Injured Workers Support Network
Fact Sheet
Comcare - Medical treatment and Practitioners
-Note: Information contained in this fact sheet is general advice only and should not be relied upon as
professional legal or medical advice.
Comcare may reimburse reasonable medical, hospital, pharmaceutical and other treatment
costs where there is an accepted claim for a work-related injury or illness.
Types of medical treatment
The range of medical treatment Comcare may approve payment for is quite broad.
It may include:
 Medical treatment provided by a legally qualified medical practitioner (your doctor)
including surgery and hospitalisation.
 The prescription of medicines or medical aids (such as glasses, orthopaedic shoes or
artificial limbs).
 Treatment, examinations or tests (such as pathology or x-rays) done under the
supervision or at the direction of a legally qualified medical practitioner.
 Treatment by registered dentists.
 Treatment by registered allied health professionals such as physiotherapists,
osteopaths and chiropractors.
If physical therapies are undertaken with allied health professionals, Comcare will not
usually pay for such treatments from two or more medical providers at the same time.
You should seek advance payment approval for treatments such as surgery, hospital
admission, expensive tests like an MRI, types of treatments not usually related to your
accepted condition or when you require medical aids and appliances.
Medical practitioners
A legally qualified medical practitioner under the SRC Act includes a general practitioner, a
specialist such as an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Psychiatrist, or a Dentist.
Roles of medical practitioner
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Assessment and diagnosis
Provision of treatment
Referrals for specialist treatment
Assessment of work capacity and medical certification
Provide advice on alternative duties or workplace modifications
Information from Comcare website http://www.comcare.gov.au (Last updated: 03 April 2014)
IWSN Fact Sheet Comcare – Medical Treatment and Practitioners