Nutritional Supplements

Effective:  August 1, 2023

Nutritional Supplements

A nutritional supplement may be provided to persons receiving income assistance, disability assistance, or hardship assistance if a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or registered dietitian confirms in writing that the recipient has an acute, short-term need for caloric supplementation to a regular dietary intake to prevent critical weight loss while recovering from any of the following:  

• surgery
• a severe injury
• a serious disease
• side effects of medical treatment

Nutritional supplement products (for example, Ensure, Boost, etc.) can be provided for up to three months.

Nutritional supplement products are not provided in situations where they are being used as food replacement.

Persons in receipt of another nutrition-related supplement are not eligible for short-term nutritional supplements.  Persons must choose one of the nutrition-related supplements for which they are eligible.

Infant Formula

Recipients of income assistance, disability assistance, or hardship assistance may be eligible for either:

• regular infant formula during their child's first 12 months of life if:
  • the nutritional needs of the infant cannot be met through breastfeeding, or
  • the infant is at risk from contracting a disease through breastfeeding. 

OR

• specialized infant formula for a child with a medical condition that requires specialized formula to treat the condition. Specialized formula may be provided beyond 12 months of age if written medical confirmation of continued need has been received.

Recipients must provide written documentation confirming the need for infant formula from either a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, registered dietitian, or registered midwife.  

Effective:  August 1, 2023

All requests for nutritional supplements are assessed by Health Assistance (HA).

The following procedures are to be used to determine eligibility for nutritional supplements.

EAW	1.	Confirm that the applicant is eligible to apply for a nutritional supplement. [See Related Links – Health Supplement Summary.]
	2.	Verify that there are no other resources available [see Policy].
	3.	Ensure that the recipient has provided a written prescription and specific diagnosis from a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, registered dietitian, or registered midwife for infant formula only including all of the following: prescribed product quantity required expected duration of the need
	4.	Forward the Service Request and all documentation to HA for adjudication. Ensure the service request has all required documentation and is ready for adjudication. Note: In the case of a medical emergency where the product is needed immediately, set up an Urgent SR to office 070 with a prescription and price quote attached and indicate why immediate need is required.
HA	1.	Assess application to ensure eligibility criteria are met.
	2.	If application is approved, an approval letter will be issued to the client and Product Distribution Centre (PDC) or Service Provider. If denied, a denial letter and decision summary outlining reasons for the decision will be sent to the recipient. Note: It is the recipient's responsibility to contact PDC or other Service Provider to place their order.
	3.	Note details.  Details include substantive reasons explaining what is requested and why the eligibility criteria are met (or not met).

Effective:  June 16, 2006

Nutritional Supplements
Health Assistance	Assesses eligibility for all emergency, immediate need or ongoing nutritional supplements.

Effective:  May 1, 2005

Health Assistance is responsible for:

• assessing eligibility for all nutritional supplements and infant formula

Answer   No.  By regulation, short-term nutritional supplements can be provided to eligible recipients for up to three months.  If after the three months has passed, the recipient has a further acute need for short-term nutritional supplementation, a second request can be made to Health Assistance.