National Program for Home Ventilatory Assistance (NPHVA)
National Program for Home Ventilatory Assistance (NPHVA)
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Description
This program makes specialized equipment and accessories available for loan to adults and children requiring long-term ventilatory assistance at home. The equipment is used to compensate for impaired respiratory function.
Presentation and objectives
The equipment loans and professional services provided under the program enable participants to use, on their own or with the help of others, the equipment required to receive ventilatory assistance on an outpatient basis.
Eligible pediatric patients include infants (less than 1 year of age), children (1 to 12 years of age) and adolescents (13 to 17 years of age) who require ventilatory assistance.
In some cases, ventilatory assistance is not sufficient and home oxygen therapy is also required.
Eligibility
To benefit from these services, patients must undergo a respiratory medical assessment. The assessment is required to ensure the person being treated meets the eligibility criteria.
In addition to the medical criteria, several other factors are also considered in the decision to initiate long-term ventilatory assistance at home. These can include factors related to the patient and their family and to the environment: For example, the patient’s living environment, motivation, and level of commitment and cooperation are assessed.
To be eligible for this program, patients must also:
Live in Quebec
Have an attending physician
Be able to accommodate the treatment equipment in their home
Be able to consent to receiving home care and services
Be able to assist with treatment and maintain the equipment provided on their own or with the assistance of a family member
Patients are not eligible if they:
Do not meet the medical criteria at the time of the respiratory medical assessment
Are living in a health facility, rehabilitation centre, nursing home, long-term care facility, or intermediate resource
Smoke
Reimbursable expenses
There are no fees or deductibles to pay.
The equipment must be returned when it is no longer being used or if the patient dies.
A person who already has their own equipment may, subject to an evaluation, transfer ownership of the equipment in order to benefit from certain services under the program, such as technical support and maintenance.
Process
To register for this program, ask your doctor to refer you to a respirologist who can conduct the medical assessment and complete your application if you meet the criteria.