DVA Fee Schedules for Medical Services 1 November 2007
Local Medical Officers | Veterans Access Payment | Rural Enhancement Initiative | Other General Practitioners | Repatriation Medical Fee Schedule | Relative Value Guide Fee Schedule | Diagnostic Imaging Fee Schedule | Pathology Fee Schedule | Clinical Notes | Medication Reviews | Kilometre Allowance | Compensation Consultations | Guide to Assesment of Rates for Veterans' Pensions (GARP) fee | Chronic Pain Honorarium
Effective from 1 November 2007, DVA has increased its fees for medical services. These fees are now contained in the one publication and include:
- Local Medical Officer (LMO) Fee Schedule;
- Repatriation Medical Fees Schedule (RMFS);
- Relative Value Guide (RVG);
- Diagnostic Imaging Fee Schedule; and
- Pathology Fee Schedule.
Department of Veterans’Affairs Medical Fee Schedules 1 November 2007 PDF (1.04MB)
1 July 2008 Medical Fee Amendments
Local Medical Officers
The Local Medical Officer (LMO) Fee Schedule now consists of consultation items and general practitioner specific services only. LMOs claiming from the LMO Fee Schedule are paid 115% of the MBS plus the relevant Veterans Access Payment (VAP).
Any items relating to procedures and anaesthetic services are now covered by the RMFS and the RVG, which came into effect 1 May 2007. LMOs and general practitioners performing surgical procedures or providing anaesthetic services are able to claim for these services at the same fee as medical specialists as set out in the RMFS. The REI loading and the VAP cannot be claimed in conjunction with fees from the RMFS.
Diagnostic imaging and pathology items provided by LMOs and general practitioners will now be paid at 100% of the MBS. The relevant VAP can also be claimed on these items.
The LMO Fee Schedule can be accessed via this link Department of Veterans’Affairs Medical Fee Schedules 1 November 2007 PDF (1.04MB)
1 July 2008 Medical Fee Amendments
As at 24 December 2007 we have prepared a Derived Fees Ready Reckoner for LMO consult items. (xls 40.5kb)
Veterans Access Payment
DVA’s fees for the VAP are:
- $6.35 (items 10990, 64990, and 74990); or
- $9.60 (items 10991, 10992, 64991 and 74991).
The VAP is assessed according to the MBS rules for the equivalent Medicare Bulk Billing Incentive items, and is not payable on inpatient items. The VAP cannot be claimed against items listed on the RMFS and RVG.
Rural Enhancement Initiative
The Rural Enhancement Initiative (REI) loading of 10% continues to apply to relevant consult items for services at hospitals designated under the REI. The REI is not payable on items listed on the RMFS or RVG.
Other General Practitioners
General practitioners not participating in the LMO Scheme will receive a fee of 100% of the MBS plus 60 cents for services listed on the LMO Fee Schedule. Items not listed on the LMO Fee Schedule will be paid the fee listed on the appropriate DVA fee schedule.
Repatriation Medical Fee Schedule 1 November 2007
The fees listed in the Repatriation Medical Fee Schedule (RMFS) are for specialist consultations and procedures.
In Hospital items have been calculated with consideration given to private health industry rates.
Out of Hospital items have been calculated based on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) at a rate of 135% of the MBS for consultations and 140% of the MBS for procedures.
All medical practitioners, including LMOs and other general practitioners, who have the appropriate qualifications updated with Medicare Australia are eligible to claim for services listed in the RMFS. Items listed on the RMFS do not attract the VAP or the REI loading.
When claiming an RMFS item using the DVA treatment service voucher, electronic funds transfer or your own stationery, please ensure that you have correctly indicated whether you have performed the service In Hospital or Out of Hospital and claimed at the appropriate rate.
A RMFS item is classified as In Hospital or Out of Hospital according to Medicare assessment rules.
