DATE OF ISSUE: 2 JULY 1992

NEW CMS ATTRIBUTES - LIFESTYLE RATING AND FORMS D2585 (CLAIM FOR DISABILITY PENSION AND MEDICAL TREATMENT) AND FORM D2663 (CLAIM FOR PENSION BY DEPENDANTS OF A DECEASED VETERAN)

The purpose of this instruction is to advise Branches on the introduction of mandatory CMS attributes relating to the new method of assessing lifestyle and the revised forms D2585 and D2663.

IMPLEMENTATION

To permit the recording and reporting of the results of applications lodged and determined under the provisions of GARP III, the following attributes will be required to be completed from 1 July 1992.

In addition, the introduction of new form D2585 from 1 July 1992 will require the setting of a new attribute.

New form D2663 will be distributed late in July.  This instruction will apply when D2663 is implemented.

LIFESTYLE ATTRIBUTES

The attributes defined in CMS are:

GARP II Case (existing attribute 815)

Choice 1 (Self Assess)

Choice 2 (Imputation)

Choice 3 (Questionnaire)

Lifestyle Not Assessed

These attributes are a mandatory group (ie one of the group must be set for each case).

For cases in the classification types 010, 020, 030, 050, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310 and 320 lodged on or after 1 July 1992, the recording of a lifestyle value on the Incapacity Assessment (IA) screen is mandatory and enforced through an edit in IA.  To allow for the processing of cases where no lifestyle rating is required (eg. an existing 100% rate), the value of N is provided and should be set for the lifestyle rating.

This process will enable reports to be provided for management information and the review of the operation of the new lifestyle assessment system.

These reports will give details of:

.the numbers of veterans selecting each lifestyle option;

.the average lifestyle rating for each option;

.the level of impairment for veterans choosing the self assessment option; and

.the numbers of appeals lodged for each option.

FORM D2585

To permit the setting and reporting of the number of veterans providing an application for disability pension and treatment containing a usable diagnosis of the medical condition(s) claimed, two new attributes have been included in the CMS.

For cases in this category, the setting of the provision of a usable diagnosis is mandatory.  Where a diagnosis was supplied and used the attribute should be set Form Z Diagnosis. Where no diagnosis was supplied or a diagnosis was supplied but not used the Form Z No Diagnosis should be set.

Classification types are 010 and 020.

FORM D2663

To permit the reporting and recording of whether a death certificate was supplied with the claim for pension by dependants of a deceased veteran, two new attributes will be included in the CMS.

For cases where a death certificate is supplied, the Form Y - Death Cert should be set.  For cases where a death certificate is not supplied, the Form Y - No Death Cert attribute should be set.

The classification type is 025.

SETTING OF NEW ATTRIBUTES

The setting of the new attributes in the system occurs at the end of the process for both lifestyle choices and form D2585.

Form D2663 will require that a entry be made at the beginning of the process.

For the lifestyle attributes, setting will simply require Y (for "YES") against only one of the lifestyle choices available to veterans or against the GARP II or Lifestyle Not Assessed attributes.

For D2585 (claim for disability pension and medical treatment), setting will simply require Y (for "YES") against whichever answers the circumstances.

For D2663 (claim for pension by a dependants of a deceased veteran), setting will simply require Y (for "YES") against whichever answers the circumstances.

In Victoria, where death certificates are not routinely available, the procedure outlined above should still be followed (ie. the appropriate attribute should be set).

Contact Officer - Jeff Kelly, 289 6569.

PETER HAWKER

NATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR

BENEFITS

1 July 1992