Special Diets

5-9 Special Diets




PURPOSE



1. To allow applicants to meet special dietary requirements.



PRINCIPLE



2. It is not appropriate to expect applicants to finance special dietary requirements from the basic food allowance.



3. Workers should not be expected to assess the legitimacy or extra cost of the special diet.



4. The nutritionist can assist the applicant in the most effective use of the basic food allowance and the special diet allowance.



POLICY



5. Special diet allowances cannot be granted retroactively.



6. This allowance shall be approved by the area nutritionist in consultation with the worker. Where the special diet allowance exceeds $25, approval must be granted by the designated authority.



7. Special diet allowance may be provided for "therapeutic diets" prescribed by a physician or in cases where the nutritionist has determined that a special nutritional concern exists. (e.g. A special diet allowance of $25 per month for breastfeeding mothers)



PROCEDURE



8. The applicant is responsible to provide the Department with a written diet prescription or diet copy from a licensed physician, nutritionist or dietician. Those applicants not able to provide this information will be provided a Special Diet Medical form, to be completed by their physician, nutritionist or dietician and returned to their worker.



9. The nutritionist will assess eligibility for special diet allowance, determine the rate by costing the diet and subtracting the current food allowance from this figure, determine when to initiate special diet allowance and recommend a review or termination date to the worker. In calculating special diet costs, the nutritionist will use the most current food costing provided by the Department of Social Services.



10. The worker will complete the appropriate documentation to authorize payment and notify the applicant of the details of his/her special diet allowance.



11. The worker will contact the nutritionist at the time of the scheduled review.



12. In all cases where the special diet allowance is authorized, a review should occur at least annually. The review should determine continued need for the special diet allowance and compliance with the recommendations of the diet. If these are not met, the special diet allowance should be terminated by the worker in consultation with the area nutritionist.