Incentive payments for health providers
There are a number of incentive payments available to practitioners working with our clients.
Back to topVeteran Mental Health Incentives
From 1 July 2026, General Practitioners (GPs) and psychiatrists will be able to access new Veteran Mental Health Incentives.
We know that high-quality mental health care takes time and this additional funding will allow GPs and psychiatrists to spend more time with their veteran patients. These incentives will provide additional funding for mental health care, specific for veterans, supporting GPs and psychiatrists in the delivery of proactive, continuous and coordinated care for veterans experiencing mental health conditions.
No additional training is needed by GPs and psychiatrists to claim these incentives, however DVA encourages providers to undertake training from the Veterans’ Health eLearning Platform (VETs HeLP) within MedCast. This platform contains modules which focus on veteran mental health and all modules are free and accredited for Continuous Professional Development.
Claiming requirements for these new incentives are detailed in the table below.
| Incentive | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|
| GP Veteran Mental Health Incentive | $99.30 |
This is an incentive to be co-billed with a professional attendance for the delivery of mental health care to a veteran card holder. It can be co-billed for the preparation of MBS Better Access Mental Health Treatment Planning items or general attendance MBS items of 20 minutes or above used to review the plan and provide ongoing mental health care. Existing MBS items that the incentive can be co-billed with include in person and telehealth consultations that relate to a mental health care planning and general attendance items that are twenty minutes and above in duration where these are used to review the plan and provide ongoing mental health care. The incentive can be claimed up to 4 times in a 12-month period with eligible services with a minimum of one calendar month between use. All veteran card holders are eligible for these services. No copayment can be charged under DVA billing arrangements. The service must be provided by a prescribed medical practitioner or GP specialist, and the provider must meet the requirements for a MHTP under Medicare arrangements and when delivered via telehealth, also meet the Medicare arrangements for telehealth. Usual Veteran Access Payment (VAP) co-claiming arrangements still apply. Details of co-claiming requirements and restrictions will be published shortly. For example, a GP working in a metro area who creates a mental health treatment plan (that takes between 20 to 40 minutes) would be able to bill a 2715 ($125.30) plus a VAP ($8.80) plus the new veteran mental health incentive ($99.30) to a total of $233.40. When the GP reviews that plan, they can bill a level C consult ($110.20) plus a VAP ($8.80) plus the new veteran mental health incentive ($99.30) which is $208.30. |
| Psychiatry Veteran Mental Health Incentive | $162.70 |
This incentive item can be co-billed by a psychiatrist with a professional attendance item for the delivery of ongoing care, where an initial assessment applies or has previously applied. Initial assessment items include 296, 299, 92437 and 92483. The incentive can be billed up to 2 times per 12 months, with a minimum of three calendar months between use. The incentive can be billed twice per year, with a minimum of three calendar months between billings. Medicare requirements for referral and, where relevant, telehealth, must be met. Details of co-claiming requirements and restrictions will be published shortly. All veteran card holders are eligible for these services. No copayment can be charged under DVA billing arrangements. For example, a psychiatrist undertaking an initial assessment (that takes over 45 minutes) would be able to bill a 296 ($458.60), plus the new veteran mental health incentive ($162.70) to a total of $621.35 |
Providers can submit manual claims for multiple veterans at a time by completing the Veteran Mental Health Incentive Payment Claim Form and emailing it directly to DVA at mental.health.incentives@dva.gov.au. Claims will be processed by DVA through dedicated and streamlined arrangements.
Services Australia is currently implementing system changes to support these incentives. Online claiming will be available later in 2026. Providers can hold their claims and submit online when the billing system has been updated if that is their preference.
DVA is committed to supporting providers in the delivery of high-quality and coordinated care to veterans and families of veterans. Provider feedback regarding the new veteran mental health incentives is welcome. If you wish to provide feedback, please do this by emailing mental.health.incentives@dva.gov.au by 1 September 2026.
Back to topMyMedicare
MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to formalise the relationship between patients, their general practice and general practitioner (GP).
DVA clients can register with MyMedicare using their Veteran Card or Medicare card. Clients can only have one registration, which will apply to any relevant MBS or DVA-funded service, regardless of if a Veteran Card or Medicare card has been used to register.
