Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)

Occupational Therapy Integrated is a registered DVA provider. DVA can provide partial or full reimbursement for some Occupational Therapy treatment services. Please contact your DVA office should you have any concerns.

Medicare

Occupational Therapy Integrated is a registered Medicare provider. As such, there are a number of Medicare Schemes under which you may be eligible for partial reimbursement for occupational therapy services. These schemes require enrolment by your GP or your Specialist. The referral date provided by the physician marks the first date under which you would be eligible for reimbursement for services received.

Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC)

Under the Enhanced Primary Care Plan, you may receive partial reimbursement for up to 5 occupational therapy visits in a calendar year.

Mental Health Initiative (MHI)

Since November 2006, occupational therapy is a reimbursable service under the Mental Health Initiative. Under the MHI, you may receive partial reimbursement for up to 10 visits in a calendar year (6 visits may be authorised initially, with the next 4 visits requiring a 2 referral). Only children with social-emotional challenges are eligible for this care plan. For a complete listing of concerns covered under the initiative, please review the mental health chapter in the current volume of the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) which can be accessed online.

Helping Children with Autism

Since July 2008, families with children with autism who meet certain eligibility requirements may receive partial reimbursement for up to 20 occupational therapy sessions. To understand if your child is eligible for this plan, please talk with your paediatrician.

Better Start Funding

From 1 July 2011, eligible children diagnosed with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Fragile X syndrome, or a moderate or greater vision or hearing impairment, including deaf, blindness, will have access to funding and new Medicare items under the Better Start for Children with Disability (Better Start) initiative.

The initiative includes the following components:

  • Funding for early intervention services and treatments for eligible children under the age of six
  • Medicare items for the development of a treatment and management plan for eligible children under the age of 13
  • Medicare items for up to four allied health diagnostic services and for 20 relevant allied health services (in total) for eligible children up to the age of 15 (provided the treatment and management plan is in place before the age of 13).

Information for families – Early Intervention Funding

From 1 July 2011, eligible children will be able to be registered to access early intervention funding of up to $12,000 (to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year).

The funding will be able to be used to pay for early intervention services including speech pathology, audiology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology and orthoptics. Families will have until their child turns seven to use the early intervention funding.

This targeted early intervention in the pre-school years is intended to complement existing Commonwealth and State and Territory services and to assist these children to have the best possible preparation for transition to school.

Private Health

Depending on your provider of private health and your level of cover, you may be able to claim for some or all of your services at Occupational Therapy Integrated. Please discuss your claim directly with your service provider.