Services > Statewide > Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme

MASS - Who owns the aids and equipment?

MASS gives ownership of some types of aids to the client. These include:

wheeled walking aids and backup manual wheelchairs
bathboards, bathroom transfer benches and non-mobile commodes
respiratory/postural drainage tables

This means that the owner will be responsibile for the cost of ongoing repairs and maintenance, and also be responsibile for the cost of any future modifications and accessories.

MASS retains ownership of aids and equipment when MASS has contributed more than fifty per cent towards the cost of the item. If the applicant has contributed more than fifty per cent towards the cost of the item as a co-payment, the applicant can:

Accept or reject MASS’s offer for ownership. This means that the applicant may
- Retain ownership of the item and be responsible for the cost of ongoing maintenance and repairs, or
- Transfer ownership of the item to MASS and the costs of ongoing repairs (except large tyres and tubes for manual wheelchairs) will be covered by MASS

There are certain items which MASS will only consider subsidising if the applicant accepts ownership eg. voice-output communication devices.

Some types of aids provided to clients are regarded as consumables (continence aids, oxygen and spectacles).

Last Updated: 19 December 2007
Last Reviewed: 19 December 2007