Opinion by
Judge Palladino,
Karen Wengrzyn (Petitioner) appeals from an order of the Department of Public W elf are (DPW) denying a Medical Assistance Program Exception which requested payment for items prescribed for Petitioner’s son, Eric Wengrzyn. We affirm.
Petitioner’s son, Eric, is eligible for Medical Assistance benefits under the Aid to Families with De[156]*156pendent Children (AFDC) category. Eric’s physician, Dr. Donald Lookingbill, diagnosed Eric as having a condition known as severe atopic dermatitis. In order to keep the condition under control and prevent infection, Eric is required to take frequent baths with Alpha Keri bath oil, and to apply Eucerin Cream to his skin several times each day. The Alpha Keri and Eucerin Cream were prescribed by Dr. Lookingbill.
Alpha Keri and Eucerin Cream are not prescription drugs and can be purchased over the counter. DFW.’s regulations list emollients, personal care items, and medicine chest items as non-compensable under the Medical Assistance program. 55 Pa. Code .§1121.54(10). On February 3, 1984, Petitioner applied for a Program Exception under 55 Pa. Code §1101.32 (c)1 for the Alpha Keri and the Eucerin [157]*157Cream. On February 14, 1984, this request was denied by the Program Exception Unit of the DPW Office of Medical Assistance. The DPW Hearing Officer affirmed the denial.
DPW has established the following criteria in evaluating all requests for program exceptions.2
1. The Eecipient is eligible, and not in an institution.
2. Lack of the requested service or item will result in serious harm to the individual.
3. The case must be truly exceptional; the exception process cannot be used as a back door to program expansion, for example, paying for speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc.
4. The item may be reasonably expected to improve the patient’s condition.
5. No alternative is available in the fee schedule. This does not mean that the covered alternative must be as up-to-date or efficient or ‘state-of-the-art’ as the requested item.
6. The item or service is not experimental.
DPW’s Exhibit No. D-l. In denying Petitioner’s request for a program exception, DPW stated that the Petitioner’s request did not fit into the established criteria.3
[158]*158When examining the decision of DPW in this case, .we note that an administrative agency has wide discretion when establishing rules, regulations and standards, and also in the performance of its administrative duties and functions. Wolf v. Department of Public Welfare, 69 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 398, 452 A.2d 574 (1982). Therefore, this Court cannot overturn an agency’s exercise of its discretion absent proof of fraud, bad faith or a blatant abuse of discretion. Id.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania participates in the Medical Assistance Program established by Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. <^1396a-1396i. DPW administers this program pursuant to Sections 441.1-451 of the Public Welfare Code.4 States participating in the federally funded program are required to administer their programs in compliance with certain federal guidelines. Shappell v. Department of Public Welfare, 66 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 641, 445 A.2d 1334 (1982). The participating states “have broad discretion in setting standards for determining the extent of medical assistance to be provided. The standards, however, must be reasonable and must be consistent with the objectives of Title XIX. ’ ’ Marsh v. Department of Public Welfare, 48 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 216, 218, 409 A.2d 926, 927 (1979). Thus, DPW’s denial of the exception should not preclude the proper administration of the Medical Assistance Program as required by Title XIX.
[159]*159In determining the responsibilities of the participating states as required by Title XIX, this Court, in both Marsh and Shappell, adopted the reasoning articulated in Roe v. Casey, 464 F. Supp. 487 (E.D. Pa. 1978), aff’d, 623 F.2d 829 (3rd Cir. 1980). We continue to find this rationale instructive. The Boe court set forth the objective of Title XIX as follows:
The stated objective of Title XIX is to provide medical assistance for those persons unable to afford necessary medical services. 42 U.S.C. §1396. While it is true that Title XIX nowhere explicitly states that ‘all necessary medical services’ must be provided to eligible participants of a participating state’s program, the plain meaning of its objective of providing assistance to those unable to afford ‘necessary’ medical services must be construed as meaning that the medical assistance provided by the program must be sufficient to provide the ‘necessary’ medical services which the eligible are otherwise unable to afford.
464 F. Supp. at 500.
The Roe court later discussed 42 C.F.E. §449.10 (a)(5)(i), the regulation implementing Title XIX.
