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Hospital Circular 18 /2005

Date Issued: 29 August 2005

Distribution: Public Hospitals

Enquiries: Mignonne de Witt / Head Office

Subject: Department of Veteran's Affairs – Information regarding Home Medical Oxygen Therapy

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has been asked by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) to advise hospitals regarding the changes DVA has made regarding Home Medical Oxygen Therapy (HMOT) products and services available to eligible beneficiaries under the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP).

These changes, which will apply from 1 August 2005, are:

• Updated Prescriber Guidelines for the supply of HMOT;
• A new HMOT Application Form; and
• The formalisation of contractual arrangements with Air Liquide Health (ALH) who will continue to supply HMOT for DVA in Victoria.

Copies of the Guidelines and the Form will be sent to qualified HMOT prescribers. These will also be available on the DVA website at www.dva.gov.au.

The new contract arrangements will have no affect on the eligibility of entitled veterans and war widow(er)s who will continue to be able to receive HMOT products and services that meet their clinical needs. Further, there will be no disruption to the supply or nature of the products and services provided. The new contract arrangements are designed to achieve consistency in the supply of HMOT products and services nationally and to simplify administrative arrangements only.

There will also be no change to where prescribers should send completed applications. They will still continue to forward applications to:

Austin Health
Respiratory Laboratory
PO Box 5555
HEIDELBERG VIC 3084
Fax: 03 9496 3723

Should you have any queries regarding the new contract arrangements or Prescriber Guidelines, please contact Sean Byrne at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on (03) 9284 6456.

DHS Contacts: Mignonne de Witt Tel (03) 9616 8092)
For Rural hospitals: Teresa Guerrieri Tel (03) 9616 1441)