Required documents and their submission

If you are applying for an assistive device for the first time, you need to start by preparing two main documents: 

• Medical professional's opinion in the E-health system — prepared by a certified medical professional:
         ◦ Family doctor;
         ◦ Attending physician;
         ◦ Occupational therapist;
         ◦ Physiotherapist;
         ◦ Technical orthopedist;
• For specific respiratory assistive devices, the opinion is prepared by a pulmonologist, anesthesiologist-resuscitator, or cardiologist. 
• Your application — a personal confirmation of the desire to receive a specific technical aid.

For certain types of technical aids, specific documents are additionally required:

• Functional bed, pressure relief mattress or bed table: VDEĀVK opinion on the need for special care and a healthcare professional filled Braden scale form (original). 
• CPAP / APAP therapy devices: Examination result sheet indicating the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).
• BiPAP therapy devices: Assessment of self-care abilities (Barthel index form), where the assessment must be between 16 and 20 points. 
• Sports-specific technical aids: Certification from the Latvian Paralympic Committee regarding participation in a specific sport. 

If an assistive device is needed urgently (injury, surgery, work), in addition to the basic documents, a document confirming the priority queue must be submitted:

• First-time functional impairments: Extract from the medical record or discharge summary (not older than 6 months).  
• Predictable disability: Individual rehabilitation plan with a specialist's indication of urgency. 
• Working persons: Employer's confirmation (not older than 1 month).  
• Students: Educational institution's confirmation. 
• Pregnant women: If an assistive device is needed due to changes in body shape.

You can apply for an assistive device again if the term has expired, if there have been changes in functional impairments or height measurements, as well as if the technical aid has become unusable. The document set is the same as the first time — a new opinion in E-health and an application. 

This option allows you to purchase technical aids yourself and receive a certain amount for expense reimbursement. 

• Before purchase: A request must be submitted to receive a technical aid with co-payment. 
• After purchase (within 6 months): A request for expense reimbursement must be submitted, along with the technical aid compliance declaration and payment confirmation documents (receipt, invoice, or delivery note)