We find that the clear meaning of this portion of the regulations implementing Title XIX require the states to provide at least the minimum necessary medical services required for the successful treatment of the particular medical condition presented. We find, further, that these implementing regulations, while permitting states to exclxxde or limit some unnecessary medical services if in its discretion it chooses to do so, flatly prohibit a state from excluding entirely or limiting below the minimum treatment required any category or type of necessary [160]*160medical services except for reasons either not .relating to, or in addition to, the diagnosis, type of illness or condition.
464 F. Supp. at 501.
Here, Petitioner presented as evidence a letter from Dr. Lookingbill stating that the Alpha Keri and Eueerin Cream are medically necessary for the treatment of Eric’s condition. The hearing officer stated that there was no doubt that Eric’s condition required treatment, and that the Alpha Keri and Eueerin Cream help to control Eric’s condition. Relying on Roe, Petitioner thus argues that because Eric’s condition requires treatment and the Alpha Keri and Eueerin Cream are medically necessary for this treatment, the two items should therefore fall under the coverage of the Medical Assistance Program as an exception. We disagree.
The DPW found that the Alpha Keri and Eueerin Cream fall outside of the established criteria in that the lack of the items will not result in serious harm to Eric; that they contain no active medication and are therefore pharmaceutically inert; and that the items .are not exceptional. Most dispositive of the issue before us, however, is the testimony of Dr. O. K. Steven-sen, the DPW witness, that alternatives are provided in the fee schedule for medication that will treat Eric’s condition.
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Opinion by
Judge Palladino,
Karen Wengrzyn (Petitioner) appeals from an order of the Department of Public W elf are (DPW) denying a Medical Assistance Program Exception which requested payment for items prescribed for Petitioner’s son, Eric Wengrzyn. We affirm.
Petitioner’s son, Eric, is eligible for Medical Assistance benefits under the Aid to Families with De[156]*156pendent Children (AFDC) category. Eric’s physician, Dr. Donald Lookingbill, diagnosed Eric as having a condition known as severe atopic dermatitis. In order to keep the condition under control and prevent infection, Eric is required to take frequent baths with Alpha Keri bath oil, and to apply Eucerin Cream to his skin several times each day. The Alpha Keri and Eucerin Cream were prescribed by Dr. Lookingbill.
Alpha Keri and Eucerin Cream are not prescription drugs and can be purchased over the counter. DFW.’s regulations list emollients, personal care items, and medicine chest items as non-compensable under the Medical Assistance program. 55 Pa. Code .§1121.54(10). On February 3, 1984, Petitioner applied for a Program Exception under 55 Pa. Code §1101.32 (c)1 for the Alpha Keri and the Eucerin [157]*157Cream. On February 14, 1984, this request was denied by the Program Exception Unit of the DPW Office of Medical Assistance. The DPW Hearing Officer affirmed the denial.
DPW has established the following criteria in evaluating all requests for program exceptions.2
1. The Eecipient is eligible, and not in an institution.
2. Lack of the requested service or item will result in serious harm to the individual.
3. The case must be truly exceptional; the exception process cannot be used as a back door to program expansion, for example, paying for speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc.
4. The item may be reasonably expected to improve the patient’s condition.
5. No alternative is available in the fee schedule. This does not mean that the covered alternative must be as up-to-date or efficient or ‘state-of-the-art’ as the requested item.
6. The item or service is not experimental.
DPW’s Exhibit No. D-l. In denying Petitioner’s request for a program exception, DPW stated that the Petitioner’s request did not fit into the established criteria.3
[158]*158When examining the decision of DPW in this case, .we note that an administrative agency has wide discretion when establishing rules, regulations and standards, and also in the performance of its administrative duties and functions. Wolf v. Department of Public Welfare, 69 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 398, 452 A.2d 574 (1982). Therefore, this Court cannot overturn an agency’s exercise of its discretion absent proof of fraud, bad faith or a blatant abuse of discretion. Id.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania participates in the Medical Assistance Program established by Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. <^1396a-1396i. DPW administers this program pursuant to Sections 441.1-451 of the Public Welfare Code.4 States participating in the federally funded program are required to administer their programs in compliance with certain federal guidelines. Shappell v. Department of Public Welfare, 66 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 641, 445 A.2d 1334 (1982). The participating states “have broad discretion in setting standards for determining the extent of medical assistance to be provided. The standards, however, must be reasonable and must be consistent with the objectives of Title XIX. ’ ’ Marsh v. Department of Public Welfare, 48 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 216, 218, 409 A.2d 926, 927 (1979). Thus, DPW’s denial of the exception should not preclude the proper administration of the Medical Assistance Program as required by Title XIX.
