SOP Bulletin No. 155

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Rehabilitation & Entitlements Policy Group

Intranet site:  http://sharepoint/servingourcustomers/compensation/dsu

31 October 2011

THE FOLLOWING RMA SOPS ARE TO TAKE EFFECT ON 2 NOVEMBER, 2011

NOTEWORTHY FEATURES

• There are minor wording changes to the definition (with no operational effect).
• There is a new factor (RH & BOP, onset and worsening) for non-ambulatory standing (i.e. standing without walking or moving about).
• There is a — nother new factor (RH & BOP, onset and worsening), for thigh veins only, concerning interconnected varicosities in the abdomen or pelvis.

• The amendment is to the BOP SOP only, to bring it in to line with the RH SOP.  The RH SOP was amended in 2010 following an SMRC review.
• The changes are t — he remov — al of the only onset factor (for bilateral adrenalectomy) and the remov — al of the "within 10 years" requirement from the corresponding worsening factor.

• A new onset factor (RH and BOP) has been added for having "active migraine" ("with aura" in the BOP SOP).
• The onset factor for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been changed by (i) excluding paracetamol and (ii) softening the requirements concerning how long the drug was taken for and how many days before onset it was last taken.

• The RH SOP onset and worsening factors for NSAIDs have been changed by excluding paracetamol.  There are no changes to the requirements concerning how long the drug was taken for or how many days before onset it was last taken. 
• The BOP SOP previously had onset and worsening factor — s for "using a drug belonging to the selective cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitor class of drugs".  These drugs (COX2 inhibitors) are one form of NSAID.  Those factors has been replaced by ones covering all NSAIDs (excluding aspirin and paracetamol), that are the same as those now in the RH SOP.