DVA has recently made updates to the Notes for Allied Health Providers (Section One – General) and Notes for General Practitioners to ensure the highest standards of care and integrity in services provided to veterans. This is part of DVA’s ongoing focus to strengthen provider compliance.
What’s been updated?
Requirement to disclose Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests
Consistent with existing Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) standards, amendments to the Notes have been made to reinforce providers’ obligations to disclose pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests. Specifically:
- Providers are required to disclose any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in a health service, service provider or product prior to referring or recommending a DVA card holder to that service, service provider or product.
- Disclosures of pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests must be recorded as part of the patient’s informed consent and kept in the patient record.
The requirement to disclose potential conflicts of interests between medical professionals is a foundation of professional standards overseen by Aphra. It underpins high standards of clinical independence and is a key aspect of clinical governance.
More detail on pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests can be found in the relevant clauses (Clause 80 in the Notes for Allied Health Providers – Section One and Clause 2.15 in the Notes for General Practitioners).
Public statements about veteran health care providers
To increase transparency, amendments to the Notes have been made, specifically outlining that:
- DVA may deregister providers for serious non-compliance of the Notes or Fee Schedules, making them ineligible to provide services and treatments to DVA clients.
- We may publish information and make public statements, including naming deregistered providers to increase public awareness.
Further information on publishing of public statements can be found in Clause 117 in the Notes for Allied Health Providers – Section One and Clause 12.22 in the Notes for General Practitioners. Information on DVA provider deregistration is at Clause 115 of the Notes for Allied Health Providers.
To give clarity when making a claim to DVA using a provider number
Amendments to the Notes have been made to reinforce provider requirements when claiming under a DVA provider number. Specifically:
- Clause 137 of the Notes for Allied Health Providers (Section One – General) has been amended to add “In making a claim the provider is representing that…”. Practically this change highlights the importance of providers understanding and agreeing to the provider obligations when making a claim for payment.
- Clause 137(a) of the Notes for Allied Health Providers (Section One – General) has been amended to: remove “…or on the health care provider’s behalf…”. Practically this change ensures that only the provider who directly treated a veteran can claim for treatment, assisting to address inappropriate claiming practices.
- Clause 12.11 of the Notes for General Practitioners has been amended to add “…or organisations acting on their behalf...”. Practically this change ensures that veterans and families know who is advertising services to them, so proper clinical governance and independence are maintained.
What do providers need to know?
- All providers are encouraged to review the updated Notes.
- General practitioners and allied health providers who provide and claim for treatments to DVA clients have an obligation to understand and comply with DVA Provider Notes.
Want more information or do you need assistance?
More information on Provider Notes and other informative resources are available on the DVA website, visit https://www.dva.gov.au/get-support/providers.
Providers can also contact DVA’s Provider Enquiries team by calling 1800 550 457 or emailing health.approval@dva.gov.au.