Fees for these specialist consultations and procedures can be accessed via the following link Department of Veterans’Affairs Medical Fee Schedules 1 November 2007 PDF (1.04MB).
1 July 2008 Medical Fee Amendments
DVA fees for medical services can be claimed by treating doctors who provide services to veterans or their dependants. Where a treating doctor agrees to claim the DVA medical fee for a service provided, no further claim can be levied against that veteran.
Please note the following items were listed incorrectly in the RMFS: 30041, 30048, 30067, 30074, 30102, 30106, 30110, 30265, 30282, 30659, 30675, 33116, 33119, 35512, 35516, 35526, 35617, 37622. View the corrected RMFS rates.
A ‘D’ in a fee column indicates a derived fee. Where this occurs there may be a percentage amount indicated as an aid to calculating the fee. Please calculate the fee for these items at using the relevant MBS fee and rules, and increase the result by the appropriate percentage.
Please note the following item numbers are an exception to the above rule: 16633, 16636, 30001, 31340, 44376, 51303, 51309, 51312, and 51803
For these items please refer to the relevant MBS description and calculate using the relevant DVA fee.
When calculating fees, the final amount should be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents.
Relative Value Guide Fee Schedule
The Relative Value Guide (RVG) basic unit has been increased to $29.45 effective 1 November 2007.
In addition all medical practitioners will be paid RVG fees where they have qualifications updated with Medicare Australia.
For DVA fees for RVG items refer to the relevant item number in the Department of Veterans’Affairs Medical Fee Schedules 1 November 2007 PDF (1.04MB)
1 July 2008 Medical Fee Amendments
Please Note:the following item numbers were omitted from the RVG section of the Fee Schedule:
25000 $29.45
25005 $58.90
25010 $88.30
A ‘D’ in a fee column indicates a derived fee. For these item numbers please refer to the relevant MBS description and calculate using the relevant DVA fee.
This applies to the following items: 25025, 25030, 25050, 25200, 25205
When calculating fees, the final amount should be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents.
Diagnostic Imaging Fee Schedule
All medical practitioners will be paid 100% of the MBS diagnostic imaging services, where they have the appropriate qualifications updated with Medicare Australia.
Local Medical Officers claiming from the Diagnostic Imaging Fee Schedule can also claim the relevant VAP on these items.
To claim fees from the diagnostic imaging schedule please refer to the relevant item number in the Department of Veterans’Affairs Medical Fee Schedules 1 November 2007 PDF (1.04MB).
1 July 2008 Medical Fee Amendments
Pathology Fee Schedule 1 November 2007
All medical practitioners will be paid 100% of the MBS for pathology services, where they have the appropriate qualifications updated with Medicare Australia.
Local Medical Officers claiming from the Pathology Fee Schedule can also claim the relevant VAP on these items.
To claim fees from the pathology schedule please refer to the relevant item numbers in the Department of Veterans’Affairs Medical Fee Schedules 1 November 2007 PDF (1.04MB)
1 July 2008 Medical Fee Amendments
DVA Pathology Fee Change Updates for MBS Items effective from 1 May 2008
The changed items are:
Item No |
Fee Change |
Old Fee |
New Fee |
65084 |
Decrease |
$168.75 |
$163.70 |
65087 |
Decrease |
$84.55 |
$79.50 |
69387 |
Decrease |
$29.75 |
$29.20 |
69390 |
Decrease |
$43.75 |
$42.65 |
69393 |
Decrease |
$57.75 |
$56.10 |
69396 |
Decrease |
$71.75 |
$69.55 |
69399 |
Decrease |
$85.75 |
$83.00 |
69401 |
Decrease |
$14.00 |
$13.45 |
69408 |
Increase |
$28.00 |
$29.20 |
69411 |
Increase |
$39.35 |
$42.65 |
69413 |
Increase |
$50.65 |
$56.10 |
69415 |
Increase |
$61.95 |
$69.55 |
Clinical Notes
Fees for the provision of clinical notes (when requested by DVA)
New fees effective 1 November 2007.
