Hospitals
Find out how to work with us and deliver hospital based care to our clients.
On this page
Who can deliver hospital based care
This information is for our contracted:
- public hospitals
- private hospitals
- private mental health hospitals
- day procedure centres
Referrals, admissions & discharge
Information on hospital admission and discharge
Back to topPublic hospitals
We have arrangements with all state and territory governments to provide care in public hospitals.
In most cases, you do not need prior approval before you admit a Veteran Gold Card holder to a public hospital. If you are unsure if we will pay, please contact us as soon as possible before you admit the client.
Rural public hospitals network
Quality reporting
Public hospital quality reporting is managed by state and territory health departments. Public hospitals are not required to submit anything extra to us.
If you have any specific queries please contact dva.public.hospitals [at] dva.gov.au (dva[dot]public[dot]hospitals[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au)
Funding arrangements in public hospitals
We provide funding to public hospitals providing:
- an activity-based payment for each episode. This includes the cost of surgically implanted Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products.
- non-admitted services, in Tasmania to the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services.
For all queries regarding public hospitals please contact dva.public.hospitals [at] dva.gov.au (dva[dot]public[dot]hospitals[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au)
Back to topPrivate hospitals
Our private hospital information guide provides information for private hospital and private mental health hospital staff. The guide is available in:
- Private Hospital Information Guide (PDF 1882 KB) - updated 1 June 2023
- Private Hospital Information Guide (DOCX 964 KB) - updated 1 June 2023
Our contracted private hospitals:
- Contracted Private Hospitals (DOCX 42 KB) – updated 10 October 2024
- Contracted Mental Health Private Hospitals (DOCX 23 KB) – updated 10 October 2024
Quality reporting
All of our contracted hospitals are required to complete and submit an annual quality report (QR) by 31 October.
Download the current Private Hospital Quality report template
- Private Hospital quality report template (XLSX 43 KB) – updated November 2024
Send your completed QR to dvaprivatehospitalqualityreports [at] dva.gov.au (dvaprivatehospitalqualityreports[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au)
Program proposals
We invite hospitals to submit proposals for programs that may improve health outcomes in the veteran population.
We have created guidelines to help you draft your proposal:
- Guidelines for proposals for same day and sessional rehabilitation programs (DOCX 20 KB)
- Guidelines for proposals for innovative or best practice programs (DOCX 20 KB)
- Guidelines for clinical mental health day programs (DOCX 30 KB)
- Guidelines for proposals for innovative mental health programs (DOCX 20 KB)
- Guidelines for proposals for trauma recovery programs (DOCX 30 KB)
- Guidelines for proposals for Rehabilitation in the Home programs (DOC 62 KB)
Please refer to the relevant guidelines when you write your proposal.
Send your completed program proposal to resp.priv.hospitals [at] dva.gov.au (RESP[dot]PRIV[dot]HOSPITALS[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au)
The private hospital patient experience survey
DVA has ceased the DVA Patient Experience Survey activity and providers have been advised to stop handing out surveys to DVA patients on discharge. Hospitals are also advised to destroy any paper surveys that they still have in storage. DVA thanks providers for their assistance in this.
Back to topDay procedure centres
The DPC Information Guide provides important information for Day Procedure Centres (DPCs) working with us. The guide is available in:
- DPC Information Guide (PDF 1186 KB) - updated 1 June 2023
- DPC Information Guide (DOCX 1249 KB) - updated 1 June 2023
A list of our contracted DPCs are available from the following document:
- Contracted Day Procedure Centres (DOCX 35 KB) – updated 10 October 2024
Quality reporting for DPCs
All of our contracted Day Procedure Centres must complete and submit an annual Quality Report (QR) by 31 October.
Download the current DPC quality report template
- DPC quality report template (XLSX 34 KB) – updated November 2024
Send your completed report to DPC QR to dvaprivatehospitalqualityreports [at] dva.gov.au (dvaprivatehospitalqualityreports[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au)
Back to topDischarge planning
We believe that effective discharge planning has many benefits for patients. We work closely with hospitals so that transferring from hospital to home is as seamless as possible.
You can find information on the health and home support services available to our clients to assist them to discharge safely home in our two publications:
- Effective Discharge Planning Resource Guide (PDF 2.47 MB)
Effective Discharge Planning Resource Guide (DOCX 527 KB) - Discharge Planning Checklist (PDF 503 KB)
If patients need convalescent care in a residential aged care facility, discharge planners will need to seek approval from DVA by contacting 1800 550 457 or by email health.approval [at] dva.gov.au prior to arranging care.
Back to topSchedules
The Group Accommodation and Theatre Banding (GATB) Schedules and tables
As outlined in our private hospital agreements, accommodation and operating theatre charges must be claimed-based on the GATB Schedule.
The GATB Schedule comprises 2 tables:
1 based on the Commonwealth Medicare Benefits Schedule (CMBS):
- CMBS-Based Group Accommodation and Theatre Banding (GATB) Schedule (XLSX 196 KB) – updated 1 July 2024
and
1 based on ICD 10 Medical Group Accommodation Banding Schedule diagnosis/disease codes:
- Medical Group Accommodation Banding Schedule (XLSX 80 KB) – updated 1 July 2022.
Please note there are annotations used in the Schedule and your attention is drawn to these.
Please note that the Medical Group Accommodation Banding Schedule dated 1 July 2022.
Hospital data submission
Hospital Casemix Protocol (HCP) data must be submitted by all:
- private hospitals
- mental health private hospitals
- day procedure centres
The Hospital Casemix Protocol (HCP) Data Upload link connects to our secure services login page.
Surgically Implanted Prescribed List of Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products (formerly prostheses)
The Department of Health provides a link to the latest Prescribed List of Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products
Back to topForms
- Hospital Admission Form
- Discharge Advice and Hospital Claim Form
- Acute Care Certificates to certify patients need acute care continuously 35 days or more
- National Private Hospital Claim Form (please use section 4 to certify same day and overnight admissions for Type B and C procedures)
Certificates
Critical care certificates
These certificates are used to:
- clinically verify the need for accommodation in a Critical Care Facility
- list the required interventions and level of nursing care
There are two critical care certificates:
Rehabilitation program certificate
The Rehabilitation Program Certificate (PDF 596 KB) is used when a patient is admitted for any of the following:
- inpatient rehabilitation
- admitted same day rehabilitation
- non-admitted sessional rehabilitation program
The Rehabilitation Program certificate should be signed by a rehabilitation physician.
Certificate audits
You must keep the original certificate on the patient file for audit purposes. This includes the:
- coronary care certificate
- intensive care patient certificate
- rehabilitation program certificate
- same day or overnight certificate
Do not send these documents to us or Services Australia.
If you need any help with forms, call our provider helpline on 1800 550 457
Back to top