[159]*159In determining the responsibilities of the participating states as required by Title XIX, this Court, in both Marsh and Shappell, adopted the reasoning articulated in Roe v. Casey, 464 F. Supp. 487 (E.D. Pa. 1978), aff’d, 623 F.2d 829 (3rd Cir. 1980). We continue to find this rationale instructive. The Boe court set forth the objective of Title XIX as follows:
The stated objective of Title XIX is to provide medical assistance for those persons unable to afford necessary medical services. 42 U.S.C. §1396. While it is true that Title XIX nowhere explicitly states that ‘all necessary medical services’ must be provided to eligible participants of a participating state’s program, the plain meaning of its objective of providing assistance to those unable to afford ‘necessary’ medical services must be construed as meaning that the medical assistance provided by the program must be sufficient to provide the ‘necessary’ medical services which the eligible are otherwise unable to afford.
464 F. Supp. at 500.
The Roe court later discussed 42 C.F.E. §449.10 (a)(5)(i), the regulation implementing Title XIX.
We find that the clear meaning of this portion of the regulations implementing Title XIX require the states to provide at least the minimum necessary medical services required for the successful treatment of the particular medical condition presented. We find, further, that these implementing regulations, while permitting states to exclxxde or limit some unnecessary medical services if in its discretion it chooses to do so, flatly prohibit a state from excluding entirely or limiting below the minimum treatment required any category or type of necessary [160]*160medical services except for reasons either not .relating to, or in addition to, the diagnosis, type of illness or condition.
464 F. Supp. at 501.
Here, Petitioner presented as evidence a letter from Dr. Lookingbill stating that the Alpha Keri and Eueerin Cream are medically necessary for the treatment of Eric’s condition. The hearing officer stated that there was no doubt that Eric’s condition required treatment, and that the Alpha Keri and Eueerin Cream help to control Eric’s condition. Relying on Roe, Petitioner thus argues that because Eric’s condition requires treatment and the Alpha Keri and Eueerin Cream are medically necessary for this treatment, the two items should therefore fall under the coverage of the Medical Assistance Program as an exception. We disagree.
The DPW found that the Alpha Keri and Eueerin Cream fall outside of the established criteria in that the lack of the items will not result in serious harm to Eric; that they contain no active medication and are therefore pharmaceutically inert; and that the items .are not exceptional. Most dispositive of the issue before us, however, is the testimony of Dr. O. K. Steven-sen, the DPW witness, that alternatives are provided in the fee schedule for medication that will treat Eric’s condition.
Although Petitioner testified that no other prescription-or over-the-counter item had helped Eric’s condition, - she presented no evidence to indicate that the alternatives available on the Medical Assistance Program fee schedule would not help to relieve Eric’s dermatitis.5 By offering alternatives under the Pro[161]*161gram, DPW is thus providing the “minimum necessary medical treatment” required for the treatment of Eric’s condition. Roe, 464 F. Supp. at 501. DPW is not providing the exact treatment requested by Petitioner and her son’s physician. However, absent evidence to the contrary, because alternatives are available under the Program, DPW is not “excluding entirely or limiting below the minimum treatment required” the medical services necessary to treat the Petitioner’s son. Id. In addition, DPW’s limiting of the type of medical treatment available, while not excluding such treatment, is not fraudulent and does not constitute an abuse of discretion on the part of DPW. Thus, DPW’s denial of the Program Exception to the Petitioner is within the discretionary power of the agency, and does not offend the purpose of Title XIX.
Accordingly, we affirm the decision of DPW denying the Program Exception requested by Petitioner.
Order
And Now, October 4, 1985, the decision of the Department of Public Welfare in the above-captioned matter, dated June 21, 1984, is affirmed.