| DVA Item No. | Description |
GPs |
CN01 |
For notes which give a statement of attendance of diagnosis only or a brief record of one or two visits |
$26.50 |
CN02 |
For a statement of attendances and transcriptions of notes which may include specialist reports and diagnosis, results of X-rays, pathology tests etc |
$54.70 |
CN03 |
For notes which, in addition to the information supplied as in (2), include a summing up of the case over a period of time and/or with opinions helpful to the Department |
$82.60 |
CN04 |
In exceptional cases, a higher fee (up to a maximum of*) when a practitioner is required to spend considerable time in research into records of the case and in recording opinion |
$143.40* |
Please note:
When claiming payment for the provision of clinical notes requested by DVA, you must quote the relevant DVA item number shown above.
Medication Reviews
Medication review items are indexed annually on 1 January.
| DVA Item No. | Description |
Fee |
CP20 |
Medication review undertaken in rooms |
$93.70 (Jan 07) |
CP21 |
Medication review undertaken at the patient's home or institution |
$123.05 (Jan 07) |
Kilometre Allowance
Kilometre allowance for each kilometre after the first 10 kilometres in accordance with provisions in Section 7 of the LMO notes is 70 cents per kilometre (effective 1 January 2008).
Compensation Consultations
New fees effective 1 November 2007.
Listed below is the schedule of fees for medico-legal services provided by GPs for compensation purposes to use when determining payment of fees for compensation purposes. The fee structure for consultations is based on the Medical Benefits Schedule. Note that GST should be claimed on all services provided for medico-legal purposes. Amount of GST charged should be clearly specified on your tax invoice.
Send all reports, together with a tax invoice specifying the item numbers as shown below, to the Compensation Section of your State's DVA Office. Do not use a voucher or your invoice will be sent to the Medicare Australia and payment may be refused.
Surgery consults
| DVA Item No. | Description | GPs |
| CC01 | Less than 20 minutes | $32.80 |
| CC02 | 20 to 40 minutes | $62.30 |
| CC03 | More than 40 minutes | $91.70 |
Home or hospital visits
| DVA Item No. | Description | GPs |
| CC04 | Less than 40 minutes | $85.25 |
| CC05 | More than 40 minutes | $114.80 |
Guide to the Assessment of Rates of Veterans' Pensions (GARP) Fee
The fee for GARP is the appropriate fee for the consultation plus $12.90 plus GST per page of forms. For forms which have a significant research component such as the Ability to Work form, please add the relevant Clinical Note fee if appropriate - effective 1 November 2007.
| GARP Forms or Work Test Questionnaires | |
Cost per page plus GST Consultation not required |
$12.90 |
Medical Examination and Reports (+GST)
| DVA Item No. | Description | Fee |
| C1 | GARP examination and forms (including Work Test Questionnaire). |
$32.00 |
| C2 | GARP examination and forms (including Work Test Questionnaire). |
$60.75 |
| C3 | GARP examination and forms (including Work Test Questionnaire). |
$89.60 |
| C4 | Consultation and completion of Work Test Questionnaire |
$55.70 |
Chronic Pain Honorarium
Where an anaesthetist specialises in pain management, the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) may recommend that the anaesthetist have access to the Chronic Pain Honorarium.
If you have any queries about the Chronic Pain Honorarium, please contact your local State Office on:
- Metropolitan area call 1300 550 457 to connect your nearest State office.
- Non metropolitan call 1800 550 457 to connect to your nearest State office.
Chronic Pain Honorarium Fees
Chronic pain honorarium fees have been increased by 2.1% in line with the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). The fees, effective from 1 January 2007, are shown in the table below.
| Item | Description | Fee 1/1/2008 | Fee 1/1/2007 |
| A003 | Chronic Pain Honorarium |
$255.55 |
$250.05 |
Page last updated: 18/01/2008