (Canada); ,

(

c) by repealing subsections (2) and (3) and substituting the following:

(2) The minister May pay for orthodontic services that are provided to any of the following persons who meet the conditions under subsection (2.1):

(

a) a person described in subsection (1) (

a) or (

b) or a dependent child of such a person;

(

b) the spouse, if he or she is a person with disabilities, of a person described in subsection (1) (

a) or (b).

(2.1) To be eligible for orthodontic services a person referred to in subsection (2) must

(

a) have severe skeletal dysplasia with jaw misalignment of 2 or more standard deviations,

(

b) obtain prior authorization from the minister for the orthodontic services, and

(

c) have no other sources of funding available to pay the cost of the orthodontic service.

(2.2) If, before July 1, 2002, the minister has approved orthodontic services for a person who is not eligible under subsection (2.1) (a), the person is eligible for the benefits until the earliest of the following dates:

(

a) the date the approved orthodontic services are completed;

(

b) the date the person ceases to be a person referred to in subsection (2) (

a) or (b);

(

c) June 30, 2005.

(2.3) The minister May pay for a health benefit set out in

section 2.2 of

Schedule C that is provided to a person described in subsection (1).

(2.4) The minister May pay for a health benefit set out in

section 2.3 of

Schedule C that is provided to a person described in subsection (1).

(3) Health benefits that May be paid for under subsection (1), (2), (2.3) or (2.4) for a person described in subsection (1) (

b) or for a dependant of such a person May be paid for only while the person is a resident of British Columbia. , and

(

d) by repealing subsection (4) (b) (iii).

section 32.1 is repealed.

Schedule A is amended

(

a) by repealing

section 4 (1.1) (

b) and substituting the following:

(

b) the maximum set out in the following table for the applicable family size:

Column 1

Family Size

Column 2

Maximum Monthly Shelter

1 person

$325

2 persons

$520

3 persons

$610

4 persons

$650

5 persons

$700

6 persons

$735

7 persons

$770

8 persons

$805

9 persons

$840

10 persons

$875

, and

(

b) in

section 4 (2) by striking out "$20" and substituting "$35".

section 1 of

Schedule C is amended

(

a) by repealing the

definitions of "basic dental services", "dentures", "pre-authorized dental services" and "reline of dentures" and substituting the following:

"basic dental service" means a dental service that

(

a) if provided by a general practice dentist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — General Practice, that was effective August 1, 1995 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out for the service in that Schedule,

(

b) if provided by a dental surgeon,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Oral Surgery — Specialist, that was effective August 1, 1995 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out for the service in that Schedule, and

(

c) if provided by a denturist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Dental Mechanic, that was effective August 1, 1993 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out for the service in that Schedule;

, and

(

b) by adding the following definition:

"emergency dental service" means a dental service that is necessary for the immediate relief of pain and

(

a) if provided by a dentist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Emergency Dental — Dentist, that is effective July 1, 2002 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out in that Schedule, and

(

b) if provided by a denturist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Emergency Dental — Dental Mechanic, that is effective July 1, 2002 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out in that Schedule; .

section 2 (1) of

Schedule C is amended by repealing paragraphs (

a) and (

c) to (f).

6 The following sections are added to

Schedule C:

Medical equipment and devices

2.1

(1) The following medical equipment and devices are the health benefits that May be paid for by the minister if the benefits are provided to persons who are eligible under

section 32 of the regulation:

(

a) wheelchairs, personal motorized mobility devices, canes, crutches and walkers, if

(

i) prescribed by a medical practitioner,

(ii) medically essential for basic mobility,

(iii) an occupational or physical therapist has performed an assessment that confirms the need for the equipment or device requested,

(iv) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the medical equipment or device requested, and

(

v) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit;

(

b) orthotics and bracing, if

(

i) prescribed by an orthopaedic surgeon, or if none is available, another medical practitioner,

(ii) necessary to prevent muscular or skeletal deterioration and to assist with basic mobility,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the orthotics or bracing requested,

(iv) the minister is satisfied that the orthotics or bracing are required to prevent surgery or for post-surgical care,

(

v) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit, and

(vi) the orthotics or bracing are custom-made, unless

(

A) an orthopaedic surgeon, or if none is available, another medical practitioner, confirms that pre-fabricated orthotics or bracing will be adequate to prevent surgery or for post-surgical care, and

(

B) the minister is satisfied that pre-fabricated orthotics or bracing will be adequate to prevent surgery or for post-surgical care.

