Opinion ID: 2265769
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The nutritional supplements were reasonable.

Text: Matthew's argument focuses on whether nutritional supplements are health care expenses or nutritional expenses, and he does not state that if the expenses are health care expenses, they are unreasonable. However, he makes three additional assertions that we believe go to reasonableness. Because health care expenses must be reasonable according to the child support order and Rule 90.3, [30] we address these assertions. First, we are not troubled by the fact that the supplements were recommended but not required. There is no requirement that health care expenses be prescribed or required by a doctor in order to be reimbursable. It is sufficient that nutritional supplements were professionally recommended for the child's autism. Second, Matthew's argument that Carol Jean did not buy the most affordable supplements on the market is likewise unpersuasive. As the superior court noted, because Carol Jean pays half of the health care expenses and lives on a limited budget, there are appropriate incentives for her to spend wisely. Further, that items are available less expensively online does not undercut the reasonableness of purchasing items directly from a clinic. Concerns such as convenience, quality, and expediency are relevant. Matthew has not demonstrated per se unreasonableness by showing that items are available more cheaply online, particularly without any discussion of whether the items are comparable in quality or potency. Finally, Matthew asserts that the superior court's decision was based on its own beliefs, and not representative of the medical evidence presented. Matthew points to a medical study showing that special diets for autistic children are ineffective. But, as noted above, a special diet is not the same as supplements, so it is not clear that this evidence is relevant to Matthew's appeal of nutritional supplement charges. Because the nutritional supplements were professionally recommended, and because there is no expert testimony suggesting that the health care providers have followed an unreasonable course of treatment for the child in this case, the superior court did not err in declining to second-guess the healthcare decisions made by Ms. Millette. In conclusion, we affirm the superior court's decision, and hold that nutritional supplements may constitute a reasonable health care expense under the parties' child support order and Civil Rule 90.3(d)(2), particularly where the supplements are taken for a specific medical condition, at the recommendation of a health care provider, and purchased through a clinic.