The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) acknowledges the important role health providers play in supporting the health and wellbeing of the veteran community, and in turn we aim to support providers in understanding DVA’s billing and advertising arrangements to remain compliant.
Tips for providers
DVA arrangements can be complex, so we’ve drafted some tips to help.
Tip 1: Use the correct item number
Claiming for the services you provide with the right item number ensures you are paid correctly and on time. This item number can be found in the Fee Schedules or will be an MT item number provided through the prior approval process.
Tip 2: Seek prior financial authorisation
Some DVA services require you to seek our approval or “financial authorisation” before you start treatment. This includes services or fees outside of Medicare arrangements and specific allied health services.
If you provide these services without seeking prior approval you may not be paid by DVA.
These services can be found in the relevant Fee Schedule.
Prior approval forms can be found on the DVA website.
Tip 3: Appropriate advertising
We welcome the promotion of health services to the veteran community. However, there are advertising guidelines in place that health care providers and third-party marketing organisations must follow, such as not advertising services as ‘free’ or ’endorsed by DVA’ to DVA clients.
For more information on advertising refer to the DVA notes suitable to your profession linked below.
Tip 4: Keep clear and accurate records
Keeping adequate and updated records relating to a patient’s care is a critical care standard. This includes valid referrals, clinical notes, Patient Care Plans and any other relevant documentation related to their treatment. DVA undertakes audits to ensure providers maintain appropriate records and can request health providers to supply records relating to claims made for a DVA client.
Tip 5: The Provider Notes and Fee Schedules provide detail about all of the above
Familiarise yourself with the relevant DVA notes. The Notes outline the parameters for providing health care treatment to the veteran and defence community.
Our Fee Schedules detail the item numbers and associated fees for health services provided to DVA clients.
Resources
Find key information tailored to your profession by visiting For providers.
VETs HeLP
VETs HeLP is an online platform for health professionals which provides easy access to a range of free CPD accredited evidence-based educational resources.
Compliance webpages
To make it easier for health providers to comply with our program arrangements visit Compliance for providers.