Physio for veterans on the Sunshine Coast: how DVA pays for it

Who can get physio through DVA?

People with a Veteran Gold Card or a Veteran White Card [1].

• Gold Card: DVA pays for physio for all conditions, when you need it [1].
• White Card: DVA pays for physio for your accepted conditions only [1].

If you're not sure what your card covers, ask DVA before your first visit.

Do I need a referral?

Yes. You need a referral from your GP [1].

For your first course of treatment, the referral can also come from your hospital doctor or the hospital's discharge planner [1]. So if you're leaving hospital, ask for it before you go home.

How long does a referral last?

A referral lasts for up to 12 sessions or one year, whichever comes first [2]. This is called a treatment cycle.

At the end of each cycle I send a report to your GP [2]. If you need more physio, your GP gives you a new referral [1]. You can have as many cycles as your GP thinks you need [2].

Some Gold Card holders with TPI status don't need treatment cycles for physio [2].

Do I have to pay anything?

No. Physios can't charge you a gap fee. We accept the DVA fee as full payment [1]. I claim from DVA, so you don't pay me on the day.

Can you see me at home?

Yes. DVA pays for physio visits in your home as well as in the clinic [1].

I visit homes from Aura and Caloundra up the coast to Noosa, including Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Buderim, Coolum Beach and Peregian Beach. In the hinterland I visit Maleny, Montville and Flaxton, and further north I visit Gympie, including Jones Hill, Southside and Monkland.

Can I see a physio and a chiro for the same problem?

Not at the same time. For the same condition, in the same referral period, DVA pays for only one of physio, osteopathy or chiropractic [1].

What about equipment, like a walking frame or shower chair?

DVA provides equipment through its Rehabilitation Appliances Program [1]. If you need something, I can prescribe it through the program, and a DVA supplier provides it [1].

What happens at the first visit?

I listen to your story, examine you, and explain what I find. We agree on what matters most to you, and you leave with a plan you can do between visits. I keep your GP up to date.

Where else can I read about funding?

If you're also on Support at Home, read how Support at Home pays for physio at home. If you've just come out of hospital, read who pays for physio after a hospital stay.