(

c) hearing aids, if

(

i) prescribed by an audiologist,

(ii) an audiologist has performed an assessment that confirms the need for the hearing aid,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the hearing aid, and

(iv) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit;

(

d) positioning devices, if

(

i) prescribed by a medical practitioner,

(ii) an occupational or physical therapist has performed an assessment that confirms the type of positioning device required,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the positioning device requested, and

(iv) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit;

(

e) breathing devices, if

(

i) prescribed by a medical practitioner,

(ii) a respiratory therapist has performed an assessment that confirms the type of breathing device required,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the breathing device, and

(iv) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit.

Dental benefits

2.2

(1) The health benefits that May be paid for under

section 32 (2.3) of the regulation are basic dental services to a maximum of

(a) $700 per year if provided to a child,

(b) $500 per year if provided to a person with disabilities, and

(c) $250 per year, if provided to any other person;

(2) Dentures May be provided as a basic dental service only to a person

(

a) who has never worn dentures, or

(

b) whose dentures are more than 5 years old.

(3) A reline of dentures May be provided as a basic dental service only to a person who has not had a reline of dentures for at least 2 years.

Emergency dental services

2.3 The health benefits that May be paid for under

section 32 (2.4) of the regulation are emergency dental services.

section 3 of

Schedule C is repealed.

section 4 of

Schedule C is amended by adding the following subsection:

(1.1) A diet benefit under subsection (1) (

d) May only be provided if the diet is confirmed by a medical practitioner as being necessary for one of the following medical conditions:

(

a) cancer that requires nutritional support during

(

i) radiation therapy,

(ii) chemotherapy,

(iii) surgical therapy, or

(iv) ongoing medical treatment;

(

b) chronic inflammatory bowel disease;

(

c) Crohn's disease;

(

d) ulcerative colitis;

(

e) HIV positive diagnosis;

(

f) AIDS;

(

g) chronic bacterial infection;

(

h) tuberculosis;

(

i) hyperthyroidism;

(

j) osteoporosis;

(

k) hepatitis B;

(

l) hepatitis C.

Transitional — repeal of pre-authorized dental services

9 If, before July 1, 2002, the minister has pre-authorized dental services for a person, the person is eligible for the pre-authorized dental services until the earlier of the following dates:

(

a) the date the pre-authorized services are completed;

(

b) December 31, 2002.

INCOME ASSISTANCE REGULATION

section 40 (1) and (2) of the Income Assistance Regulation, B.C. Reg. 75/97, is amended by striking out "Subject to

section 40.1, the minister" and substituting "The minister".

section 40.1 is repealed.

12 The following

section is added:

Dental benefits

40.2

(1) The minister May pay for a health benefit set out in

section 2.2 of

Schedule C that is provided to

(

a) a person referred to in

section 40 (1) (a), (

c) or (f),

(

b) a dependent child of a person referred to in

section 40 (1),

(

c) a person referred to in

section 40 (1) (b), who is a person with disabilities or is a person with a level one disability,

(

d) an adult dependant of a person referred to in

(

i) paragraph (c), if the adult dependant is a person with a level one disability,

(ii)

section 40 (1) (b)

(

A) if the person is a person with disabilities, or

(

B) if the adult dependant is a person with a level one disability, or

(iii)

section 40 (1) (f).

