Catastrophic Injury (and Disease) Provisions

for Household Services and Attendant Care Services

Any decisions on whether it is appropriate for clients to continue to receive attendant care services provided by a partner, relative or friend must be informed by evidence of the client's current needs and circumstances. It is important that where clients have been receiving attendant care services for a long period of time, particularly where that support is provided by family that decisions are not made to immediately cease or change services.

Clients with high or complex care needs will generally be receiving ongoing nursing care services through the Community Nursing Program, in addition to attendant care services. In this circumstance, even if exceptional circumstances are found to apply, a Rehabilitation Coordinator may only approve a limited range of simple attendant care services to be provided by the partner, relative or friend. This might include, assistance with feeding and/or drinking, setting up computers or other communication devices, or assisting with physiotherapy or speech pathology exercises.

What are “exceptional circumstances”?

A delegate may consider that it is reasonable for a partner, relative or friend to provide simple attendant care services to a client when exceptional circumstances apply. These circumstances may include instances where:

For clients who hold a DVA Health Card, the following services can be provided through the Veterans’ Home Care (VHC) Program:

MRCA and DRCA clients who hold a DVA Health Card are able to access nursing services through the Community Nursing Program. The program provides community nursing services to address a client’s assessed clinical or personal care needs.

Sections 290(2) and 291(2) of MRCA provide compensation for journey and accommodation costs reasonably incurred by an attendant who is approved by a delegate to accompany a client to obtain compensable treatment. Approval must be given in advance of the travel being undertaken.

Where clients have complex injuries, or can be regarded as having high needs, the Community Nursing Program must be involved in assessing the client’s nursing and attendant care needs.

A claim for attendant care services should be considered carefully in regard to what is reasonable for the client to receive. In determining whether attendant care services are reasonably required the delegate must consider the matters outlined in section 218 of MRCA and subsection 29(4) of DRCA the nature of the client’s injury or disease:

Making a claim for attendant care services

Claims for attendant care services must be investigated with reference to whether the services are reasonably required by the client and to ensure that the need for the services are due to the client’s service related injury or disease. Claims must be supported by documentary evidence from the client’s treating doctor, other suitably qualified medical or allied health professional or rehabilitation service provider.