# 2014-027 Pay and Benefits, Allowances and Benefits, Medical Treatment

Case Summary

F&R Date: 2014–06–11

The grievor challenged the Prosthetics Review Committee's (PRC) decision to deny her full funding for the repair of her prosthesis by a United States (U.S.) supplier. The PRC had limited the reimbursement to the highest of two quotations received from Canadian suppliers.

There is no Initial Authority decision in this file.

The Committee had to determine whether the grievor should be granted full funding to have her prosthesis repaired outside of Canada.

The Committee found that the Canadian Forces Health Services Group Instruction (CF H Svcs Gp) 4090-21 does not preclude Canadian Armed Forces members from obtaining prosthetic devices from a non-Canadian provider. However, the Committee noted that the use of a non-Canadian supplier is an exceptional measure normally authorized by the PRC when specific requirements cannot be met by a Canadian provider.

The Committee acknowledged and considered the grievor's previous unsuccessful experiences with four different Canadian suppliers. However, the Committee found that the use of a U.S. supplier at this time could not be justified as it had not been demonstrated that two Canadian suppliers, were unable to satisfy the grievor's prosthetics needs.

In the end, the Committee concluded that should both Canadian suppliers be unable to meet the grievor's needs, it would then be appropriate for the CF H Svcs Gp Case Management Team and the PRC to consider other options, including that of allowing the grievor to use a U.S. supplier.

The Committee recommended that the grievance be denied.

CDS Decision Summary

CDS Decision Date: 2015–09–03

The FA agreed with the Committee's findings and recommendation to deny the grievance.