|
Annual Reports Contents
>> DVA Annual Report
>> Outcome 2—Health
Outcome 2—Health
Strategies
Output 2.1—Arrangements for delivery
of services
Output 2.2—Veterans counselling and
special services
Eligible veterans, their war widows/widowers and dependants have access
to health and other care services that help them realise their full potential
for health and well-being.
Description
This outcome is achieved by:
- planning;
- arranging; and
- monitoring and evaluating
the provision of quality and cost-effective health care, counselling
and community support services.
The health program provides eligible members of the veteran community
with access to health care services through arrangements with registered
health care practitioners and public and private hospitals. In general
terms, health care is only provided to those resident in Australia.
Eligible veterans and dependants are issued with cards that reflect their
level of health care coverage. These cards are:
- the Repatriation Health Card—For All Conditions (Gold Card).
The Gold Card is issued to Australian veterans, war widows/widowers
and dependants who, under the VEA, are entitled to the full range of
health care services funded by DVA. Entitled veterans include: veterans
of World War I; veterans of World War II who have qualifying service
from that conflict and are aged 70 years and over; veterans receiving
the disability pension at or above 100 per cent of the general rate;
veterans receiving disability pension at or above 50 per cent of the
general rate plus any amount of service pension; service pensioners
who satisfy the treatment benefits eligibility test and former prisoners
of war. Eligibility for the Gold Card was extended on 1 July 2002 to
include all veterans older than 70 years of age with qualifying service;
- the Repatriation Health Card—For Specific
Conditions (White Card). The White Card provides access to the full
range of services funded by DVA for all disabilities and illnesses accepted
as service-related and to treatment under the special arrangements that
exist for Australian veterans suffering from malignant neoplasia, pulmonary
tuberculosis or posttraumatic stress disorder. It also provides access
to treatment for Vietnam veterans diagnosed with clinical depression
or severe anxiety disorders and to Gulf War veterans suffering from
unusual or difficult to diagnose conditions; and
- the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits
Card (Orange Card). Introduced on 1 January 2002, the Orange Card is
available to veterans of British, Commonwealth and Allied forces who
have qualifying service from World War I or World War II, have been
resident in Australia for at least 10 years and who are aged 70 years
and over. The Orange Card gives these veterans access to Repatriation
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) pharmaceutical items at concessional
rates.
|