(2) A dependent child of a single parent referred to in

section 40 (1) (

e) is eligible for benefits under this

section for a period of one year from the date the single parent became self supporting, but the eligibility ceases if the single parent takes up residence outside British Columbia.

section 41 is repealed and the following substituted:

Emergency dental benefits

(1) The minister May pay for a health benefit set out in

section 3 of

Schedule C that is provided to

(

a) a person who receives income assistance under

Schedule A,

(

b) a person who receives hardship assistance under

Schedule E,

(

c) a person referred to in

section 40 (1) (e),

(

d) a person referred to in

section 40 (1) (f),

(

e) a person referred to in

section 43 (b), or

(

f) a dependant of a person referred to in paragraphs (

a) to (d).

(2) A single parent referred to in subsection (1) (

c) or a dependant of such a single parent is eligible for benefits under this

section for a period of one year from the date the single parent became self supporting, but the eligibility ceases if the single parent takes up residence outside British Columbia.

section 42 is amended

(

a) in subsection (1) by striking out everything before paragraph (

a) and substituting the following:

(1) The minister May pay for orthodontic services that are provided to any of the following persons who meet the conditions under subsection (1.1): , and

(

b) by adding the following subsections:

(1.1) To be eligible for orthodontic services a person referred to in subsection (1) must

(

a) have severe skeletal dysplasia with jaw misalignment of 2 or more standard deviations,

(

b) obtain prior authorization from the minister for the orthodontic services, and

(

c) have no other sources of funding available to pay the cost of the orthodontic services.

(3) If, before July 1, 2002, the minister has approved orthodontic services for a person who is not eligible under subsection (1.1) (a), the person is eligible for the services until the earliest of the following dates:

(

a) the date the approved orthodontic services are completed;

(

b) the date the person ceases to be a person referred to in subsection (1) (

a) to (d);

(

c) June 30, 2005.

section 44 (2) (

c) is repealed.

Schedule A is amended

(

a) by repealing

section 6 (1.1) (

b) and substituting the following:

(

b) the maximum set out in the following table for the applicable family size:

Column 1

Family Size

Column 2

Maximum Monthly Shelter

1 person

$325

2 persons

$520

3 persons

$555

4 persons

$590

5 persons

$625

6 persons

$660

7 persons

$695

8 persons

$730

9 persons

$765

10 persons

$800

, and

(

b) in

section 6 (2) by striking out "$20" and substituting "$35".

section 1 of

Schedule C is amended

(

a) by repealing the

definitions of "basic dental services", "dentures", "pre-authorized dental services" and "reline of dentures" and substituting the following:

"basic dental service" means a dental service that

(

a) if provided by a general practice dentist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — General Practice, that was effective August 1, 1995 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out for the service in that Schedule,

(

b) if provided by a dental surgeon,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Oral Surgery — Specialist, that was effective August 1, 1995 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out for the service in that Schedule, and

(

c) if provided by a denturist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Dental Mechanic, that was effective August 1, 1993 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out for the service in that Schedule; , and

(

b) by adding the following definition:

"emergency dental service" means a dental service that is necessary for the immediate relief of pain and

(

a) if provided by a dentist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Emergency Dental — Dentist, that is effective July 1, 2002 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out in that Schedule, and

(

b) if provided by a denturist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Emergency Dental — Dental Mechanic, that is effective July 1, 2002 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out in that Schedule; .

section 2 (1) of

Schedule C is amended by repealing paragraphs (

a) and (

c) to (f).

19 The following sections are added to

Schedule C:

Medical equipment and devices

2.1

(1) The following medical equipment and devices are the health benefits that May be paid for by the minister if the benefits are provided to persons who are eligible under

section 40 of the regulation:

(

a) wheelchairs, personal motorized mobility devices, canes, crutches and walkers, if

(

i) prescribed by a medical practitioner,

(ii) medically essential for basic mobility,

(iii) an occupational or physical therapist has performed an assessment that confirms the need for the equipment or device requested,

(iv) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the medical equipment or device requested, and

(

v) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit;

(

b) orthotics and bracing, if

(

i) prescribed by an orthopaedic surgeon, or if none is available, another medical practitioner,

