DVA Provider News article - .

Prior financial approval no longer required for certain DVA funded health services

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) is streamlining the way some health care services are claimed to support more timely access to treatment for veterans and reduce administrative burden for providers.

From 1 January 2026, certain health services will no longer need prior financial approval from DVA before the treatment can be delivered to an eligible Veteran Card holder. These services will be added to the relevant DVA fee schedule and can be claimed by registered providers through existing claiming channels. 

A complete list of new items is included in the table below.

Diagnostic Imaging Services
Item
Short Description
Fee
VC10 CT Coronary Calcium Score $280.00
VC11 DEXA Scan $167.25
VC12 Echocardiogram $264.90
VC20 Non-eligible MRI machine Equivalent Fee
VC21 GP referred MRI Equivalent Fee
VC22 Sedation for Radiology $175.80
VC23 MRI Device Fee $400.00
VC26 PET Scan - malignancy $953.00
VC27 PET Scan - other $953.00
Medical Services
Item
Short Description
Fee
VC30 Iron Infusions $200.00
VC31 Joint Injection or Arthrocentesis $102.00
VC40 Neurocognitive Test Report 0-2h $480.00
VC41 Neurocognitive Test Report >2h $960.00
VC46 Scrambler Therapy Initial Course $400.00
VC47 Scrambler Therapy Maintenance $400.00
VC50 Mapping for TMS for treatment resistant depression $292.60
VC51 TMS for treatment resistant depression $251.10
VC59 Esketamine Facility Fee $560.00
Physiotherapy
Item
Short Description
Fee
PH83 Vestibular Physiotherapy $158.95
PH84 Pelvic Health Physiotherapy $158.95
Podiatry
Item
Short Description
Fee
F118 Neurological diabetes foot assessment $94.60
Speech Pathology
Item
Short Description
Fee
SH80 Specialised Diagnostic Procedure - Speech Pathology $250.80
SH81 Group treatment sessions - Speech Pathology $70.00

The intent of this change is to streamline administrative arrangements for certain health services and to promote more timely access to treatment for veterans. These treatments were identified because, for eligible veterans, they have been approved at consistently high rates, represent low clinical risk to patients and align with modern treatment standards. 

For more information and to access the updated DVA Fee Schedules visit the Fees & Claims page on the DVA website. Providers should always refer to fee information on the DVA website as the authorised source.