Provisional Access to Medical Treatment Trial

About the trial

The ‘Provisional Access to Medical Treatment’ trial was launched in 2018 to provide clients with access to treatment for specified conditions before their claim is approved, getting veterans the treatment they need faster and to prevent further risk of deterioration from their condition.

As a part of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (DVA’s) transformation, the trial will provide valuable data to shape the future of claiming for veterans and allow DVA to continue to improve the time taken to approve claims.

Am I eligible?

You can participate in the trial if you are a former ADF member, part-time Reservist, cadet or declared member and you:

• make a claim for a service related injury or disease under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) on or after 1 July 2017, or
• make a claim that relates to one or more specified conditions.

If you are discharging, you are eligible to participate from the date of discharge.

If you are a current serving member, you are ineligible as the Defence forces are responsible for your health care needs.

If you hold a Gold Card the PAMT trial is not applicable as you can already receive treatment for all conditions, regardless of whether they are service related or not.

What are the specified conditions?

The PAMT trial provides access to medical treatment for the following 20 specified conditions:

Condition
Achilles Tendinopathy and Bursitis
Chondromalacia Patella
Cut, Stab, Abrasion and Laceration
Dislocation
Fracture
Internal Derangement of the Knee
Intervertebral Disc Prolapse
Joint Instability
Labral Tear
Lumbar Spondylosis
Non-melanotic Malignant Neoplasm of the Skin
Osteoarthritis
Plantar Fasciitis
Rotator Cuff Syndrome
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Shin Splints
Solar Keratosis
Sprain and Strain
Thoracic Spondylosis
Tinnitus

How do I gain access to the trial?

Eligible veterans can access the PAMT trial while their claim for liability is being processed under:

• Military Rehabilitation Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), or
• Safety Rehabilitation Compensation (Defence-related claims) Act 1998 (DRCA).

If you lodge your claim for treatment of injury or disease and you meet the eligibility requirements, you will automatically be included in the trial.

Do I get notified of my access to the trial?

Yes, after you lodge a claim DVA will send you a letter acknowledging your claim. This will also include more information about the PAMT trial and a PAMT confirmation form to be completed by your doctor. This form will need to be submitted back to DVA for processing.

Claims lodged between 1 July 2017 — 18 June 2018

Any privately incurred medical costs relating to claims for specified condition(s) lodged between 1 July 2017 and 18 June 2018 may be eligible for a reimbursement. If you lodged claims for any of the specified conditions between these dates, you will receive a letter from DVA with information on how to request a reimbursement. The letter will include a copy of the Form D9338 Medical Expenses Privately Incurred (MEPI) which you will need to complete and submit back to DVA.

Further information on claiming Medical Expenses Privately Incurred can be found at Factsheet HS64 - Medical Expenses Privately Incurred.

More information

Contact us for more information.