Practices who have DVA clients registered with MyMedicare, will have access to:
- More information about regular patients, making it easier to tailor services to fit the patient's needs;
- Longer DVA and MBS-funded telephone calls (Levels C and D) for their registered patients (from 1 November 2023); and
- A tripled Veterans' Access Payment incentive for longer DVA funded telehealth consultations (Levels C, D and E) providing greater incentive for GPs to treat veterans (from 1 November 2023).
If a DVA client chooses to register with their Veteran Card, they will need to complete a registration form in their chosen practice.
More information on MyMedicare, including how your practice can register, is available at the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Back to topVeterans' Access Payment (VAP)
As a General Practitioner (GP) you may claim a supplementary VAP for services you provide to eligible veterans and dependants. VAP is payable based on your Modified Monash Model (MMM) classification.
The VAP incentive items are equivalent to the Medicare Bulk Billing Incentive and can be co-claimed with general practice items provided under DVA arrangements.
From 1 November 2023, standard VAP amounts are tripling for certain services.
GPs can claim higher VAP incentives for:
- All face-to-face general attendance consultations;
- MBS Level B video and telephone general attendance consultations; and
- Video and telephone consultations when your practice and patients are registered to MyMedicare.
Standard VAP incentive items will continue to be payable to GPs who provide other relevant services, outside of those listed above, to Veteran Card holders.
As part of the incentive changes, DVA is simplifying the claiming process by removing the temporary, DVA-only, VAP incentive items introduced during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Items MT83-MT89 will not be available to claim for services performed on or after 1 November 2023. You will be able to use the equivalent MBS items to claim the VAP incentive for eligible consultations as described in the table below.
For more information on which services attract a higher incentive payment, please visit the MBSOnline website.
General Practitioner Services
Table 1: VAP incentives for GP services
| Modified Monash Model Classification | Standard VAP Incentive Item | Tripled VAP Incentive Item | MyMedicare VAP Incentive Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10990 | 75870 | 75880 |
| 2 | 10991 | 75871 | 75881 |
| 2-7 (Afterhours) | 10992 | 75872 | 75882 |
| 3 or 4 | 75855 | 75873 | 75883 |
| 5 | 75856 | 75874 | 75884 |
| 6 | 75857 | 75875 | 75885 |
| 7 | 75858 | 75876 | 75886 |
Diagnostic imaging services
Table 2: VAP incentives for diagnostic imaging services
| VAP Item | MMM Region |
|---|---|
| 64990 | 1 |
| 64991 | 2 |
| 64992 | 3 or 4 |
| 64993 | 5 |
| 64994 | 6 |
| 64995 | 7 |
Pathology services
Table 3: VAP incentives for pathology services
| VAP Item | MMM Region |
|---|---|
| 74990 | 1 |
| 74991 | 2 |
| 75861 | 3 or 4 |
| 75862 | 5 |
| 75863 | 6 |
| 75864 | 7 |
More information of DVA’s permanent telehealth arrangements is available on the Permanent Telehealth information for Health Care providers webpage and the fee schedules for medical services are available online.
Back to topWorkforce Incentive Program (WIP) – Practice Stream
The WIP provides incentives to general practices who employ nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners, and allied health professionals.
Each year practices receive an annual per client payment based on the number of 'in room' consultations they provide. This only applies to clients who have a Veteran Gold Card. There are no limits on the amount per practice.
Medicare calculates the payments. They make the payments in August each year. Visit the Medicare website for more information on WIP.
Back to topThe Rural Enhancement Initiative
GPs participating in the rural enhancement initiative receive a 10% loading on top of the GP rate. This applies in:
- NSW
- Victoria
- South Australia
- Western Australia
You can view a list of identified rural hospitals.
If you treat veterans at any of these identified hospitals you are eligible to receive higher fees. This applies to all MBS services provided for eligible veterans.
Participating in the Rural Enhancement Initiative
There are 3 steps to participating in the Rural Enhancement Initiative.
1. Apply for a Medicare provider number
Apply for a provider number for the specified hospital or hospitals where you provide services. To do this complete the Application for a Medicare Provider Number for a Medical Practitioner form and submit it to Medicare Australia.
2. Let us know
Tell us your provider number when you get it. We record the details, which will let Medicare Australia know that this practice attracts the higher fee.
3. Bill to practice location
You must bill all services that you provide at the hospital or hospitals to that location. This helps make sure you get the correct payments. We will not pay the higher rate for services you provide at eligible rural hospitals but bill to other practice addresses.
Back to topContact us
For invoicing and billing enquiries call 1300 550 017.
For other provider enquiries call 1800 550 457.
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