Information for
Medical Practitioners
Module 3
DVA’s Health Programs
(Health and Related
Services)
DVA Health & Related Services
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Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program
Hearing Services
Rehabilitation Appliances Program
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:
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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
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
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
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
Repatriation Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme
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)
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 tamperevident adherence device (DAA)
according to daily dose schedule
• Pharmacist assesses and provides sixmonthly reports to GP while service
continues
VVCS
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling
Service (VVCS) provides ongoing counselling
for war and service related issues i.e. anxiety,
depression, anger, sleep difficulties, PTSD, alcohol or substance
misuse, relationship and family issues
• VVCS services are free, offered nationwide to
either individuals, couples and/or families
• VVCS counsellors have an understanding of
military culture
• VVCS is available 24/7 by phoning 1800 011046
VVCS
Referral for eligible clients can be made by:
• self referral
• through the Australian Defence Force
• medical practitioners and other health and
welfare workers.
VVCS has a strong commitment to protecting the
client’s right to confidentiality and privacy.
Connect with VVCS online at www.vvcs.gov.au or
via Facebook.
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)