(ii) necessary to prevent muscular or skeletal deterioration and to assist with basic mobility,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the orthotics or bracing requested,

(iv) the minister is satisfied that the orthotics or bracing are required to prevent surgery or for post-surgical care,

(

v) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit, and

(vi) the orthotics or bracing are custom-made, unless

(

A) an orthopaedic surgeon, or if none is available, another medical practitioner, confirms that pre-fabricated orthotics or bracing will be adequate to prevent surgery or for post-surgical care, and

(

B) the minister is satisfied that pre-fabricated orthotics or bracing will be adequate to prevent surgery or for post-surgical care.

(

c) hearing aids, if

(

i) prescribed by an audiologist,

(ii) an audiologist has performed an assessment that confirms the need for the hearing aid,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the hearing aid, and

(iv) no other sources of funding are available to pay for the cost of the health benefit;

(

d) positioning devices, if

(

i) prescribed by a medical practitioner,

(ii) an occupational or physical therapist has performed an assessment that confirms the type of positioning device required,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the positioning device requested, and

(iv) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit;

(

e) breathing devices, if

(

i) prescribed by a medical practitioner,

(ii) a respiratory therapist has performed an assessment that confirms the type of breathing device required,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the breathing device, and

(iv) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit.

Dental benefits

2.2

(1) The health benefits that May be paid under

section 40.2 of the regulation are basic dental services to a maximum of

(a) $700 per year if provided to a child,

(b) $500 per year if provided to

(

i) a person with disabilities who receives accommodation and care in a special care facility or a private hospital,

(ii) a person with disabilities who is admitted to a hospital because he or she requires extended care, or

(iii) an adult dependant of a person referred to in clause (

A) or (

B) if the adult dependant is a person with disabilities, and

(c) $250 per year, if provided to a person not referred to in paragraph (

a) or (b).

(2) Dentures May be provided as a basic dental service only to a person

(

a) who has never worn dentures, or

(

b) whose dentures are more than 5 years old.

(3) A reline of dentures May be provided as a basic dental service only to a person who has not had a reline of dentures for at least 2 years.

section 3 of

Schedule C is repealed and the following substituted:

Emergency dental services

3 The health benefits that May be paid for under

section 41 of the regulation are emergency dental services.

section 4 of

Schedule C is repealed.

section 6 (

a) of

Schedule C is amended

(

a) by repealing subparagraph (ii), and

(

b) by adding the following subparagraph:

(

v) emergency dental services.

section 7 of

Schedule C is amended by adding the following subsection:

(1.1) A diet benefit under subsection 7 (1) (

d) May only be provided if the diet is confirmed by a medical practitioner as being necessary for one of the following medical conditions:

(

a) cancer that requires nutritional support during

(

i) radiation therapy,

(ii) chemotherapy,

(iii) surgical therapy, or

(iv) ongoing medical treatment;

(

b) chronic inflammatory bowel disease;

(

c) Crohn's disease;

(

d) ulcerative colitis;

(

e) HIV positive diagnosis;

(

f) AIDS;

(

g) chronic bacterial infection;

(

h) tuberculosis;

(

i) hyperthyroidism;

(

j) osteoporosis;

(

k) hepatitis B;

(

l) hepatitis C.

Schedule E is amended

(

a) in

section 2 (5) by striking out "$20" and substituting "$35". , and

(

b) by repealing Table 2 and substituting the following:

Table 2

(sections 1 to 7 and 10 of

Schedule

E) Column 1

Family Size

Column 2

Maximum Monthly Shelter

1 person

$325

2 persons

$520

3 persons

$555

4 persons

$590

5 persons

$625

6 persons

$660

7 persons

$695

8 persons

$730

9 persons

$765

10 persons

$800

Transitional — repeal of pre-authorized dental services

25 If, before July 1, 2002, the minister has pre-authorized dental services for a person, the person is eligible for the pre-authorized dental services until the earlier of the following dates:

(

a) the date the pre-authorized services are completed;

(

b) December 31, 2002.

