'Trial Approval' further explanation - Enable New Zealand Region

A trial of Complex Equipment is approved by Enable New Zealand via a Trial Approval form sent to the Specialised Assessor. The Trial Approval is a status applied to the next stage of finding the right item of equipment for the client. This means that the client is eligible for services, the recommended solution is cost effective and that budget is allocated to the client and is available, so that the Specialised Assessor can proceed to the identification and purchase of an item of equipment. A trial occurs once funding is available so that the Specialised Assessor can complete the process, without a gap between a successful trial outcome and the item being purchased.

The contents of the Trial Approval form are automatically completed from the information held on the application on the database. The Trial Approval notes the description of the item approved for trial, this description matches the way the items are registered on our system.

Points to note

Once a Trial Approval is received by the Specialised Assessor it may be that due to the delay from the initial assessment and submission of the application and the date funding is available, the particular item requested is no longer available or suitable for the client. Where this is the case the Specialised Assessor may go ahead with trialling a similar item WITHOUT contacting Enable New Zealand for an amended Trial Approval.

Where the trial is not successful the Specialised Assessor may trial other items in a similar range from the same or different equipment supplier WITHOUT contacting Enable New Zealand for an amended Trial Approval.

Where the trial is successful the Specialised Assessor must obtain a quote for the successful item/s and return this with the Trial Approval form.

The Trial Approval is not a purchase order for goods from a Supplier and should not be forwarded to Suppliers.

The Trial Approval is valid for 2 months following the date on the approval. Where no feedback is received by Enable New Zealand the funding will be reallocated to other clients waiting for funding and the Complex Equipment application withdrawn.

Specialised Assessors may receive equipment from the Store to fill a trial request. These are identified as coming from the Store on the Trial Approval form by having a noted asset number in the approval table against the item of equipment. Where an item of equipment has come from the Store and are unsuccessful in meeting the clients’ needs, the next item of equipment to trial MUST be requested from the Store by completing the trial unsuccessful part of the form and returning to Enable New Zealand. Where the new item is available in the Store this process will begin again. Where the item is not available in the Store and the client has not yet had budget allocated to them, no further trial may proceed until either an item is available in the Store or funding becomes available. The date the original application was received at Enable New Zealand is the date held on file for funding availability.

Audiologists please note

The Trial Approval is sometimes a misnomer in terms of audiological practice. There is not necessarily a ‘trial’ that occurs with each client. What this form means for Audiologists is that the person has funding allocated to their application and the final selection of appropriate hearing aids can be undertaken. As above, it is expected that final recommended hearing aids are in the same range as those initially applied for (if not the actual aids approved on the trial approval form). It is not expected that other items not initially identified on the application are added to the request at this stage – ie streamers, remotes, dry store kits etc.