Rental equipment

MSD must check whether the client qualifies for Disability Allowance for the cost of rental equipment needed for their disability.

If the client qualifies for  Disability Allowance, this must be granted before MSD assess whether the client qualifies for Temporary Additional Support.

The client may have allowable health and disability costs for Temporary Additional Support if they do not qualify for Disability Allowance when:

• they do not meet the Disability Allowance income limit or
• their disability will last less than 6 months or
• they are certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants.

A registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner must complete a Disability Allowance medical certificate confirming the client's disability, the need for treatment and that rental equipment is necessary. The certificate must also confirm the treatment is beneficial and of therapeutic value and that the costs are:

• additional and
• ongoing and
• directly related to the client's disability

Allowable costs for Temporary Additional Support can include necessary rental equipment when the client:

• has a need for the item or service but cannot funding through Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora and
• their life or health would be put at risk, or their disability aggravated if they could not hire the equipment because the expense was not included in their Disability Allowance.

MSD should refer the client back to their medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or someone from their team) who will be able to refer them to the local Hospital and Health Services to see if they can get the equipment provided. If the Hospital and Health Service won't provide the equipment, the client should get a letter stating why.

Examples of rental equipment that may be paid for are a closed-circuit television, or a computer, for a client with a visual impairment, or a nebuliser for a severe asthmatic.

Allowable costs for Temporary Additional Support do not include:

• the cost of buying equipment (e.g. hearing aids) as this is not a regular ongoing cost. (It can be used for hearing aid batteries - see Authorised consumables) or
• prostheses (e.g. artificial limbs)

The client must provide:

• a Disability Allowance medical certificate completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner and
• receipts as proof of the equipment rental costs and
• a letter from the Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora stating funding is not available for the item or service and why it is not available and
• a letter from a registered medical or nurse practitioner stating what the consequences would be if the client, or their dependent child did not get the item/service