Information for Medical Practitioners

Module 3

DVA’s Health Programs(Health and Related

Services)

DVA Health & Related Services

• Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program • Hearing Services• Rehabilitation Appliances Program • HomeFront• Veterans’ Home Care• Community Nursing• Veterans’ Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre• Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme• Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling

Service• Mental Health and Wellbeing• Repatriation Transport Scheme

Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program (CVC)

What is the CVC Program?

• A new DVA Program to better manage and coordinate primary and community care for Gold Card holders who are most at risk of being admitted or readmitted to hospital.

• The Program is targeted only at Gold Card holders most at risk and is only for around 10% of Gold Card holders living in the community.

• Chronic disease management items are still available for the remainder of Gold Card holders.

• CVC commenced 1 May 2011

Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program (CVC)

What is the CVC Program? (cont’d)

Primarily focused on Gold Card holders targeted by DVA with the following conditions:

Congestive heart failure Coronary artery disease Pneumonia Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Diabetes

Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program (CVC)

• A Patient treatment report (PTR) has been developed to assist GPs in providing CVC support.

• The PTR will provide insight into the patient’s medical history and display potential opportunities for optimising patient care.

• It is a practice support tool that has been designed to provide evidence-based care for the management of chronic illness.

• The PTR is not intended to replace the GPs professional clinical judgement as the patient’s treating general practitioner.

• Free, online accredited training is also available. See the CVC training & resources website: www.cvcprogram.net.au

Hearing Services

• LMOs should refer eligible veterans to the Hearing Services Program managed by the Office of Hearing Services for:hearing assessments, management and

rehabilitation (including fitting of hearing devices)

• DVA funds services on the basis of clinical need for:Gold Card holders White Card holders (for an accepted

disability or the effects of malignant cancer) Dependants of an eligible veteran.

• Referral by LMO or self referral:Phone: 1800 500 726

Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP)

RAP aims to achieve and maintain functional independence and minimise disability, by providing equipment for self-help and rehabilitation purposes, on the basis of assessed clinical need:

• Assessments available to Gold Card and White Card holders (for specific medical conditions accepted by DVA)

• Referral required from LMO/GP or other specified health professional (e.g. an occupational therapist)

Rehabilitation Appliances Program

RAP provides:

• Mobility function and support items

• Home Oxygen Medical Therapy

• Diabetic supplies

• Personal Response Systems

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Pumps

• Continence products

• Medical Grade Footwear

HomeFront

HomeFront is a prevention program designed to prevent falls and accidents in and around eligible veterans’ homes:

• Assessments available to Gold and White Card holders

• Referral by health professional or self referral

Phone: 1800 801 945

Veterans’ Home Care (VHC)

• VHC provides low level care to assist eligible veterans to remain independent in their own homes

• All Gold and White Card holders may be assessed for VHC services

• Referral by health professional or self referral

Veterans’ Home Care

VHC Assessment Agencies:• are first point of contact• are responsible for assessment and

coordination• determine eligibility for VHC services• authorise services• develop care plans for veterans• develop service plans for service

providers

Phone: 1300 550 450

Community Nursing Services

Community nursing providers are contracted Australia-wide to provide services to eligible veterans in:

• their own homes; or

• independent-living retirement villages

Referrals are by a GP/LMO, hospital discharge planner/treating doctor, or VHC assessor

Community Nursing Services are not provided in:

• acute facilities

• Government-funded low or high care residential aged care facilities, or

• multipurpose or community health centres

Community Nursing Services

VAPAC

Veterans Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre (VAPAC):

• Provides expert pharmacy advice and prior approval services relating to the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) 24 hours a day, seven days a week

• Also administers:Veterans’ Medicines Advice and

Therapeutics Education Services (MATES) Dose Administration Aid (DAA) Service

Phone: 1800 552 580

Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Provides eligible veterans with subsidised access to a comprehensive range of pharmaceuticals and dressings

• Includes all items available to the general public under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

• Includes additional items contained on the Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (exclusive to eligible veterans), as well as non-scheduled items via an authority prescription on a case-by-case basis

Gold Card holders eligible for medications for all conditions

White Card holders eligible for medications for specific conditions accepted by DVA (prior approval required for other conditions)

Orange Card holders eligible for medications for all conditions (eligible for pharmaceutical benefits only)

Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Veterans’ MATES

Veterans’ MATES:

• was developed to improve veterans’ management/use of medicines

• uses data from prescription claims to identify veterans at risk of medication misadventure

GPs are at the centre of a team approach to assist with managing veterans’ medication use

DAA Service

• The DAA Service aims to improve veterans’ health outcomes through safer medication use

• Greater benefits are achieved in conjunction with a Home Medicines Review

• GPs can prescribe the DAA Service for six monthly periods via an authority prescription

DAA Service

• Pharmacist packs medicines in tamper-evident adherence device (DAA) according to daily dose schedule

• Pharmacist assesses and provides six-monthly reports to GP while service continues

VVCS

Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) provides nation-wide programs and treatments to veterans, peacekeepers and their families, including:

• confidential counselling • group programs • case management• information and education• 24-hour crisis counselling through Veterans’

Line

Phone: 1800 011 046

VVCS

Referral can be made in a number of ways:

• by self referral• through the Australian Defence Force• by medical practitioners and other health

and welfare workers

DVA entitlement not required to access

services

Mental Health & Wellbeing

A number of ‘At Ease’ mental health products and resources are available to veterans, to encourage them to:

• recognise possible signs;• take appropriate action; and• assume greater responsibility for their own

health and wellbeing

These are also available to health care professionals, to assist in awareness and treatment of veterans’ mental health issues.

Repatriation Transport Scheme

Underpinning principles of the Repatriation Transport Scheme are that travel must be:

• for eligible treatment

• to the provider as close as practical to a veteran’s residence

• by the most economical and suitable

means

Repatriation Transport Scheme

Transport assistance may cover:

• Reimbursement

• Booked Car With Driver

• Air, rail and bus transport

• Ambulance transport

Repatriation Transport Scheme

• Reimbursement may be claimed for travel by private vehicle or public transport:

D800 Claim for Travelling Expenses

Form must be certified by treating health provider

• Cost of taxi travel may be met if health provider certifies it as necessary

Repatriation Transport Scheme

Booked Car With Driver:• DVA-arranged transport (taxi or hire

car travel)• for veterans who meet certain criteria• must be arranged by health provider

through DVA

Air transport may be authorised in certain circumstances

Ambulance transport must comply with ‘closest practical provider’ rule

Repatriation Transport Scheme

Transport bookings:

• 1300 550 455 (metro callers)

• 1800 550 455 (regional callers)

Provider Enquiry Telephone Numbers

All provider enquiries to DVA (unless previously specified) should be directed to:

• 1300 550 457 (metro callers)

• 1800 550 457 (regional callers)