The Australian Government is committed to providing veterans with access to high quality, safe and effective mental health treatment.
The Repatriation Commission and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission has approved DVA to fund Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) using MDMA or psilocybin for eligible Veteran Card holders.
This follows the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) decision to allow authorised psychiatrists to prescribe medicines containing MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
To ensure veterans can access PAP in a safe manner, DVA has strict eligibility and funding guidelines.
MDMA may only be funded for the treatment of PTSD and for:
- Gold Card holders with a diagnosis of PTSD.
- White Card holders with an accepted condition of PTSD.
- White Card Holders with Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC) for mental health conditions and a diagnosis of PTSD.
Psilocybin may only be funded for the treatment of TRD and for:
- Gold Card holders with a diagnosis of TRD.
- White Card holders with an accepted condition of Major Depressive Disorder (or equivalent), and a diagnosis of TRD. TRD does not need to be listed as a separate accepted condition.
- White Card holders with Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC) for mental health conditions and a diagnosis of TRD.
Current serving Australian Defence Force members and veterans visiting or residing overseas are not eligible for this treatment.
DVA is required to balance its legislative obligations to fund veteran healthcare against the risks associated with emerging treatments. Greater clinical scrutiny is applied to funding requests for these treatments. PAP is considered a 4th line treatment option; there needs to be evidence of multiple prior treatments of typical agents or therapies and how they have failed prior to consideration of PAP.
Treatment will not be funded unless prior approval has been sought by the Authorised Prescriber. A prior financial authorisation form specifically for PAP has been developed to allow for the broader range of information required. Retrospective approval for treatment already completed, or reimbursement of treatment costs self-funded by veterans, will not be approved.
The approval of these treatments is encouraging news for the veteran community, particularly for those who have been diagnosed with PTSD or depression and have persistent symptoms despite undergoing usual evidence-based treatments.
Visit the Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) information for providers webpage to learn more.