Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)

Osteopaths can provide treatment to veterans and dependents, widows and widowers in certain circumstances and with a medical referral. Conditions apply. Clients may have either a gold or a white card. A gold card means that the client is eligible to receive DVA benefits for any condition. A white card will specify the eligible conditions.

If you are registered with Medicare and have at least one provider number, you are automatically eligible to treat DVA patients. There are referral and reporting requirements, so please visit www.dva.gov.au/providers for information, in particular the ‘Notes for Allied Health Providers’ and the fee schedule. Find out more about how to become a DVA health care provider

Treatment is provided under the Allied Health Treatment Cycle, where the client can be referred for up to 12 services at a time. Read more about the treatment cycle and your obligations at www.dva.gov.au/providers/notes-fee-schedules-andguidelines/allied-health-treatment-cycle-and-referrals

DVA legislation does not permit providers to charge a gap payment to the patient where the scheduled fee is less than the clinic’s charges. You cannot charge the client directly. After the service, you need to make the claim directly from DVA. To claim, it’s best to use DVA web claim at www.dva.gov.au/providers/claiming/use-dva-webclaim