EmailHospital Circular 12/2003
Date Issued: 20 June 2003
Publication: 12/2003
Distribution: Public Hospitals
Enquiries: Mignonne de Witt, Head Office
Subject: Update on Repatriation Patient Services
- Repatriation Private Patient Scheme: Repatriation Health Cards
- Visits to Veterans in hospitals by Ex – Service Organisations
Please note that this Circular replaces Circular 11/2003
1. Repatriation Health Cards
The Repatriation Private Patient Scheme enables eligible veterans to be treated as private patients at the public or private hospital of their choice. Not all veterans are eligible for treatment under the Scheme and eligibility must be established before treatment occurs.
Victoria’s public hospitals are funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, through the Department of Human Services to provide services to services to eligible veterans on the basis of the cards shown below. The Department of Human Services (DHS) has been requested by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to forward an update to hospitals about the DVA Repatriation Health Care entitlement cards and arrangements for veteran’s hospital treatment.
Eligibility for hospital treatment can be established by confirming whether the patient holds a gold or white Repatriation Health Card. Eligibility only applies for the cardholder, that is, for the person whose name appears on the card. If spouses of veterans are eligible, they will hold their own gold or white card. The Repatriation Health cards issued to eligible beneficiaries are as follows
The Gold Repatriation Health Card
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The Gold Repatriation Health Card is for all acute conditions. Gold card holders have full eligibility. That is, they are eligible for DVA-funded services for all of their acute medical/surgical conditions, but it does not include services such as cosmetic surgery unless specifically authorised by DVA. |
The White Repatriation Health Card
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White card holders have specific eligibility for treatment for:
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As only eligible veterans and war widow(er)s are entitled to treatment paid for by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, it is imperative that eligibility for treatment is confirmed prior to the commencement of any treatment or as soon as practicable thereafter. The card must be presented prior to or on admission to hospital. Gold card holders are eligible for public hospital treatment as veterans, but separate eligibility for white card holders must be established on each admission. Hospitals need to contact DVA about white card holders to establish eligibility at the time of admission or on the next business day if the patient is being admitted over a weekend.
Confirmation of eligibility can be obtained by contacting the Medical Services team at DVA during normal business hours on:
- 1300 550 456 (metro callers); or
- 1800 550 456 (country callers)
Alternatively, a completed D652B form can be faxed on (03) 9284 6440.
The following information is required by DVA to establish eligibility:
- DVA file number;
- Patient name;
- Patient date of birth;
- Hospital name, contact name, telephone/fax number;
- Date of admission; and
- Principal diagnosis.
Supplies of the D652B forms can be obtained by completing a DVA
stationery order form (which can be obtained by calling the Medical
Services team on the telephone numbers above) and faxing the form
to Leigh-Mardon on (02) 6230 0477
The Orange Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Card
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Veterans may also be issued with an Orange Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits card. Orange cardholders are entitled to pharmaceuticals listed under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical benefits Scheme (RPBS) for all medical conditions. The orange card cannot be used for any other medical or health care treatment. The orange card can be used for outpatient or discharge pharmaceuticals. |
Other Cards
DVA also issues other cards, which may include the DVA file number, such as the Pensioner Concession Card and the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, however these cards do not confer treatment eligibility under the DVA arrangements. It is only the gold and white Repatriation Health cards that denote the cardholder’s treatment eligibility.
More details regarding the DVA card system can be found on the DVA website.
2. Visits to Veterans in Victorian hospitals by Ex- Service Organisations
Many Victorian hospitals have an established visitation program by local ex-service organisations to Veterans in hospitals. In order for these visits to occur the names and locations of inpatient Veterans need to be given to the ex-service organisations.
Under Section 141 of the Health Services Act 1988, it is an offence for hospitals and their staff to disclose identifying information about an individual who is or has been a patient, unless the informed consent of that individual has been obtained, or where the disclosure is authorised under section 141(3) or any other law. It is therefore recommended that hospitals seek the consent of Veterans to allow their names to be released to ex-service organisations for the purpose of receiving visits from such organisations while they are in hospital. Such consent may be written or oral, but, for ease of reference, it is suggested that, at the minimum, a written note is made of the consent or otherwise of Veterans. Given that Veterans may be transferred between hospital acute and sub-acute facilities or if there is an extended length of stay, it is advisable to confirm this consent at appropriate intervals during the inpatient episode, in order to ensure it reflects the current wishes of each Veteran.
Ex-service organisations have requested that the names of Veterans agreeing to receive a visit are passed on to them promptly. It may therefore be appropriate for hospitals where there is no designated Veteran Liaison Officer, to appoint a contact person for ex-Service Organisations to facilitate such a Veteran visitation process.
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Dr Jenny Bartlett (Acting) Executive Director Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services |
Dr C W Brook |