YOUTH WORKS REGULATION

section 34 (1) and (2) of the Youth Works Regulation, B.C. Reg. 77/97, is amended by striking out "Subject to

section 34.1, the minister" and substituting "The minister".

section 34.1 is repealed.

28 The following

section is added

Dental benefits

34.2

(1) The minister May pay for a heath benefit set out in

section 2.2 of

Schedule C that is provided to

(

a) a person referred to in

section 34 (1) (a),

(

b) a dependent child of a person referred to in

section 34 (1),

(

c) a person referred to in

section 34 (1) (

b) who is a person with a level one disability, or

(

d) an adult dependant of a person referred to in

section 34 (1) (

b) if the adult dependant is a person with a level one disability.

(2) A dependent child of a single parent referred to in

section 34 (1) (

d) is eligible for benefits under this

section for a period of one year from the date the single parent became self supporting, but the eligibility ceases if the single parent takes up residence outside British Columbia.

section 35 is repealed and the following substituted:

Emergency dental benefits

(1) The minister May pay for a health benefit set out in

section 3 of

Schedule C that is provided to

(

a) a person who receives a youth allowance under

Schedule A,

(

b) a person referred to in

section 34 (1) (d), or

(

c) a dependant of a person referred to in paragraph (

a) or (b).

(2) A single parent referred to in subsection (1) (

b) or a dependent of such a single parent is eligible for benefits under this

section for a period of one year from the date the single parent became self supporting, but the eligibility ceases if the single parent takes up residence outside British Columbia.

section 36 is amended:

(

a) in subsection (1) by striking out everything before paragraph (

a) and substituting the following:

(1) The minister May pay for orthodontic services that are provided to any of the following persons who meet the conditions under subsection (1.1): , and

(

b) by adding the following subsections:

(1.1) To be eligible for orthodontic services a person referred to in subsection (1) must

(

a) have severe skeletal dysplasia with jaw misalignment of 2 or more standard deviations,

(

b) obtain prior authorization from the minister for the orthodontic services, and

(

c) have no other sources of funding available to pay the cost of the orthodontic services.

(3) If, before July 1, 2002, the minister has approved orthodontic services for a person who is not eligible under subsection (1.1) (a), the person is eligible for the services until the earliest of the following dates:

(

a) the date the approved orthodontic services are completed;

(

b) the date the person ceases to be a person referred to in subsection (1) (

a) to (c);

(

c) June 30, 2005.

section 38 (2) is amended by repealing subsection (2) (c).

Schedule A is amended

(

a) by repealing

section 6 (1.1) (

b) and substituting the following;

(

b) the maximum set out in the following table for the applicable family size:

Column 1

Family Size

Column 2

Maximum Monthly Shelter

1 person

$325

2 persons

$520

3 persons

$555

4 persons

$590

5 persons

$625

6 persons

$660

7 persons

$695

8 persons

$730

9 persons

$765

10 persons

$800

, and

(

b) in

section 6 (2) by striking out "$20" and substituting "$35".

section 1 of

Schedule C is amended

(

a) by repealing the

definitions of "basic dental services", "dentures", "pre-authorized dental services" and "reline of dentures" and substituting the following:

"basic dental service" means a dental service that

(

a) if provided by a general practice dentist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — General Practice, that was effective August 1, 1995 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate specified for the service in that Schedule,

(

b) if provided by a dental surgeon,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Oral Surgery — Specialist, that was effective August 1, 1995 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out for the service in that Schedule, and

(

c) if provided by a denturist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Dental Mechanic, that was effective August 1, 1993 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out for the service in that Schedule; , and

(

b) by adding the following definition:

"emergency dental service" means a dental service that is necessary for the immediate relief of pain and

(

a) if provided by a dentist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Emergency Dental — Dentist, that is effective July 1, 2002 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out in that Schedule, and

(

b) if provided by a denturist,

(

i) is set out in the

Schedule of Fee Allowances — Emergency Dental — Dental Mechanic, that is effective July 1, 2002 and is on file with the office of the deputy minister, and

(ii) is provided at the rate set out in that Schedule; .

section 2 (1) of

Schedule C is amended by repealing paragraphs (

a) and (

c) to (f).

