Welcome to our FAQ page designed to answer questions that our audience has raised throughout the VET-HeLP program. These answers are backed by strong evidence or expert consensus to provide clarity around best practice healthcare for veterans.
For DVA to accept liability for a service related condition a compensation claim must be submitted and the claim accepted by DVA (except for conditions eligible for non-liability health care and provisional access to medical treatment).
Veterans who have a White Card are entitled to receive clinically necessary health care funded by DVA for their accepted condition. (Prior approval will be required for some items that are not on the MBS, PBS or RPBS).
Veterans who have a Gold Card are entitled to receive health care funded by DVA for all clinically necessary health care services. (Prior approval will be required for some items that are not on the MBS, PBS or RPBS).
What's a Veteran Card (dva.gov.au)
Veteran Card holders may present digital versions of their plastic DVA White or Gold Cards, which clients can access through the online DVA portal MyService. You can view your patient’s health conditions that are covered by DVA, below their digital card on their MyService account, on their device, once they log in. You can also check what’s covered by calling 1800 550 457.
DVA will pay for a veteran’s treatment for some conditions without accepting these conditions as service related (no claim required). DVA may cover:
a client's treatment costs by a mental health provider for any mental health condition, such as posttraumatic stress disorder – this is NLHC (mental health) and can be accessed by any veteran after one day full time service
a client's treatment costs when diagnosed with cancer (malignant neoplasm) or pulmonary tuberculosis – there are service-related eligibility criteria.
Under the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment program, or PAMT, DVA will pay for the treatment for certain conditions before liability has been accepted. The list of conditions eligible for PAMT is found at Get treatment while you wait on a claim (PAMT) | Department of Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au)
This means that your patient has submitted a claim they do not have to wait for DVA to approve their claim before they can access DVA funded treatment.
As long as the consultation includes the accepted condition the whole consultation can be billed to DVA.
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