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The Statements of Principles Monitoring, Aetiology and CCPS Commentary Unit |
4th floor AMP Place, 10 Eagle St Brisbane Qld 4000.
Facsimile: 07 3223 8722.
Bob Connolly |
07 3223 8325 (Manager, Brisbane) |
Dr Bev Grehan |
07 3223 8376 |
Maureen Anderson |
08 8290 0365 (Manager, Adelaide) |
Dr Jon Kelley |
07 3223 8412 |
Duncan Cape |
07 3223 8757 |
Sue Lee |
08 8290 0227 |
Gaynor Cavanagh |
07 3223 8331 |
Bernadette McCabe |
07 3223 8393 |
SOP BULLETIN # 14 |
2 July, 1998
THE FOLLOWING RMA SOPS ARE TO BE GAZETTED ON 8 JULY 1998
New SOPs |
renal artery atherosclerotic disease |
Revocations & Determinations |
osteoarthritis deep vein thrombosis non melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin acquired hallux valgus soft tissue sarcoma |
Amendments |
ischaemic heart disease (gazetted 10/6/98) |
IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL FEATURES
The RMA have determined that some changes are required to clarify the original intent of the Instruments. This is in light of recent decisions of the AAT (in McKenna and Etheridge).
There is a new clause 7 “Inclusion of Statements of Principles”. This clause clarifies that where a relevant factor in a SOP propagates to a condition covered by a SOP then that second SOP applies.
There are now definitions for “death from (relevant condition)” and “terminal event”. For death claims where a terminal event has an underlying cause which is covered by a SOP then that SOP is to be applied.
ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE |
Amendment - 37 & 38 of 1998 (amends 140 & 141 of '96 as amended by 77 & 78 of '97) |
- This amendment is to make the changes described above. There are no other changes.
OSTEOARTHROSIS |
Revocation - 41 & 42 of 1998 (replaces 71/336/352 & 72/337/353 of '95) |
THERE HAVE BEEN MAJOR CHANGES TO THIS SOP.
The terms generalised and localised osteoarthrosis have been omitted.
All the existing factors remain (in essence) but have been significantly reworded.
There are two new causal factors: septic arthritis and internal derangement of the knee.
All causal factors (except being a POW) are also now worsening factors, such that there are seven new worsening factors.
The definition of trauma to a joint has been substantially changed:
- The trauma must be a single discrete event;
- An extraneous agent is no longer required;
- The reference to medical intervention has been omitted.
The permanent ligamentous instability factor and definition no longer refer to trauma.
The inflammatory joint disease definition now specifies which diseases are covered.
This new SOP arises in part out of a formal investigation by the RMA, particularly into microtrauma. Microtrauma is covered in the SOP by the factors for occupational continuous heavy physical activity and occupational use of pneumatic type tools. The RMA has determined that microtrauma is otherwise not a cause of osteoarthrosis.
The CCPS rule-base will be updated to reflect the new SOP in the near future. In the mean time the rule-base can still be used, but:
- A diagnosis of generalised osteoarthrosis should not be made (except for POWs);
- Each joint affected by osteoarthrosis will need to be separately diagnosed and determined;
- You may need to override CCPS to take account of the new factors and definitions.
RENAL ARTERY ATHEROSCLEROTIC DISEASE |
New - 39 & 40 of 1998 |
Claims for renal artery stenosis, due to renal artery athersclerotic disease (RAAD) and meeting the very specific definition of RAAD, are covered by this SOP.
Hypertension is a causal factor but not a worsening factor.
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS |
Revocation - 43 & 44 of 1998 (replaces 31 & 32 of '97) |
There have been minor changes but not to the intent or application.
NON MELANOTIC MALIGNANT NEOPLASM OF THE SKIN |
Revocation - 45 & 46 of 1998 (replaces 31 & 32 of '96) |
The definition now clarifies that it includes Merkel cell carcinoma.
Some of the factors have now been grouped so to apply to BCC and SCC only.
ACQUIRED HALLUX VALGUS |
Revocation - 47 & 48 OF 1998 (replaces 298 & 299 of '95) |
The factor “wearing ill fitting footwear...” now includes “...for a period of at least 18 months...” in the Reasonable Hypothesis SOP. The same factor in the BOP SOP already has a period of at least 3 years.
SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA |
Revocation - 49 & 50 OF 1998 (replaces 173 & 174 of '96) |
There is new factor for cutaneous atypical fibroxanthoma.
If you are having any problems with SOPs, including if you think a SOP needs to be changed, talk to us!