35 The following sections are added to

Schedule C:

Medical equipment and devices

2.1

(1) The following medical equipment and devices are the health benefits that May be paid for by the minister if the benefits are provided to persons who are eligible under

section 34 of the regulation:

(

a) wheelchairs, personal motorized mobility devices, canes, crutches and walkers, if

(

i) prescribed by a medical practitioner,

(ii) medically essential for basic mobility,

(iii) an occupational or physical therapist has performed an assessment that confirms the need for the equipment or device requested,

(iv) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the medical equipment or device requested, and

(

v) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit;

(

b) orthotics and bracing, if

(

i) prescribed by an orthopaedic surgeon, or if none is available, another medical practitioner,

(ii) necessary to prevent muscular or skeletal deterioration and to assist with basic mobility,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the orthotics or bracing requested,

(iv) the minister is satisfied that the orthotics or bracing are required to prevent surgery or for post-surgical care,

(

v) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit, and

(vi) the orthotics or bracing are custom-made, unless

(

A) an orthopaedic surgeon, or if none is available, another medical practitioner, confirms that pre-fabricated orthotics or bracing will be adequate to prevent surgery or for post-surgical care, and

(

B) the minister is satisfied that pre-fabricated orthotics or bracing will be adequate to prevent surgery or for post-surgical care.

(

c) hearing aids, if

(

i) prescribed by an audiologist,

(ii) an audiologist has performed an assessment that confirms the need for the hearing aid,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the hearing aid, and

(iv) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit;

(

d) positioning devices, if

(

i) prescribed by a medical practitioner,

(ii) an occupational or physical therapist has performed an assessment that confirms the type of positioning device required,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the positioning device requested, and

(iv) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit;

(

e) breathing devices, if

(

i) prescribed by a medical practitioner,

(ii) a respiratory therapist has performed an assessment that confirms the type of breathing device required,

(iii) the person has received the pre-authorization of the minister for the breathing device, and

(iv) no other sources of funding are available to pay the cost of the health benefit.

Dental benefits

2.2

(1) The health benefits that May be paid under

section 34.2 of the regulation are basic dental services to a maximum of

(a) $700 per year if provided to a child, and

(b) $250 per year, if provided to any person other than a child.

(2) Dentures May be provided as a dental basic service only to a person

(

a) who has never worn dentures, or

(

b) whose dentures are more than 5 years old.

(3) A reline of dentures May be provided as a basic dental service only to a person who has not had a reline of dentures for at least 2 years.

section 3 of

Schedule C is repealed and the following substituted.

Emergency dental services

3 The health benefits that May be paid under

section 35 of the regulation are emergency dental services.

section 4 of

Schedule C is repealed.

section 6 of

Schedule C is amended by adding the following subsection:

(1.1) A diet benefit under subsection (1) (

d) May only be provided if the diet is confirmed by a medical practitioner as being necessary for one of the following medical conditions:

(

a) cancer that requires nutritional support during

(

i) radiation therapy,

(ii) chemotherapy,

(iii) surgical therapy, or

(iv) ongoing medical treatment;

(

b) chronic inflammatory bowel disease;

(

c) Crohn's disease;

(

d) ulcerative colitis;

(

e) HIV positive diagnosis;

(

f) AIDS;

(

g) chronic bacterial infection;

(

h) tuberculosis;

(

i) hyperthyroidism;

(

j) osteoporosis;

(

k) hepatitis B;

(

l) hepatitis C.

Transitional — repeal of pre-authorized dental services

39 If, before July 1, 2002, the minister has pre-authorized dental services for a person, the person is eligible for the pre-authorized dental services until the earlier of the following dates:

(

a) the date the pre-authorized services are completed;

(

b) December 31, 2002.

Copyright © 2002: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada