All veterans in aged care now eligible to access allied health services

From 1 October 2022, access to allied health care services and the Rehabilitation Aids Program (RAP) is being expanded to eligible DVA clients in residential aged care, regardless of their care level. This will make it easier for providers to deliver and/or prescribe these services to DVA clients. These changes are being made to align with the new Australian National Aged Care Classification.

From 1 October, DVA is expanding access to allied health care services and the Rehabilitation Aids Program (RAP) to eligible veterans, widows and widowers living in residential aged care facilities, regardless of the level of care they are receiving. The provision of allied health care services and aids and appliances cannot duplicate what the residential aged care facility is already funded to provide. This change has been made in line with the new funding model for residential aged care, the Australian National Aged Care Classification, and will make it easier for providers to deliver and/or prescribe these services to DVA clients. 

Allied health care providers will no longer be required to seek prior approval to deliver services to DVA clients who were previously classified as high care. This will reduce the amount of administration required for providers, streamlining the process to help eligible DVA clients in residential aged care access the services they need.

Provision of these services should not duplicate those the aged care facility is already funded to provide through other Government support.  The provision of allied health care services will continue to be subject to DVA’s treatment cycle arrangements. While prior approval will no longer need to be sought, the current process of assessing a client’s clinical requirement for allied health care will not change and they still need to have a clinical need to access these services.

In addition to these changes, health providers will be able to prescribe aids and appliances under the RAP to eligible DVA clients in residential aged care, who were previously classified as high care. The current approval process will remain the same for RAP items. They will continue to be prescribed based on a client’s clinical need and should not duplicate items the facility is already funded to provide. Prescribing health providers will still need to seek prior approval and provide adequate clinical justification for customised items.

The DVA fee schedules and Provider Notes have been updated to facilitate the new arrangements.

For more information on RAP products available to eligible clients in residential aged care, please refer to the RAP in Residential Aged Care List.

For more information, contact DVA Health Provider enquiries 1800 550 457.