9.4.1 Medical Supplies, Dressings and Treatment Equipment Relating to Professional School Services
Professional school services include the provision of medical supplies, dressings and treatment equipment necessary to the provision of nursing services, occupational therapy services, physiotherapy services, speech-language pathology services, and dietetics services to eligible children/youths. Subsection 5(1)7 of regulation 386/99 of the Long-Term Care Act, 1994 (LTCA) states that “school services” include “the provision of medical supplies, dressings and treatment equipment necessary to the provision of the services referred to in paragraphs 1 to 5.” The eligibility criteria and case management functions set out in subsection #9.2.1 in this manual apply to these medical supplies, dressings and treatment equipment.
Clarification: The child/youth or his or her parent/guardian is responsible for the provision and transportation of any specialized long-term treatment equipment required for the child/youth to participate in school which is not related to the provision of school services, for example, a wheelchair.6
The Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) case manager may authorize the provision of treatment equipment to an eligible child/youth through the CCAC school services when one of the following conditions applies:
• the treatment equipment is required for a trial period prior to purchase and requires monitoring and evaluation by an Assistive Devices Program (ADP) authorizing professional;
• the treatment equipment is not available through ADP and is essential to support the child’s/youth’s medical treatment/rehabilitation needs (as opposed to education related needs, such as a communication device or customized desk, which is the responsibility of the school board); or
• the child/youth has a short-term need for the treatment equipment.
Note: The CCAC does not provide Ontario Drug Benefits (ODBs) to children who are only receiving school services.
Treatment Equipment Selection
To facilitate the provision of treatment equipment, the CCAC case manager must:
6 Achild/youth may be eligible to receive assistance to obtain equipment for long-term use from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) as per Assistive Devices Program (ADP) requirements.
* Note: Current regulations under the Long-Term Care Act, 1994 distinguish between “school services” (which are
professional services (i.e., nursing, therapies, etc.) and “personal support school services.” To provide clarity in this manual
• assess a child’s/youth’s need for equipment or request a therapist to do the assessment for this equipment;
• select the most cost effective equipment;
• authorize the price of equipment which may include applicable taxes and delivery charges or monthly rental charges; and
• reassess the child/youth if different equipment is subsequently required.
Purchase, Maintenance and Disposal of Treatment Equipment
The purchase, disposal and maintenance of treatment equipment are the responsibility of the school or the home schooling parent. When the child/youth no longer requires the treatment equipment, it is the responsibility of the school or parent to determine the best use of the equipment (e.g., donate to charity).
9.4.2 Medical and Personal Equipment Relating to Personal Support School Services
Personal support school services include the provision of medical and personal equipment necessary to the provision of routine hygiene activities and routine personal activities of daily living. Subsection 7(1)4 of regulation 386/99 of the LTCA states that “personal support school services” include “the provision of medical and personal equipment necessary to the provision of the services referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2”. The eligibility criteria and case management functions set out in subsections #9.2.1 and #9.2.2 in this manual, respectively apply to these medical supplies, dressings and treatment equipment.
The medical and personal equipment required must be necessary to the provision of personal support school services. Examples include standers, grab bars, lifts, adaptive seating equipment (e.g., wedges, wrist weights and weighted vests), commode chairs, change tables, suction machines, adaptive feeding equipment, lifts and wheelchair tables.
The CCAC case manager must authorize the purchase of the following medical and personal equipment:
• equipment that is covered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) ADP required for the home and the school setting and problematic to transport, (e.g., suction machine)7; and
7 In this case, a second piece of equipment may be necessary. The second piece of equipment does not have to be identical to the original piece but must be functionally appropriate for the purpose for which it is required, e.g., more conducive to travel or accommodated to functioning in a smaller space.
* Note: Current regulations under the Long-Term Care Act, 1994 distinguish between “school services” (which are
professional services (i.e., nursing, therapies, etc.) and “personal support school services.” To provide clarity in this manual
“school services” are referred to as “professional school services” and “personal support school services” are referred to as
“personal support school services.” When referring to both these services, the term “school services” is used.
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• equipment that is not covered by the ADP but is needed to support the provision of personal support school services as determined by a professional assessment (e.g., transfer boards).
Medical and Personal Equipment Not Provided
The CCAC does not provide the following medical and personal equipment:
• educational equipment that allows the child/youth to access the curriculum (e.g., frequency modulation (FM) systems for children/youths who are hard of hearing, Braille printers and custom designed desks); and
• equipment associated with modifying the school or home infrastructure. This may include, elevators, stair glides, special toilets, handrails for stairs, ramps, locked medication
cupboard and cardio-pulmonary equipment.
Medical and Personal Equipment Selection
To facilitate the provision of medical and personal equipment, the case manager must:
• assess a child’s need for equipment or request a therapist to do the assessment for equipment;
• select the most cost effective equipment;
• authorize the price of equipment which may include applicable taxes and delivery charges or monthly rental charges; and
• reassess the child/youth if different equipment is subsequently required.
Purchase, Disposal and Maintenance of Medical and Personal Equipment
The purchase, disposal and maintenance of medical and personal equipment are the
responsibility of the school or the home schooling parent/guardian. When the child/youth no longer requires the equipment, it is the responsibility of the school or parent/guardian to determine the best use of the equipment (e.g., donate to charity).
* Note: Current regulations under the Long-Term Care Act, 1994 distinguish between “school services” (which are
professional services (i.e., nursing, therapies, etc.) and “personal support school services.” To provide clarity in this manual