Changes to DVA Fee Schedule from 1 July 2021
Health care providers are advised that a number of changes to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Fee Schedules took effect on 1 July 2021.
Key changes include:
- Indexation of dental, allied health & Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items
The annual DVA fees for dental, allied health, and most medical services indexation has been finalised and updated fee schedules, including software vendor files, have been published on the DVA website.
- New and Amended MBS Listings
From 1 July 2021, a number of changes have been made to the MBS. These changes cover a range of clinical areas including general surgery, orthopaedic surgery and cardiac services. These changes are designed to better reflect contemporary clinical practice and promote high value care.
These changes are part of the Government’s progressive implementation of the recommendations of the MBS Review Taskforce and flow through to DVA’s funding arrangements for medical services, which mirror the arrangements under the MBS.
Providers will continue to receive a higher rebate under DVA arrangements than under the MBS and are not permitted to charge co-payments to DVA clients.
More information on new and amended MBS listings can be found at Medicare Online.
- Change to DVA Fee Schedule for Laparoscopic Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
From 1 July 2021, laparoscopic robotic assisted radical prostatectomy services for DVA clients will only be claimable using the relevant MBS item. The DVA-only item for laparoscopic robotic assisted radical prostatectomy services, UR372, has been removed.
It is the responsibility of the provider to determine which MBS item is appropriate to claim for their DVA client. Providers are not permitted to charge a co-payment for services provided to DVA clients.
Providers can find further information on the item descriptors for prostatectomy services at the MBS Online website.
Other changes that took effect on 1 July 2021 are:
- Increased DVA fees for occupational therapy and podiatry consultations
- Change to DVA Fee Schedule for Optical Coherence Tomography
- Extension of COVID-19 telehealth arrangements
Further information on these changes can be found in separate provider news articles on the DVA website.